Senegal is focusing on sovereign cloud systems and AI within its digital transformation agenda to provide tangible gains in public services. This initiative falls under the New Deal Technologique, a national strategy addressing infrastructure, digital government, innovation, cybersecurity and technology skills.
The program includes 12 programs and 50 priority projects, expected to require CFA1.105 trillion, equivalent to roughly $2 billion, between 2025 and 2034. Developing sovereign cloud infrastructure is a main priority, allowing the government to host sensitive public-sector information within systems over which Senegal retains greater national control.
Senegal’s plan mirrors a rising unease across African states regarding the location of public data and the influence of overseas tech firms over vital digital assets. By adopting a sovereign cloud, governments can exercise tighter control over information and set their own policies for security, accessibility and data management.
Read Also: Egypt startup digitizes Cairo’s cash-only waste trade
Artificial intelligence forms another central pillar, with Senegal intending to trial AI solutions in sectors such as health care, schooling and public administration. Officials view AI as a means to enhance the quality of services and to cut both the duration and expense of handling citizen-government interactions.
The broader digital agenda also addresses cybersecurity, digital identity and the overhaul of public services. Officials indicate that projects will be ranked based on how feasible they are, the financing that can be secured, and the potential for tangible results. This methodology is designed to stop initiatives from remaining mere announcements lacking concrete implementation targets.
