The frequency of cyberattacks targeting the Senegalese state raises serious questions. Following incidents affecting the tax website in October and the national identity card department in January, the Public Treasury has now fallen victim to hackers.
While individual occurrences might be dismissed as technical glitches, their recurring nature and the critical public services targeted underscore a troubling reality: the profound vulnerability of Senegal’s digital and public infrastructure.
The imperative for Senegal’s digital resilience is now more pressing than ever. A cybersecurity expert interviewed in Dakar advocates for the establishment of a national cybersecurity agency to enhance incident response coordination. This expert also stressed the need to develop centers of excellence, foster research, and incorporate local specialists into national strategic digital initiatives.
Mountaga Tall’s family announces legal action
The Malian lawyer and politician, Mountaga Tall, was reportedly taken by armed and masked individuals earlier this month. This event draws striking parallels to the January 2024 arrest of lawyer Guy Hervé Kam in Burkina Faso.
Mountaga Tall, leader of the political movement Sens, now faces charges of “conspiracy against state security” and “criminal association.” Both cases exhibit alarming similarities: opaque disappearances or arrests, initial lack of clear official communication, widespread mobilization of legal counsel, and intense social media campaigns. These events highlight a growing tension between legitimate security demands and the fundamental respect for public liberties.
DRC constitutional reform debate continues
Ejiba Yamapia, president of the Church of Revival of Congo, has publicly called for a comprehensive overhaul of the 2006 Constitution, labeling it a “constitution of belligerence.”
The religious leader advocates for a new fundamental law centered on “development and sovereignty,” proposing a shift towards a more presidential system. He urged politicians to prioritize republican consensus over electoral interests.
These statements have sparked considerable anger within certain opposition factions. Prince Epenge, spokesperson for the Lamuka coalition, voiced his concern, accusing the Church of becoming “a soldier serving Félix Tshisekedi’s third term,” and directly criticized Ejiba Yamapia.
Death of African Athletics Confederation president
Colonel Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, who also served as president of the Cameroonian National Olympic and Sports Committee, passed away in Yaoundé at 75 years old. In Rabat, Moroccan athlete Aziz Daouda offered a heartfelt tribute to him this morning.
Daouda lamented, “Today, African athletics loses more than just a leader; it loses an ardent advocate.” He added that with Kalkaba Malboum’s passing, “one of the last great architects of a generation that believed Africa could claim its rightful place in global sports bodies” is gone.
Daouda concluded by recalling Kalkaba Malboum’s vision: “For him, Africa was not merely a talent pool destined to enrich other nations. It was meant to evolve into an organized, respected, and influential sporting powerhouse.”
