Passeports et cartes d'identité : Vers la fin du contrat avec l'opérateur malaisien et le recours à l'expertise nationale
The security of personal data and national control of identification systems are central to draft law No. 21/2026 amending the law establishing the ECOWAS biometric identity card. During the committee review of the text, members of parliament questioned the government on the protection of citizens' data, following the attack on the Directorate of File Automation (DAF). The committee members requested clarification on the nature of this attack, its potential consequences, and the measures taken to secure the information systems used in managing identity documents. They also inquired about the conditions for storing and managing data related to the cards, particularly in the context of the contract concluded with the Malaysian company responsible for their production. The draft law, already adopted by the committee, is being examined in plenary session at the National Assembly this Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Towards national control of identity data
Beyond the issue of cybersecurity alone, parliamentarians questioned the government about the future of the system after the expiration of the contract with the Malaysian operator. They specifically asked whether Senegal now possesses the necessary technical capabilities to produce identity cards and passports itself, and what role could be given to national expertise. In response, the Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Mouhamadou Makhtar Cissé, confirmed that an attack had affected the DAF (Directorate of Administrative and Financial Affairs). He indicated that a comprehensive audit had been launched to assess and strengthen the system's security. The government also announced the development of national data storage infrastructure, notably through a data center intended to enhance national control over information related to civil status, identity cards, and passports.
This approach is part of a broader strategy to gradually internalize the management of the document production system. According to the minister, Senegal intends to rely on national companies with the necessary expertise. The government also plans to have passports produced in Senegal by national companies. The report thus highlights two closely linked challenges: better protecting citizens' personal data and strengthening Senegal's capacity to control its own infrastructure and systems for producing official documents.
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