• Senegal earmarks CFA13.5 billion ($24 million) in its 2026 budget to modernise the communications sector.
• The government plans to create a new regulator for media and digital platforms in 2026.
• The investment will upgrade public media infrastructure and state digital platforms, including online administrative services.

Senegal seeks to modernise its communications sector as Internet access and digital media usage surge nationwide. The government aims to strengthen regulation and ensure a media landscape aligned with digital sovereignty objectives.

In its 2026 budget, Senegal allocates CFA13.5 billion (about $24 million) to modernise the communications sector. The allocation represents 16% of the total CFA81 billion (about $145 million) approved last week by the National Assembly for the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy.

According to the official breakdown, the government will use the funds to improve media infrastructure, reinforce industry capacities and support reforms of the communications ecosystem. A presentation note shared by RTS, the national public broadcaster, states that a significant share will modernise equipment at the public television broadcaster and the Senegalese Press Agency (APS). The budget will also support the development of state digital platforms, including online administrative services.

To respond to rising online risks, the ministry plans to establish a media and digital-platform regulator in 2026. A statement posted on the MCTN’s Facebook page says the regulator will “put an end to laissez-faire in matters of hate speech, cyber harassment, disinformation or dangerous advertisements.” The ministry stresses that the state “will always support a free and responsible press” while emphasising that “freedom is not impunity.”

The financing aligns with the government’s broader objective to build a “sovereign, just and prosperous Senegal” in the digital era. According to Socialnetlink, Internet penetration reached more than 112% in 2024, reflecting widespread digital adoption. This expansion makes media modernisation essential to match evolving user behaviour and ensure reliable information.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum