With the assumption of office by President Romuald Wadagni, Bénin is embarking on a strategic shift in its development policy. Central to this new era is the revitalisation of the sino-béninois partnership, marked by the recommencement of major infrastructure projects in Cotonou and the northern regions.

This sends a strong signal just months into his term. The new head of state, a former finance minister known for macroeconomic discipline, intends to leave his imprint on the nation. To achieve this, Cotonou is increasingly relying on its longstanding ally, Beijing. This renewed strategic collaboration is evidenced on the ground by the sound of construction machinery from the Atlantic coast to the far north.

The capital’s transformation: Cotonou undergoes a facelift

In Cotonou and Porto-Novo, the objective is clear: complete urban modernisation and ease congestion on key economic arteries. Under President Wadagni, Chinese cooperation is injecting fresh capital and deploying technical expertise on several fronts:

• Port modernisation and road corridors: Chinese construction firms are once again working on access routes to the Autonomous Port of Cotonou, the country’s economic engine, to improve goods flow to the hinterland.
• Large-scale sanitation: The programme to upgrade stormwater drainage and road paving, heavily supported by Chinese engineering, is entering a decisive phase to permanently protect the economic capital from recurrent flooding.

The far north as a priority: connectivity and security

While the capital undergoes significant upgrades, the true novelty of the Wadagni doctrine lies in accelerated investment in northern Bénin, particularly in Parakou, Natitingou and Kandi. This priority addresses both economic and security imperatives.

The northern challenge: Amid regional cross-border security threats in the Sahel, the Béninese government believes that improving connectivity and economic development are the strongest defences against instability.

Key components of the sino-béninois plan for the north

1. Rehabilitation of strategic road links towards Niger and Burkina Faso.
2. Improvement of multimodal transport infrastructure.
3. Logistical support for agricultural development hubs.

Chinese firms are thus engaged in rehabilitating the inter-state national road (RNIE), vital for maintaining the competitiveness of the Bénin corridor against other West African routes. By more efficiently linking the port of Cotonou to northern farming areas and landlocked countries, Bénin positions itself to sustain resilient growth, estimated at nearly six percent in the medium term by international financial institutions.

The Wadagni approach: fiscal discipline underpins infrastructure

China’s involvement under this new presidency is not haphazard. Leveraging his expertise in debt management and international financing, Romuald Wadagni advocates a rebalanced “win-win” partnership based on efficient public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Beijing provides technical and industrial muscle, while Cotonou guarantees a stable and sound macroeconomic environment that reassures foreign investors.

Challenges ahead

However, the path remains strewn with obstacles. For this revival to be a lasting success, the government must ensure:

• Skills transfer: Guarantee that these megaprojects foster local employment and involve more Béninese subcontracting firms.
• Timely execution: Speed up administrative and procurement procedures, often considered bottlenecks in national project implementation.

By simultaneously relaunching infrastructure in the south and north, President Romuald Wadagni is playing his first major political and economic card. Bénin in 2026 is under construction, and the partnership with China is one of its main levers.