(Ecofin Agency) - Senegal, like many African countries, is fully embracing the tech revolution. The nation is ramping up investments in the digital sector and forging strategic partnerships, but it faces challenges in a key area.

Senegal has been ranked in Tier 3 scoring 67.17 out of 100 on the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index. This places the country far behind regional leaders like Ghana (99.27) and Benin (91.54). According to the ITU, Tier 3 countries show only basic commitment to cybersecurity. 

Despite this, Senegal has ambitious plans to strengthen its digital sector. In October, the government launched the "New Deal Technologique," aiming to position Senegal as a leader in digital innovation across Africa. The Ministry of Communication, Telecoms, and Digital Economy has set its sights on making the country a key player in the continent's digital transformation.

Le New Deal Technologique en 4 axes : ??#newdealtechnologique #SénégalNumérique pic.twitter.com/MOsxcafQbQ

— Ministère Communication - Télécoms et Numérique (@mctngouvsn) October 4, 2024

In recent years, Senegal has become a rising force in West Africa’s tech scene. It scored 69.3 on the ICT Adoption Index, well above Africa's average of 50.3. Additionally, the country is among the top 19 African nations in the United Nations’ 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI). One of Senegal's strengths lies in its telecom infrastructure, scoring 0.7328 out of 1. This robust infrastructure supports modern digital services and reliable connectivity, helping Senegal stand out as a regional digital hub.

Despite these achievements, Senegal's cybersecurity systems remain a weak spot. The country is vulnerable to cyberattacks, as shown on May 26, 2023, when a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack disrupted government websites, including the presidency’s. While no data was stolen, the incident highlighted the fragility of public systems. 

Cyberattacks are a growing threat across Africa. A report by Kenyan consultancy Serianu estimated cybercrime losses on the continent at $10 billion in 2022. Orange Cyberdefense’s 2024 Security Navigator Report suggests that cyberattacks cost Africa roughly 10% of its GDP annually. 

A "New Deal" for Technology 

Senegal’s "New Deal Technologique" includes a focus on building infrastructure to achieve technological sovereignty. As part of this strategy, the government partnered with Google to develop a sovereign cloud system. Shortly after, Senegal launched the Public Administration Digitalization Program (PRODAP) to modernize public services. 

However, these initiatives don’t directly address the country's cybersecurity gaps. On the ITU’s cybersecurity index, Senegal scored poorly in areas like organizational measures (9.06 out of 20) and capacity building (9.31 out of 20). To improve, the country needs national action plans that focus on training, education, and strengthening technical and organizational skills. 

In other areas, Senegal performs relatively well. It earned solid scores in technical measures (14.41), legal measures (15.56), and regional and international cooperation (18.83). 

Senegal’s focus on digital transformation is impressive, but cybersecurity remains a critical challenge. As the country continues to develop its digital infrastructure, addressing its vulnerabilities will be essential to building trust, protecting public systems, and achieving its ambitious goals in the digital age.