DAKAR, October 30, 2026 — Visa has signed a two-year agreement with Senegal’s government to accelerate the adoption of digital payments, strengthen cybersecurity and support the modernisation of public services, as the West African country seeks to expand financial inclusion and develop its digital economy.
The US payments group said on Friday that the memorandum of understanding with Senegal’s Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Affairs would establish a framework for cooperation on financial innovation, regulatory issues and digital payment infrastructure.
The agreement marks Visa’s first partnership of its kind with a government institution in Senegal and forms part of efforts to advance the country’s New Deal Technologique, a national initiative aimed at accelerating digital transformation.
The collaboration will focus partly on exploring digital payment systems that could make financial transactions between citizens and government institutions more efficient.
These include person-to-government (P2G) payments, which allow individuals to pay taxes, fees and other public charges electronically, and government-to-person (G2P) payments, which enable authorities to distribute funds directly to individuals.
Such systems could help reduce reliance on cash, improve the delivery of public services and expand access to formal financial services, although specific projects have yet to be announced.
Samba Diouf, Senegal’s minister of telecommunications and digital affairs, said the agreement represented an important step towards translating the government’s digital ambitions into practical services.
“This strategic partnership with Visa marks a decisive step forward in our efforts to accelerate the New Deal Technologique,” Diouf said.
“Now is the time for action: we must be fully operational and move from intent to tangible results by deploying practical, secure and inclusive solutions that directly address the everyday needs of Senegalese citizens.”
The partnership also provides for knowledge sharing on cybersecurity and financial innovation, with both parties seeking to identify solutions that can support a more secure and resilient digital payments ecosystem.
The initiative comes as African governments and financial institutions increasingly explore electronic payments to improve public financial management, broaden financial inclusion and reduce the costs associated with cash-based transactions.
For Senegal, the proposed collaboration could provide an opportunity to integrate digital payment solutions more closely into public administration while supporting the wider development of financial technology services.
Visa said the agreement would be implemented through structured dialogue between the public and private sectors, allowing both parties to identify opportunities aligned with Senegal’s national priorities.
Aminata Kane, Visa’s senior vice-president and group country manager for western and central Africa, said the company would draw on its international payments expertise to support the government’s objectives.
“We are proud to bring Visa’s expertise to bear in support of Senegal’s ambitions,” Kane said.
“Together with the Ministry, we aim to identify tangible opportunities to facilitate access to digital services and support the long-term development of the payments ecosystem in Senegal.”
The agreement also reflects the growing role of international payment networks in Africa’s digital economy, where governments are seeking to improve interoperability, strengthen transaction security and extend financial services to underserved populations.
However, the memorandum establishes a framework for cooperation rather than a commitment to deploy specific payment platforms.
Neither Visa nor the Senegalese government disclosed the financial value of the partnership or provided a timetable for launching individual projects.
The two parties said future initiatives would be designed around Senegal’s domestic requirements, with an emphasis on practical applications that simplify financial transactions and interactions between citizens and public institutions.
SUPPORT AFRICAN BUSINESS JOURNALISM
Help XOL Africa expand independent business reporting across Africa.
SUPPORT XOL AFRICA →
