Lomé, May 2026 – The African Development Fund (ADF) has approved a $59.78 million loan to rehabilitate a critical transborder road section linking Benin and Togo, a move aimed at boosting regional trade and economic integration in West Africa.
The financing, approved on 21 May, will support the rehabilitation of 78.8 kilometres of road between Kara and Kabou along the Benin-Togo border. This marks the first phase of the Transit Roads and Transport Facilitation Project on the CU18 corridor.
The project is co-financed by the ADF, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), and the governments of Togo and Benin. Of the total funding, $50.28 million has been allocated to the Togolese section, while $9.5 million will go to the Beninese section.
“This vital corridor will help strengthen economic competitiveness, accelerate the opening up of inland areas of Benin and Togo, and consolidate sub-regional integration,” said Lamin Barrow, Director General for West Africa at the African Development Bank.
The project includes upgrading the corridor into a 3.5-metre dual carriageway, with a six-lane section through Kara. It will also support construction and rehabilitation of socio-economic and educational infrastructure, strengthen transport services and logistics, and introduce measures to reduce trade barriers and improve traffic flow. Capacity-building programmes for implementing agencies, women’s groups, and youth employment initiatives are also planned.
Local producers, women engaged in cross-border commerce, and residents are expected to benefit significantly. Poor road conditions and high transport costs have long constrained economic activity and mobility in the region, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
By improving connectivity and reducing trade barriers, the project is set to play a pivotal role in advancing regional integration, economic growth, and social development across West Africa.
