Benin and Ethiopia strengthen their cooperation in digital technology and innovation

From 4 to 8 August 2026, a Beninese ministerial delegation led by Mr Mahuna AKPLOGAN, Minister of Digital Transformation and Innovation, made a working visit to Addis Ababa.

This mission follows on from high-level exchanges between the two countries, in particular the one-to-one meeting held on 13 July 2026 between the President of the Republic of Benin, His Excellency Romuald WADAGNI, and the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed.

Sharing experience in digital transformation

The visit provided a forum for exchanges on the two countries' digital trajectories. Benin shared in particular the achievements and lessons of nearly a decade of digital transformation, marked by the development of infrastructure, the digitisation of public services, digital identity, stronger cybersecurity and, more recently, a heightened ambition in artificial intelligence and innovation.

The discussions made it possible to compare approaches in several areas: modernisation of public services, digital identity and interoperability, data governance, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence.

Concrete prospects in AI and innovation

A working session between the Beninese delegation and the Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology enabled the two countries to share their achievements. The visit thus helps to deepen South-South cooperation around a shared ambition: putting digital technology, artificial intelligence and innovation at the service of development and of the people.