Skip to content
Executive Cybersecurity Week
Choose my training Sponsor ECW Log in · My ECW

Articles & insights

Why Dakar Is Becoming a Strategic Hub for Digital Technology, AI and Cybersecurity in West Africa

New Deal Technologique, AI strategy, digital sovereignty, SIPEN and the ecosystem: why Dakar is strengthening its position as a West African tech and cyber hub.

Explore the full story

Dakar is not yet “Africa's cyber capital”. That would be too strong a claim.

Several signals are converging, however: a national digital transformation strategy, sovereignty, digital identity, AI ambitions, regional institutions, technology events and a growing concentration of decision-makers. Together, they strengthen Dakar's position as a West African digital crossroads.

The important word is becoming: this is a trajectory, not an established status.

1. Senegal has articulated an explicit ambition to become a technology hub

The New Deal Technologique, launched in February 2025, forms part of Senegal 2050. The official document sets out the ambition to make Senegal a centre of technological excellence in West Africa and a leading hub on the continent.

The programme brings together:

  • digital sovereignty;
  • digitalisation of public services;
  • internet access;
  • digital identity;
  • innovation;
  • startups and local champions;
  • AI, cloud, cybersecurity, virtual reality, gaming and robotics.

The New Deal comprises 12 priority programmes and 50 flagship projects.

Strategic perspective
A digital hub is not built with startups alone. It is built with infrastructure, talent, demand, rules, institutions, capital and customers.

2. AI is now integrated into national strategy

Senegal launched a national AI development strategy in 2023. UNESCO published a country Readiness Assessment in 2026, examining governance, institutions, skills, data and the sociotechnical environment.

This places Dakar in a broader conversation: how can AI be adopted quickly while maintaining enough control over data, infrastructure, risks and dependencies?

This question directly connects with the African Union's approach, which since 2024 has promoted a continental AI strategy focused on development, inclusion and responsibility.

See: Responsible AI Governance in Francophone Africa.

3. Digital sovereignty is becoming an economic theme, not just a political one

Senegal now explicitly connects digital sovereignty, protection of critical data, infrastructure security and the gradual reduction of certain foreign dependencies.

This creates very concrete market opportunities for:

  • cloud and infrastructure;
  • cybersecurity;
  • digital identity;
  • data platforms;
  • AI security;
  • managed services;
  • governance and compliance;
  • training and certification;
  • architecture and resilience.

Sovereignty is therefore also becoming an investment and procurement issue.

4. Dakar already brings together public, private and international stakeholders

Dakar has a structural advantage: it is a political and economic capital, with major regional companies, banks, telecom operators, institutions and international organisations, strong links to Francophone Africa and international air connections.

These characteristics alone are not enough to create a technology hub. But they reduce the distance between:

  • public decision-makers;
  • corporate buyers;
  • suppliers;
  • investors;
  • talent;
  • institutions.

For a B2B market, this proximity matters greatly.

5. Events reinforce the concentration effect

In December 2026, Dakar hosts, among others:

SIPEN — 17–18 December

The Salon International des Professionnels de l'Économie Numérique, organised by OPTIC Senegal, focuses on cybersecurity, digital trust, sovereignty and growth. The organiser announces more than 5,000 participants and a hybrid format.

Executive Cybersecurity Week — 14–20 December

ECW combines ISO/IEC 27001 training/certification, an executive cyber/AI Forum, a Partner Hub, dinners and private experiences.

The ECW Executive Forum takes place on 19 December, the day after SIPEN.

This concentration creates a particularly interesting opportunity: professionals attending a broad digital economy event can extend their stay for more curated conversations focused on cybersecurity, AI and business.

6. Dakar can bridge several markets

Dakar is particularly well positioned to connect:

  • Francophone Africa and English-speaking stakeholders;
  • Europe and West Africa;
  • major companies and startups;
  • institutions and private suppliers;
  • local talent and international programmes.

For a technology company, this positioning can make Dakar a regional entry point — provided it understands local markets, decision-making processes and each country's specific needs.

7. What still needs to improve

A credible article must also examine what is missing.

The ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 places Senegal in Tier 3 — Establishing. Legal and technical measures and cooperation are relatively strong, but organisational measures and capacity development remain areas for improvement.

In other words, ambition is strong, but the work of building maturity continues.

This is precisely what creates opportunities for:

  • training;
  • skills transfer;
  • governance;
  • standards;
  • infrastructure investment;
  • local solutions;
  • responsible international partnerships.

For a startup: why look at Dakar?

Because it can test several hypotheses within one ecosystem:

  • banking;
  • fintech;
  • telecoms;
  • the public sector;
  • cybersecurity;
  • identity;
  • cloud;
  • AI;
  • digital services.

But the right objective is not to “sell to Africa” from Dakar.

The right objective is to use Dakar to understand, meet, adapt and build regional partnerships.

For a sponsor: the Partner Hub changes the approach

A conventional event sells visibility.

ECW aims to add a business layer: the Partner Hub allows authorised partners to identify profiles, build shortlists and request meetings in advance.

The goal is no longer simply to be seen in Dakar.

It becomes:

arriving in Dakar already knowing whom you want to speak with.

Explore ECW partnerships

Sources

All publications

Your voice conversation

ECW Assistant

A question, an idea, a journey to choose?

Speak with ECW Assistant, just like a phone call.

Microphone & privacy

Your microphone is required.

Conversations are processed and may be retained by ECW for your request: avoid sensitive or card information.

Or go directly to your journey

Executive Cybersecurity Week

Before you enter

Your visit.
Your choices.

ECW leaves the choice to you. Necessary services protect your visit. External media, including Spotify, activate only with your permission. Accept or decline: the same ECW experience awaits.

Cookie policy