SENEGAL
Since August 2008
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Restrictions on encryption standards
Law No. 2008-41 of 20 August 2008 on Cryptology (Loi No. 2008-41 du 20 août 2008 sur la cryptologie)
According to Art. 14 of Law No. 2008-41 of 20 August 2008 on cryptology, the supply and importation of cryptology mean that do not exclusively ensure authentication and integrity control functions requires a prior declaration to the National Cryptology Commission and the submission of a description of technical characteristics.
Coverage Means of cryptology
SENEGAL
Reported in 2022, last reported in 2024
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Low de minimis threshold
It is reported that the de minimis threshold, that is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties, is USD 30, below the 200 USD threshold recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Coverage Horizontal
SENEGAL
Since October 2008
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Restrictions on domain names
Point sn Naming Charter adopted on 1 October 2008 (Charte de nommage du point sn adopté le 1er Octobre 2008)
According to Art. 10 of the ".sn" domain name Charter, applicants domiciled abroad are required to designate an agent established in Senegal or, in default, to provide a letter of accreditation to the service provider for the registration and management of their ".sn" domain name.
Coverage Horizontal
SENEGAL
Since January 2008
Since January 2008
Since June 2014
Since January 2008
Since June 2014
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Law No. 2008-8 of 25 January 2008 on Electronic Transactions (Loi No. 2008-8 du 25 Janvier 2008 sur les Transactions Électroniques)
Law No. 2008-11 of 25 January 2008 on Cybercrime (Loi No. 2008-8 du 25 Janvier 2008 sur les Transactions Électroniques et loi No. 2008-11 du 25 Janvier 2008 sur la Cybercriminalité)
Decree No. 2014-770 of 14 June 2014 specifying certain obligations of operators regarding consumers' right to information. (Décret No. 2014-770 du 14 juin 2014 précisant certaines obligations des opérateurs quant au droit à l'information des consommateurs)
Law No. 2008-11 of 25 January 2008 on Cybercrime (Loi No. 2008-8 du 25 Janvier 2008 sur les Transactions Électroniques et loi No. 2008-11 du 25 Janvier 2008 sur la Cybercriminalité)
Decree No. 2014-770 of 14 June 2014 specifying certain obligations of operators regarding consumers' right to information. (Décret No. 2014-770 du 14 juin 2014 précisant certaines obligations des opérateurs quant au droit à l'information des consommateurs)
The Law on Electronic Transactions, the Law on Cybercrime, the Decree on Electronic Commerce, and Decree No. 2014-770 of June 14, 2014, specifying certain obligations of operators regarding consumers' right to information, provide a comprehensive consumer protection framework that applies to online transactions. While the law on Electronic Transactions and the Decree on Electronic Commerce lay down provisions for the protection of the consumer online, the law on Cybercrime specifies the criminal sanctions to be applied in case of violation of these standards.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20221005170556/https://www.cdp.sn/sites/default/files/transactions.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240622000341/https://www.adie.sn/sites/default/files/lois/4-cybercrime.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20241119213232/https://artp.sn/decret-sur-le-droit-linformation-des-consommateurs
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SENEGAL
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Ratification of the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Lack of ratification of the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Senegal has signed but not ratified the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.
Coverage Horizontal
SENEGAL
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Senegal has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.
Coverage Horizontal
SENEGAL
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Senegal has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.
Coverage Horizontal
SENEGAL
Since August 2007
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator User identity requirement
Decree 2007-937 of 7 August 2007 on the identification of purchasers and users of mobile telephone services offered to the public (Décret 2007-937 du 7 Août 2007 portant identification des acheteurs et utilisateurs des services de téléphonie mobile offerts au public)
According to Art. 1 of Decree 2007-937 of 7 August 2007 on the identification of purchasers and users of mobile telephone services offered to the public, operators holding a telecommunication licence open to the public are required to identify the purchasers and users of SIM cards when signing up for mobile telephony services.
Coverage Mobile service providers
SENEGAL
Reported in 2021, last reported in 2024
Pillar Content access |
Indicator Blocking or filtering of commercial web content
Blocking of commercial web content
The Senegalese Government has reportedly restricted access to various online platforms and applications under the justification of combating illegal content, despite lacking a clear and legally defined interpretation of the term “illegal content.” From 1 to 4 June 2023, major platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram were rendered inaccessible during mass protests following the sentencing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Subsequently, in August 2023, authorities imposed a ban on the social media platform TikTok, which, as of 2024, reportedly remains inaccessible in the country. Similar measures had been observed in previous years; notably, during the March 2021 protests in Dakar, the government blocked access to digital platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, and YouTube, and suspended the broadcast of television channels such as Sen TV and Walf TV.
Coverage Social media
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231208120515/https://netblocks.org/reports/social-media-and-messaging-apps-disrupted-in-senegal-amid-political-unrest-eA1R5pBp
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230928090527/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/02/world/africa/senegal-ousmane-sonko.html
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230802131229/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/senegal-suspends-tiktok-saying-it-was-threatening-stability-2023-08-02/
- https://www.context.news/big-tech/us-tiktok-ban-which-other-countries-have-banned-the-app
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SENEGAL
Reported in 2025
Pillar Content access |
Indicator Presence of Internet shutdowns
Presence of Internet shutdowns
The indicator "7.2.4 - Government Internet shut down in practice" of the V-Dem Dataset, which measures whether the government has the technical capacity to actively make internet service cease, thus interrupting domestic access to the internet or whether the government has decided to do so, has a score of 3 in Senegal for the year 2024. This corresponds to "Rarely but there have been a few occasions throughout the year when the government shut down domestic access to Internet."
In 2024, the Senegalese government reportedly implemented at least three internet shutdowns. One of the most notable occurred in February, when the government abruptly postponed the presidential elections originally scheduled for 25 February. In response to widespread protests, the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunication, and Digital Economy ordered the suspension of mobile data access, citing concerns over the spread of “hateful and subversive messages” on social media. This practice continued a pattern observed in 2023, when authorities shut down mobile internet in specific areas during periods of unrest, including in June and following the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Since August 2023, mobile data has reportedly been cut daily, typically from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., indicating a sustained use of internet disruptions to manage political tensions.
In 2024, the Senegalese government reportedly implemented at least three internet shutdowns. One of the most notable occurred in February, when the government abruptly postponed the presidential elections originally scheduled for 25 February. In response to widespread protests, the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunication, and Digital Economy ordered the suspension of mobile data access, citing concerns over the spread of “hateful and subversive messages” on social media. This practice continued a pattern observed in 2023, when authorities shut down mobile internet in specific areas during periods of unrest, including in June and following the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Since August 2023, mobile data has reportedly been cut daily, typically from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., indicating a sustained use of internet disruptions to manage political tensions.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://www.v-dem.net/vdemds.html
- https://www.accessnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/KeepItOn-2024-Internet-Shutdowns-Annual-Report.pdf
- https://pulse.internetsociety.org/en/shutdowns/?country_code=SN#form-search
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230818182217/https://netblocks.org/reports/social-media-restricted-and-mobile-internet-cut-in-senegal-amid-political-unrest-W80QkaAK
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SENEGAL
Since August 2008
Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Other import restrictions, including non-transparent/discriminatory import procedures
Law No. 2008-41 of 20 August 2008 on Cryptology (Loi No. 2008-41 du 20 août 2008 sur la cryptologie)
According to Art. 14 of Law No. 2008-41 of 20 August 2008 on cryptology, the supply and importation of cryptology mean that do not exclusively ensure authentication and integrity control functions requires a prior declaration to the National Cryptology Commission and the submission of a description of technical characteristics.
Coverage Means of cryptology
SENEGAL
N/A
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Open and transparent standard-setting process
Lack of participation of foreigners in standard-setting bodies and/or of a transparent standards regime
The ARTP (Telecommunications and Postal Regulation Agency) has the exclusive mandate to examine ICT products. It is reported that foreign companies cannot participate in standards setting.
Coverage ICT products
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231210172746/https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/senegal-standards-trade
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231213204246/http://www.numerique.gouv.sn/sites/default/files/loi%20n%C2%B02018-28%20du%2012%20d%C3%A9cembre%202018%20portant%20Code%20des%20Communications%20%C3%A9lectro...
SENEGAL
Since November 2018
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Self-certification for product safety
Law No. 2018-28 of 28 November 2018 on the Electronic Communications Code (Loi No. 2018-28 du 28 Novembre 2018 portant Code des Communications Electroniques)
The ARTP (Telecommunications and Postal Regulation Agency) is the only body authorised to approve and certify radio equipment imported into the country. This procedure is expressly required, and the certification is carried out according to the standards defined by the ARTP in accordance with the Decree on frequencies and frequency bands, radioelectric equipment and the operators of such equipment.
Coverage Telecom equipment and electronic devices
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231213204246/http://www.numerique.gouv.sn/sites/default/files/loi%20n%C2%B02018-28%20du%2012%20d%C3%A9cembre%202018%20portant%20Code%20des%20Communications%20%C3%A9lectro...
- https://www.itu.int/ITU-D/treg/Newsletters/Research%20Material/SEN_7decisions.pdf
- https://ib-lenhardt.com/type-approval/senegal
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SENEGAL
Since January 2008
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Requirement to allow the government to access personal data collected
Law No. 2008-12 of 25 January 2008 Concerning the Personal Data Protection (Loi No. 2008-12 sur la Protection des données à caractère personnel)
Art. 4 of Law No. 2008-12 provides that legally entitled public authorities, in the context of a particular task or the exercise of a right of communication, may request the controller to communicate personal data to them. It is not clear whether a court order is required.
Coverage Horizontal
SENEGAL
Since December 2016
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Requirement to allow the government to access personal data collected
Law No. 2016-33 of 14 December 2016 on Intelligence Services (Loi No. 2016-33 du 14 Décembre 2016 relative aux services de renseignement)
The Intelligence Services Law provides that in the event of a threat to national interests and the absence of any other means, the intelligence services may use intrusive technical surveillance and location procedures to collect information useful for neutralising the threat (Art. 10). To this end, the entities holding the data are obliged to provide the necessary assistance to the intelligence services without delay.
Coverage Horizontal
