Mali and Benin deepen cooperation on data protection 🇲🇱 🇧🇯

Cliquez ici pour lire en français

On September 4, 2026, Mali’s data protection authority, the Autorité de Protection des Données à caractère Personnel (APDP), welcomed the First Rapporteur of Benin’s own data protection authority. The visit was part of a broader push to share institutional practices and strengthen how both countries handle the protection of personal data.

Comparing notes on digital compliance 💻🔐

The two institutions covered substantial ground on data governance, discussing compliance tools, regulatory standards, institutional communication, and the mechanisms used to support organizations that handle personal data. The exchange gave both authorities a chance to compare their approaches and share experience in overseeing how personal data is processed.

Benin’s delegation was reportedly particularly interested in how Mali has decentralized the APDP’s operations. Mali currently runs regional offices in Kayes, Sikasso, Ségou, and Mopti, bringing data-protection services closer to local populations and stakeholders. These offices handle several tasks, including public awareness campaigns, advisory support, and the intake of complaints and reports at the local level.

Building toward deeper cooperation 🤝🌐

Following the meeting, both institutions say the exchange opens new avenues for cooperation. Sharing best practices and pooling experience could help strengthen personal data protection mechanisms going forward.

Beyond Mali and Benin, this kind of exchange underscores a broader point: cooperation between African regulators is central to advancing data governance and protection across the continent.

Do you think shared expertise between African data protection authorities can genuinely make citizens safer online?