WAPP Consolidates Its Strategic Agenda with Technical and Financial Partners in Cotonou

On May 19–20, 2026, the West African Power Pool agreed all its technical and financial partners in Cotonou for two high-level meetings. These commitments marked a new milestone in accelerating energy integration in West Africa.

At the heart of the discussions were financing mobilization, strategic alignment among stakeholders, and the effective implementation of flagship projects aimed at supporting the development of the regional electricity market.

A Coordination Platform Serving Regional Priorities
The 45th Coordination Meeting of Technical and Financial Partners (TFPs) provided a key platform for dialogue among financial institutions, member states, and sector operators. Its objectives were clearly defined: to review the progress of ongoing projects, identify acceleration levers, and strengthen synergies among stakeholders.

The opening ceremony, marked by remarks delivered by the Secretary General of WAPP, Mr. Abdoulaye DIA, who also conveyed the message of the Chairman of the Executive Board, Engr. Sule Abdul Aziz, who was unable to attend, as well as by statements from Beninese authorities in charge of energy and finance, notably Mr. Basile Kanon ADJO, Secretary General at the Ministry of Energy, Water and Mines (MEEM), and Mr. Todéman Flinso ASSAN, Director General of Rural Planning, saw all speakers collectively reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening a reliable, efficient, and fully integrated regional power system in support of the region’s sustainable development.

Key Progress in Advancing the Regional Market
The meeting featured a series of strategic presentations, including:

• the status of implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market;
• progress on WAPP priority projects;
• major interconnection projects, notably the North Core Backbone and the Guinea–Mali line;
• the WAPP institutional capacity-building program.

These discussions provided an opportunity to further examine financing needs and gather partner contributions, fostering enhanced resource mobilization and investment security.

The Median Backbone at the Core of Financing Efforts
A highlight of this strategic sequence was the donors’ roundtable dedicated to the 330 kV Median Backbone interconnection project, held on May 20, 2026.

The session enabled partners to review the results of route alignment, environmental and social impact studies, as well as feasibility study findings. More importantly, it marked a critical step in the project’s financial structuring, with the objective of mobilizing the resources required for its implementation.

As a flagship regional integration project, the Median Backbone aims to strengthen electricity connectivity across several West African countries while improving supply security and enhancing the efficiency of the regional electricity market.

A Central Role in Regional Energy Integration
Through these two meetings, WAPP reaffirmed its position as a key driver of regional energy coordination, facilitating dialogue among governments, financial institutions, and sector stakeholders.

In a context marked by rising energy demand and the requirements of the energy transition, these discussions reflect a strengthened commitment to building a more integrated, resilient, and financially sustainable regional electricity market. They also generated strong interest from technical and financial partners in supporting the financing of WAPP’s flagship projects.