• Senegal proposes $143M 2026 budget for digital economy, telecoms, and postal reform
• Funds target digital sovereignty, public service platforms, and communication upgrades
• Strategy supports national digital transformation and boosts ICT access, governance
  

Senegal’s Minister of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy Alioune Sall presented his ministry’s 2026 draft budget on Friday, November 7. The presentation took place before the National Assembly’s Finance Committee, which was joined by members of the Culture and Communication and Economic Affairs Commissions.

The proposed budget totals 81.063 billion XOF ($143 million) and focuses on modernizing infrastructure, strengthening digital sovereignty, and developing postal services.

According to Minister Sall, the 2026 budget prioritizes four key areas. About 13.6 billion XOF will support the modernization of the communication sector, while 33.8 billion XOF will strengthen digital sovereignty. Another 20.5 billion XOF will promote digital innovation and the broader digital economy, and 12.6 billion XOF will help revitalize the postal sector.

Within the digital sphere, the funds will finance initiatives such as deploying digital platforms across public administration, enhancing technical and regulatory capacity, promoting digital inclusion, and training civil servants in ICT. The budget will also back private sector innovation, startups, and the expansion of existing digital services, while improving accessibility for citizens in both urban and rural areas.

Minister Sall said the spending plan is a strategic tool for sovereignty, competitiveness, and inclusion, by improving transparency in public services and supporting the creation of a sustainable digital ecosystem. The allocations align with the New Deal Technological, Senegal’s national digital transformation strategy launched earlier this year, which has already modernized several key sectors.

As of 2024, Senegal scored 71.6 out of 100 on the ICT Development Index, according to the International Telecommunication Union, indicating digital access and usage above the African average. The e-Government Development Index reached 0.5163 out of 1, up from 0.4479 in 2022, marking significant progress in digital governance.

Samira Njoya