Senegal's Minister of Telecommunications, Digital, and Posts, M. Samba Diouf, highlighted the importance of digital sovereignty, stating that it is measured by the ability to guarantee services, provide accurate information, and correct any issues that arise. The country's New Deal Technologique aims to transform its economy, administration, and society by building a sovereign, inclusive, and value-creating digital ecosystem. This endeavor relies heavily on establishing trust in digital services.
Elhadji Wack NDIAYE emphasized that digital trust cannot be decreed but must be built, protected, and earned. The trust of citizens, businesses, and the state is crucial for the success of digital transformation. Citizens' trust relies on the protection of their personal data, the security of administrative services, and the guarantee that their information will not be misused or exposed without control. Businesses trust the infrastructure, continuity of services, predictability of rules, and security of digital transactions.
Recent incidents in Senegal have raised concerns about digital trust. In October 2025, the General Directorate of Taxes and Domains (DGID) experienced a significant outage of its online services, reportedly due to a cyberattack by the Black Shrantac group, which claimed to have exfiltrated fiscal and administrative data. Similar incidents occurred at the Directorate of File Automation (DAF) in February 2026 and the General Directorate of Public Accounting and Treasury (DGCPT) in May 2026.
These incidents have highlighted the fragility of digital trust when strategic systems are disrupted or sensitive data is potentially exposed. The government has acknowledged these issues and taken steps to address them. However, experts and media reports have suggested that there may have been compromises and data exfiltration, although these have not been officially confirmed.
The erosion of trust in digital services is also evident within the administration. Some government officials and agents continue to use personal messaging services, such as Gmail or Hotmail, for professional communications, despite the risks of data exposure. This practice undermines the security of state data and highlights the need for more secure and reliable digital tools.
To restore trust, Senegal's government must prioritize the modernization and securitization of its digital infrastructure, including the intranet administrative system, Gouv.sn, and the System for Managing and Tracking Administrative Correspondence (SYGEC). This will require investing in service quality, agent training, interface ergonomics, user assistance, and permanent service availability.
Ultimately, Senegal's digital sovereignty relies on its ability to understand, control, and orient the conditions under which its data, services, and infrastructure are exploited. This involves mastering administrative networks, public datacenters, strategic platforms, and cloud services. By prioritizing digital trust and sovereignty, Senegal aims to build a robust and secure digital ecosystem that benefits its citizens, businesses, and government.
Key points
- The Senegalese government is focusing on building digital trust through protecting personal data and ensuring secure online services.
- Recent cyber incidents have highlighted the need for improved digital security and trust in Senegal's public services.
- The government aims to modernize and secure its digital infrastructure to prevent future incidents and ensure digital sovereignty.
