The Senegalese state wants to make Wave a channel for public payments
The digital minister, Samba Diouf, met Wave’s teams on 10 September. Transport, health, the Treasury: the goal is to pay for and collect more public services through mobile money.
- The digital minister met Wave on 10 September 2026 to discuss public services.
- Transport, health and the Treasury are mentioned; health and the Social Security Fund already work with Wave.
- Wave accounts for about 80% of mobile money in Senegal: 459 of 571 billion CFA francs outstanding on 21 August.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Samba Diouf, visited Wave Senegal’s offices on Thursday 10 September 2026. The talks focused on access to digital public services and the digitisation of several sectors, particularly transport, health and the Treasury.
Partnerships already in place
The visit builds on existing agreements. In April 2026, the Ministry of Health concluded a partnership with Wave Digital Finance to gradually digitise payment for services in public health facilities. In September, the Social Security Fund announced that some benefits would be paid directly into beneficiaries’ Wave accounts.
A dominant player
The choice of Wave is explained by its weight: according to Agence Ecofin, the operator holds about 80% of Senegal’s mobile money market. As of 21 August 2026, electronic money outstanding in Senegal stood at 571 billion CFA francs, 459 billion of it with Wave.
This position also raises a question the state will have to settle: relying on a dominant player speeds up digitisation, but makes part of public services dependent on a single private provider. The communications published after the visit give no timetable.
- Senegal and Wave Explore Collaboration to Accelerate Digital Public Services, TechAfrica News.
- Le Sénégal veut renforcer le rôle de Wave dans les paiements publics, Agence Ecofin.
- Samba Diouf discute avec Wave des perspectives de collaboration pour les services publics, Senego.
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