Senegal is preparing to establish a strategic partnership with the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. This cooperation aims not only to ensure the success of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2026, but also to strengthen the country’s technological capabilities and offer new opportunities to young Senegalese.

It all started with the recent visit of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to China. On Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Hangzhou, he presided over the Sino-Senegalese Economic Forum, marking an important step in the economic rapprochement between the two countries. Subsequently, the head of government visited several major Chinese companies, including Alibaba, the world leader in e-commerce and a key player in digital innovation.

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At Alibaba’s headquarters, the Prime Minister attended a detailed presentation of the company’s innovative solutions and concrete prospects for a future partnership with Senegal. This partnership revolves around two main axes: technological support for the organization of the YOG Dakar 2026, and support for the training of Senegalese students in digital professions.

For the Senegalese authorities, this upcoming agreement represents a major opportunity. First, in terms of sports, where Alibaba’s technological expertise could optimize the organization of the Games, particularly through solutions for ticketing, crowd management, security, and digital coverage of the event. But the stakes go far beyond the YOG. “Senegal is counting on this partnership to strengthen the training of its students,” said the Prime Minister, describing his visit as “extremely instructive.” The government aims to build a true technological hub in West Africa. To achieve this, the support of a player like Alibaba could accelerate the creation of cutting-edge training programs and facilitate young Senegalese access to the digital skills of tomorrow.

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