Senegal hosts regional workshop on AI regulation in Dakar

The National Assembly of Senegal is hosting a regional workshop in Dakar from September 16 to 18, 2026, focused on the regulation of artificial intelligence in Francophone Africa. The event brings together parliamentarians from Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire, alongside digital sector experts and partners.

The workshop aims to analyze existing legal frameworks and develop regulatory responses tailored to African realities. Discussions center on the legal, ethical, economic, and institutional dimensions of AI, specifically addressing personal data protection, citizen rights, and digital sovereignty.

Aliou Sène, President of the Commission on Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Affairs, called for African parliaments to master these technological challenges to anticipate future evolutions. Honorable Mbéne Faye, representing the President of the National Assembly, emphasized that AI presents both development opportunities and challenges for protecting the general interest and digital sovereignty.