Sénégal: Risque De Manquer D'Experts IA Pour Se Défendre

• Professor Maïssa Mbaye warned that Senegal lacks the necessary expertise to manage AI and protect against its threats.
• The alert was issued on October 16, 2026, during the Sixth International Conference on Computer Research and its Applications (CNRIA).
• The generalization of digital public services could increase cyberattack exposure without adequate protection and skilled personnel.
• Strengthening national expertise in AI and cybersecurity is crucial for digital sovereignty.
• Pooling research platforms, technical resources, and training programs is proposed to build national competencies.

The nation's successful navigation of this profound technological transformation is contingent upon its ability to construct a strong, indigenous foundation of knowledge and specialized skills.

Professor Maïssa Mbaye, who serves as the president of the Senegalese Association of Computer Researchers, issued a significant warning regarding Senegal's readiness for the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. During the Sixth International Conference on Computer Research and its Applications (CNRIA), held on October 16, 2026, Professor Mbaye articulated a critical concern: Senegal risks facing adverse consequences from the AI boom without possessing the necessary competencies to effectively manage its applications and defend against potential threats. This alert, highlighting a crucial gap in national expertise, was subsequently reported by the Agence de presse sénégalaise.

The conference, which was organized by the École polytechnique de Thiès, provided the forum for Professor Mbaye to emphasize the urgent need to strengthen Senegal's national capabilities in both artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. He specifically cautioned that the government's strategic decision to generalize the digitalization of its public services, while a forward-looking initiative, could inadvertently escalate the nation's susceptibility to cyberattacks. This increased vulnerability, he argued, would become a reality if adequate protective measures and a sufficiently skilled workforce are not developed and implemented in parallel with the digital transformation.

The central theme of the CNRIA conference, "Cybersecurity and artificial intelligence for resilient and sovereign digitalization of public services," underscored the profound strategic challenges confronting Senegal in the digital age. This focus inherently brought to the forefront the critical importance of robust training and comprehensive skill development within the national context. Professor Alassane Diène, the director of the École polytechnique de Thiès, further reinforced this perspective by stressing the imperative to secure all digital systems and to thoroughly prepare personnel for the effective utilization of these emerging technologies.

Professor Mbaye expanded on the concept of digital sovereignty, unequivocally stating that it is intrinsically linked to the vigorous advancement of scientific research within the nation. He highlighted the pivotal role of doctoral training in generating advanced knowledge, which, in turn, empowers Senegal to innovate and create its own bespoke technological solutions. This internal capacity building is deemed essential for the country to maintain control over its digital future, rather than becoming overly reliant on external technological dependencies.

To effectively mitigate the identified risks and cultivate the essential expertise, a collaborative and integrated strategy has been proposed. This involves the strategic pooling of research platforms, the sharing of technical resources, and the development of unified training programs. Such mutualization is viewed as a critical mechanism for consolidating and significantly expanding national competencies across various sectors. The overarching objective extends far beyond the mere adoption of artificial intelligence; it encompasses enabling Senegal to fully master AI applications, proactively anticipate and address cybersecurity risks, and ultimately preserve its autonomy in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving global digital environment.

The nation's successful navigation of this profound technological transformation is contingent upon its ability to construct a strong, indigenous foundation of knowledge and specialized skills. Without this crucial internal capacity, the manifold benefits of digitalization and artificial intelligence could be overshadowed by substantial vulnerabilities, potentially eroding the very sovereignty and independence that the country strives to protect in the digital realm. The call for enhanced expertise is thus not merely a technical recommendation but a fundamental strategic imperative for Senegal's long-term prosperity and security.

Source: Original reporting via Agence de presse sénégalaise