• National cloud to manage data, services, and operations during Dakar 2026

• Project backed by Alibaba Cloud partnership signed in 2025

• Initiative aims to support long-term digital sovereignty and local tech skills

Senegal is building a national cloud infrastructure to support the organization of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, as part of a broader push to strengthen its digital sovereignty.

The platform will ensure the availability, security, and real-time management of data linked to the competitions. It will also support key digital services for the Games, including ticketing, e-transport, and live streaming. By centralizing these functions on a locally managed system, authorities aim to maintain full control over digital operations during the event.

The project builds on a partnership signed in 2025 with Alibaba Cloud in Hangzhou, following Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s official visit to China. It is part of the “New Technological Deal” promoted by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, which seeks to strengthen the country’s digital capabilities and develop sovereign infrastructure by 2034.

Beyond the Youth Olympics, the infrastructure is intended to serve as the foundation for a national public cloud accessible to government agencies and businesses. The partnership with Alibaba also includes training for 200 cloud engineers, the creation of a technology excellence center, and support for 1,000 young talents, with the goal of building a local digital ecosystem and strengthening skills in this strategic field.

Samira Noya