WSIS 2026 in Geneva: Senegal triumphs with two projects crowned global digital "Champions".

Senegal's digital genius shines internationally. At the 2026 edition of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Awards, organized from July 6 to 10 in Geneva by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Senegal made a big splash by placing two of its technological projects among the 90 global "Champions" of innovation.

In total, following a hotly contested international voting campaign and a rigorous selection process, eight Senegalese initiatives were recognized, including six among the 360 ​​global nominees. This historic achievement confirms the maturity and exceptional dynamism of the local tech ecosystem.

Two gems at the pinnacle of global innovation

Selected from the cream of global innovation, two projects stood out in particular for their major socio-economic impact.

On one hand, the Derem platform , led by Racine Sarr in the E-Business category, streamlines commercial exchanges by directly connecting economic players. A true catalyst for growth, it aims to build an interconnected and high-performing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

On the other hand, the Sunu SOUBA solution , developed by Mouhammadou Dia and Abdou Ba within the think tank Framework for African Transformation and Impact (FATI), is making its mark in the E-Employment category. This application uses artificial intelligence and data science to revolutionize the job market by optimizing the matching of recruiters and job seekers to promote inclusive professional integration.

This double award highlights the exceptional journey of Mouhammadou Dia. He had already distinguished himself in 2026 as a finalist in the prestigious Innovate for Impact competition at the AI ​​for Good Global Summit thanks to BiomeX , a cutting-edge AI dedicated to improving health services.

Six other Senegalese initiatives honored

Proof that technological diversity is very real in the land of Teranga, six other projects proudly carried the national colours among the official ITU nominees.

In the field of research and infrastructure, Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) stands out with SenePredic-Network , developed by the Higher Polytechnic School (ESP). Connected education and healthcare are also prominent thanks to the Jangalma platform for e-learning and KadduCare for the e-health sector.

The promotion of heritage and culture is also a focus, with the Discover Senegal initiative dedicated to cultural diversity and local content. In the field of cutting-edge technologies, the OneNine project stands out for creating an AI data infrastructure specifically designed for low-resource African languages. Finally, the Appsaya project completes this list of achievements in the category of international and regional cooperation.

Digital technology, a major lever for national development

For the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Affairs, this harvest of awards in Geneva is no accident. It reflects the relevance of "Made in Senegal" solutions to contemporary challenges such as youth unemployment, the digitalization of commerce, and linguistic sovereignty in AI.

By rising to the top of the world at this global forum, Senegalese innovators are sending a strong signal: Senegal is no longer just a figurehead in the digital transition, it is becoming a major and inspiring player for all of Africa.