COUNTRY: BENIN.

Who controls the data Africans produce every day? Benin is putting this important question at the centre of the debate on Africa’s digital future. At the 15th One Africa Digital Forum, held in Cotonou from 19 to 21 October 2026, Luciano Hounkponou, president of Benin’s Personal Data Protection Authority (APDP), called for stronger cooperation between African regulators and better protection of sensitive information. One Africa Forums organised the event. According to Tech Review Africa, Hounkponou argued that countries cannot tackle cybersecurity risks by working alone. He urged African countries to align their rules and work together as 5G networks and connected devices spread across the continent. Benin Today also reported his call for greater African control over digital infrastructure and sensitive data. His message raises a wider concern: Africa’s digital growth must protect the rights and interests of its people.

Hounkponou also called for more investment in national data centres and less reliance on data hosting services outside the country. Local infrastructure could help governments and businesses control where they store sensitive information and how they protect it. However, digital sovereignty means more than keeping data within national borders. African countries also need skilled workers, strong cybersecurity systems, effective privacy laws and home-grown technology. In January 2026, the Pan-African Parliament called for African sovereignty over sensitive data and artificial intelligence. This wider debate reflects concerns about who controls the information and technologies that shape Africa’s future. The challenge is to turn these calls into practical action. African governments must build the systems and partnerships needed to protect citizens while allowing innovation to grow.

There is already a regional plan that could help move this agenda forward. In November 2025, West and Central African countries adopted the Cotonou Declaration on Digital Transformation. The declaration set out commitments on data protection, cybersecurity, digital skills and regional infrastructure. It also called for better cooperation on digital policies and stronger regional capacity in cloud services and data management. Benin’s latest call brings fresh attention to the need to turn these commitments into action. African governments must work together to protect personal data, support local technology businesses and make digital development benefit ordinary people. Public education matters too. People need to understand their digital rights in languages they speak and understand. Africa’s digital future should not be measured only by faster internet and new technology. It should also be measured by who controls these systems, who benefits from them and how well they serve African societies.

PHOTO SOURCE: BENIN TODAY
Author: Randy Lawson.