Mahuna Akplogan, Minister of Digital Transformation and Innovation of the Republic of Benin, led a high-level delegation to Ethiopia from August 4 to 8. The visit gave the delegation a chance to learn from Ethiopia’s experience in digital transformation and to explore areas where the two countries could work more closely, particularly in digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, digital identification, cybersecurity, and drone technology.
During their stay, the delegation visited several Ethiopian institutions including MESOB, Ethiopian Digital ID Service (Fayda), the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Ethiopian Air Force, Ethiopian Defense Engineering, City Mayor of Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Airlines, Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, NISS and INSA. Through these engagements, the delegation gained a closer understanding of Ethiopia’s efforts to expand digital government services, develop indigenous technology and strengthen its digital infrastructure. The discussions also provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and identify areas where the two sides could benefit from each other’s expertise.
Digital and drone technologies emerged as some of the most promising areas for cooperation. The Beninese delegation showed particular interest in how MESOB, Fayda, the AI Institute, and INSA work together, noting the importance of such coordination in advancing digital transformation. A visit to Ethiopia’s drone manufacturing facility also drew considerable attention, opening discussions on possible cooperation in drone technology, cybersecurity, indigenous technology development, digital transformation, and capacity building.
The partnership between the two countries is being built around the principle of co-development, with both sides seeking to share experiences, learn from each other, and build on their respective strengths. The Beninese side expressed interest in drawing on Ethiopia’s experience while adapting relevant lessons to its own national context and developing practical solutions together. The delegation also emphasized the potential for a mutually beneficial, win-win partnership, expressing readiness to pursue formal cooperation — including a proposed Memorandum of Understanding in the defense sector, and broader cooperation in digital public infrastructure with institutions such as Fayda, MESOB, the AI Institute, and INSA.
The visit marked a useful step in broadening Ethiopia-Benin relations into new areas of technology and innovation. More importantly, the discussions moved beyond simply sharing experiences to identifying practical areas for continued engagement. With the proposed defense MoU and expanded digital cooperation now on the table, the two countries have laid concrete groundwork for turning this visit into a lasting partnership.