• Senegal increased its 2026 digital budget to CFA 81.06 billion ($143 million), up 38.7% from 2025.

• CFA33.8 billion will fund digital sovereignty, the largest budget share.

• The plan supports digital inclusion, start-ups, and e-government platforms under the New Technological Deal strategy.

Senegal’s government has proposed a 38.7% increase in its 2026 budget for the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, reflecting a national drive to expand digital infrastructure and foster innovation across sectors.

Minister Alioune Sall presented the proposal on November 7 before the National Assembly’s Finance Committee, alongside the Commissions on Culture, Communication, and Economic Affairs. The CFA 81.06 billion ($143 million) plan aims to modernize communication networks, strengthen digital sovereignty, and revitalize postal services.

The 2026 budget follows four strategic lines: CFA 13.6 billion will modernize the communication sector; CFA 33.8 billion will reinforce digital sovereignty; CFA 20.5 billion will promote the digital economy and innovation; CFA 12.6 billion will go toward revitalizing postal services. This allocation marks a sharp rise from the CFA 58.4 billion assigned in 2025, underscoring Senegal’s long-term ambition to build a robust digital ecosystem.

According to the ministry, the funds will finance concrete initiatives, including digital platforms for public administration, capacity building in technical and regulatory frameworks, and ICT training for civil servants. The plan also targets digital inclusion, particularly in rural areas, and supports private-sector innovation, the growth of start-ups, and the consolidation of existing digital services.

Minister Alioune Sall described the budget as “a strategic lever of sovereignty, competitiveness, and inclusion” that will enhance transparency in public services and sustain a digital ecosystem. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with Senegal’s New Technological Deal, a national digital transformation strategy launched earlier in 2025, which has already modernized several key sectors.

Senegal continues to outperform regional averages in technology adoption. In 2024, the country recorded an ICT Development Index of 71.6/100, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)—a level above the African average. Its E-Government Development Index reached 0.5163 in 2024, up from 0.4479 in 2022, reflecting steady progress in online governance.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum