The warm Atlantic wind caresses the docks of the port of Cotonou. There, between stacked containers and mechanical cranes, a new excitement is taking hold. Trucks file past, voices rise in several languages, and in the air floats a promise: that of a commercial future playing out here, in Benin, in this city long on the margins of the great routes of world trade.
A strategic port in full transformation
For several years now, Cotonou has been constantly changing its face. The autonomous port, long considered outdated, has undergone an ambitious modernization. Through a public-private partnership with the Bolloré group, then under the management of the Beninese company SOBEMAP, the port infrastructure was redesigned to meet international standards.
“Today, the port of Cotonou can accommodate vessels over 300 meters long. Ten years ago, that would have been unthinkable,” says Alain Gbaguidi, maritime engineer and logistics consultant. “The dredging of the channel, the expansion of the quays and the automation of certain operations have changed everything.”
In 2023, the port handled more than 11 million tonnes of goods, an increase of 25% compared to 2020. Figures that reflect a rapid rise in power, driven by the Beninese government’s determination to make Cotonou an essential regional hub.
A credible alternative to the region’s saturated ports
In the Gulf of Guinea, the ports of Abidjan, Lagos or Tema are often congested. Waiting times there sometimes exceed 72 hours, resulting in additional costs for importers. Cotonou, with its new fluidity, therefore naturally attracts operators seeking efficiency.
“We started redirecting part of our cargo to Cotonou last year,” explains Marie-Andrée Kouassi, logistics director of an Ivorian company specializing in electronic products. “Unloading there is faster, port fees are competitive, and customs procedures have been simplified.”
Benin has indeed put in place a single digital platform for customs formalities, drastically reducing clearance times. On average, a cargo can be released in less than 48 hours, compared to more than 5 days previously.
An openly assumed regional ambition
Cotonou’s geographical position is a major asset. Located at the crossroads of West Africa’s trade routes, the city is connected to key markets such as Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.
“Cotonou is becoming the gateway to the Sahel,” says Idriss Maïga, a Nigerien transporter. “For us, it’s simpler to come through here than through Lagos or Lomé. The roads are better, and the checks are less chaotic.”
The Cotonou-Niamey corridor has moreover been strengthened by the rehabilitation of several road sections and the establishment of automated checkpoints. Ultimately, the Beninese government even wishes to revive the railway project linking Cotonou to Parakou, and then to Niger.
Massive and targeted investments
The transformation of Cotonou does not rest solely on its port. The entire city is reinventing itself to support this commercial dynamic. Special economic zones have been created on the outskirts, notably in Sèmè-Podji, with tax advantages for foreign companies.
In parallel, the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin international airport has been renovated to accommodate more air freight, and a rapid link between the port and the airport is under construction. The objective: to make Cotonou a multimodal logistics hub.
“Benin has understood that the future lies in the integration of transport modes,” analyzes Jean-Paul Dossou, urban planner and infrastructure specialist. “What they are building here is a complete platform, capable of competing with the greatest.”
A bet on stability and transparency
In a region marked by political instability and insecurity, Benin is also banking on its institutional stability to attract investors. The country is regularly cited as one of the safest in West Africa, with governance considered relatively effective.
The government has strengthened anti-corruption measures in port and customs services, and several officials have been sanctioned in recent years. A transparency that appeals to international operators.
“There is a real political will,” emphasizes Pierre Leclerc, representative of a French import-export company. “Not everything is perfect, but there is a dynamic that is rare in West Africa. You can feel that Cotonou wants to play with the big players.”
Persistent challenges but a clear course
Despite this rise in power, Cotonou is not yet free from challenges. Road infrastructure remains fragile in certain places, power cuts can disrupt operations, and regional competition remains fierce.
But the course is clear. Benin wants to make its economic capital a nerve center of West African trade. And the first results are already visible: customs revenues have jumped by 40% in three years, and the number of foreign companies established in Cotonou has doubled since 2020.
“This is only the beginning,” proudly assures Rodrigue Hounwanou, deputy director of the port. “We still have a lot to do, but we know where we are going. Cotonou is writing a new page in its history.”
While the spotlight was once focused on Lagos or Abidjan, another light is slowly turning on along the shores of Benin. Cotonou, discreet but determined, could well become one of the new faces of African trade. But is the world ready to see it that way?
