Senegal Secures ITU Support for $1.96 Billion Tech Strategy
May 19th 2026
- The International Telecommunication Union pledged support for Senegal’s “New Deal Technologique” digital transformation strategy.
- Senegal aims to raise the digital sector’s contribution to GDP to 15% by 2034 and create 150,000 direct jobs.
- The government faces credibility challenges after the previous Sénégal Numérique 2025 program achieved limited implementation results.
Ali Drissa Badiel, the ITU’s representative for West Africa, said the organization stands ready to support the government’s “New Deal Technologique” strategy during remarks delivered in Dakar on Friday, May 15, at an early celebration of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. “The ITU will always stand alongside Senegal as a strategic partner to support this transformation,” he said.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye officially launched the New Deal Technologique in February 2025. The strategy replaced the former Sénégal Numérique 2025 plan and forms part of the broader national development agenda, Sénégal 2050.
The government valued the program at 1,105 billion CFA francs ($1.96 billion) and set several targets for 2034, including 95% national connectivity coverage, more than 500 certified technology start-ups, the creation of 150,000 direct jobs and an increase in the digital economy’s contribution to GDP to 15%.
However, the program still faces questions over implementation credibility.
The previous Sénégal Numérique 2025 strategy achieved only a 19% completion rate for its overall objectives and a 12% execution rate across its 69 planned projects.
Moreover, neither the ITU nor Senegal announced a formal cooperation agreement during the event, and officials did not disclose the operational details of any future collaboration.
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