This article is authored by Aurelie Adam Soule Zoumarou, Minister of Digital, Republic of Benin.

In November 2025, Benin hosted the Regional Summit on Digital Transformation in Western and Central Africa, co-organised with the World Bank. The event brought together Ministers, regulators, private sector leaders, and innovators from across the region and led to the adoption of the Cotonou Declaration, a collective commitment to accelerate digital transformation by 2030.

Five Lessons From Cotonou

The Regional Summit on Digital Transformation in Western and Central Africa, co-hosted with the World Bank Group in Cotonou in mid-November 2025, confirmed a significant change in how Western and Central African states approach digital technology.

First, we have shifted from a sectoral logic to a systemic one. Digital is no longer perceived as a mere technological tool, but as a strategic infrastructure driving the economic, social, and institutional transformation of our countries.

Second observation: the gradual end of working in silos. Discussions highlighted  an unprecedented alignment among ministries, regulators, private sector actors, and technical partners around common objectives. This willingness to pool resources, infrastructure, data, regulatory frameworks, and even human capacity is now recognised as essential for regional integration and digital sovereignty.

Third, the Summit revealed a clear consensus on the urgent need to reduce the digital divide in all its dimensions: geographic, economic, social, and gender-based. Connectivity can no longer be measured solely by coverage rates, but by actual accessibility, quality of service, and citizens' ability to transform access into concrete opportunities.

Fourth, human capital emerged as the driving force behind digital transformation. Training, reskilling, and retaining African talent appeared as a strategic imperative, equally critical to investment in physical infrastructure.

Fifth and finally, the Summit laid the foundations for a shared vision of digital governance — particularly regarding data, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. The challenge is no longer simply to innovate quickly, but to innovate responsibly, building an environment of trust for citizens, businesses, and states alike.

Why I Am Excited About the Future

What excites me most is the growing maturity in both discourse and action. Western and Central Africa are no longer content to simply follow global trends: we are now defining our own priorities, grounded in our realities, our needs, and our ambitions.

I am also driven by the energy of Africa’s youth, who have made digital technology a space for expression, value creation, and innovation. Across the region, entrepreneurs, developers, women, and young people are transforming constraints into solutions — often with remarkable adaptability.

Digital transformation is also a powerful accelerator of inclusion. It brings government closer to citizens, opens up remote areas, facilitates access to essential services, and creates new economic opportunities for populations that have long been left on the margins.

What sustains my optimism is the strong collective commitment to building a sovereign and cooperative African digital ecosystem. The development of regional data centres, local cloud platforms, context-specific AI solutions, and harmonised regulatory frameworks all reflect a clear ambition: to make digital technology a lever for strategic autonomy and shared prosperity in our region.

Our Priorities for 2030

My colleagues and I share a guiding principle: digital transformation must be inclusive, sovereign, and sustainable,designed to serve our continent's development, rather than simply follow global trends.

The first priority is universal quality connectivity. This means not only extending networks, but ensuring affordable, reliable, and resilient access — supported by regional infrastructure pooling and innovative economic models.

The second priority focuses on building interoperable public digital platforms, including digital identity, payments, registries, and administrative services, that constitute the backbone of a modern and effective state. Such infrastructure must be designed from the outset with a regional perspective, to facilitate mobility, trade, and economic integration.

We are also placing strong emphasis on data governance, cybersecurity, and the regulation of artificial intelligence. Harmonising our legal frameworks is essential to protect citizens' rights, strengthen trust, and attract responsible investment.

Human capital development remains a cross-cutting priority. Scaling up digital skills training, supporting technology entrepreneurship, and promoting the inclusion of women and young people are essential levers for turning digital growth into sustainable employment.

Finally, we place innovation at the heart of our action, with a firm conviction: the most relevant solutions for Africa must be conceived within Africa, built on balanced partnerships and strengthened cooperation between states.

With the adoption of the Cotonou Declaration, we have set ambitious targets for 2030. As 2026 begins, the work to fulfill these commitments starts now.