Benin: groundbreaking for the strategic Setto-Dassa-Zoumè road project worth 164.4 billion FCFA

The rehabilitation work on the Setto-Dassa-Zoumè road has officially started. This strategic project worth 164.4 billion CFA francs aims to open up the region and boost the corridor to the Sahel.

On September 9, 2026, the Minister of Living Environment and Transport, Georges Ale, officially launched the rehabilitation works of the Setto-Dassa-Zoumè road axis during a ceremony in Dassa-Zoumè. This strategic project, costing 164.4 billion CFA francs, aims to open up the region and boost the corridor towards the Sahel.

The 39.45 km section of the RNIE 2 will be completely rehabilitated and widened into a 2×2 lane road. The project also includes the construction of a second 60-meter bridge over the Zou River and the development of a modern toll and weigh station. Financed with 291 million dollars (around 164.4 billion CFA francs), including 202 million granted by the U.S. government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and 89 million in Beninese counterpart funds, the work is part of the regional MCA Compact that came into effect on July 17, 2025.

This project aims to improve traffic flow, enhance user safety, and facilitate the transport of people and goods on an essential corridor connecting Benin’s coastal area to the gates of the Sahel. For the populations of Dassa-Zoumè and Djidja, who have long faced the advanced degradation of this route, the launch marks the end of a long wait.

Minister Georges Ale emphasized that this project reflects the executive’s commitment and reminded that the modernization of road infrastructure is a pillar of development. He also gave a firm directive to companies and control offices, demanding “rigor, speed, and quality,” while calling on local residents to be patient during the temporary inconveniences caused by the construction.