The Regional Ministerial Summit on Digital Transformation, co-organized by the World Bank and the Government of Benin in Cotonou from November 17 to 18, 2025, concluded with the historic adoption of the Cotonou Declaration .

This commitment brings together the States of West and Central Africa in a concerted effort to accelerate digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) .

Key Objectives and Job Creation by 2028

The Declaration sets out measurable and ambitious goals, aiming to make digital technology an engine of growth and social inclusion. The focus is on young people , women , and vulnerable groups .

1. Job Creation: Generate two million new digital jobs or entrepreneurial opportunities by 2028 .
2. Skills Development:
3. Train 20 million people in essential digital skills.
4. To train 200,000 professionals in cybersecurity and advanced technologies.
5. AI Innovation: Operationalizing three regional AI centers of excellence to stimulate research and development of applications adapted to the African context.

Improved Access and Infrastructure

The Cotonou Declaration addresses inequalities in access by setting specific targets for improving digital infrastructure:

1. Broadband Coverage: Extend coverage to 90% of the population.
2. Affordable Access: Guarantee affordable internet access to 70% of rural households and halve the average cost of data.
3. Regional Mobility: Harmonize roaming charges to facilitate cross-border connectivity.
4. Data Sovereignty: Deploying Regional Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) to strengthen data security and sovereignty.
5. Digital Payments: Ensuring interoperability of payments in 15 countries and reducing cross-border transfer costs by 40% .

Governance, Funding and Partnerships

The 19 participating Ministers of Digital Economy and Finance (including Mr. Kalil Konaté for Côte d'Ivoire) stressed the need for strong governance and a strengthened partnership with the private sector.

1. Financing Mechanism: Establishment of a regional digital transformation facility financing mechanism using a blended finance approach (including guarantees , loans and PPPs) to coordinate priority investments.
2. Monitoring and Collaboration: Creation of a regional dashboard and establishment of an annual regional digital forum to ensure consistency and collaboration between stakeholders.
3. National Roadmaps: Encouraging States to adopt, by 2028, national digital pacts to catalyze private investment.

Vision for 2030: The Single African Digital Market

Beyond the 2028 objectives, the Declaration reaffirms the ambition to build, by 2030 , a single African digital market based on connectivity, innovation, trust, sustainability and ethical AI .

As stated in the final call to action: " We place youth and women at the heart of Africa's digital future and reaffirm that digital transformation is not only a technological imperative, but also a political and social priority , essential for sovereignty, competitiveness and shared prosperity."

This summit is considered a major turning point in the history of African digital cooperation, committing the region to a trajectory of inclusive innovation.