# Senegal civil status and identity system reform

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/senegal-civil-status-and-identity-system-reform
> Updated: 2026-09-27T10:31:24.000Z. Sources: 16. Developments: 4.

Senegal is pursuing legislative and technological reforms to modernize its national identification and civil status systems.

In mid-September 2026, the National Assembly began examining a bill to reform the ECOWAS biometric national identity card to address the upcoming expiration of the first generation of cards. To manage this transition, authorities are pursuing administrative and legislative measures to extend the validity of the 2016 cards. Ibrahima Dieng, the Director of File Automation (DAF), noted that this requires a 2026 decree and legislative modification to be adopted by deputies and promulgated by the Head of State. While the process is underway, the specific duration and affected cards have not been finalized.

Simultaneously, the National Organization for the Promotion of Civil Status (ONPEC) held a forum on September 23, 2026, to discuss digitalization. Ibrahima Etia of the National Civil Status Agency (ANEC) emphasized that digitalization is the primary solution to existing challenges. While several of the country’s 629 civil status centers have begun digital transformation, ANEC officials stated that a comprehensive law on computerization is still required to establish a legal framework for a centralized, digitized national civil status register.

By late September, ANEC Director General Matar Ndao reported that approximately 77% of civil status centers have been integrated into the modernization process, with over 15.3 million records digitized. This transition aims to resolve issues such as transcription errors and missing documents, which previously prevented thousands of students from sitting for national exams. To facilitate access, the ‘Sama État civil’ platform now allows citizens to request birth, marriage, and death certificates remotely.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-27: Senegal digitizes civil status services to resolve birth certificate issues

Senegal is digitizing its civil status services, with 77% of centers modernized to resolve birth certificate errors and shortages that have hindered education and administrative processes.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/senegal-digitizes-civil-status-services-to-resolve-birth-certificate-issues

### 2026-09-24: Senegal considers extending validity of 2016 biometric ID cards

Senegal is working to extend the validity of ECOWAS biometric identity cards issued in 2016 through new legislative and administrative procedures.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/senegal-considers-extending-validity-of-2016-biometric-id-cards

### 2026-09-23: Senegal seeks to reform civil status system through digitalization

Senegal is moving toward digitalizing its civil status system through a national remediation plan aimed at modernizing record management and creating a secure national register.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/senegal-seeks-to-reform-civil-status-system-through-digitalization

### 2026-09-16: Senegal to reform ECOWAS biometric identity card

Senegal's National Assembly is reviewing a bill to reform the ECOWAS biometric identity card to modernize identification systems and enhance personal data security as older cards expire.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/senegal-to-reform-ecowas-biometric-identity-card

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Cite as: Senegal civil status and identity system reform. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/senegal-civil-status-and-identity-system-reform