Senegal has signed a landmark agreement with China’s Alibaba Cloud to provide secure, sovereign cloud infrastructure for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The announcement was made in Hangzhou following Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s visit to China in June. The partnership aims to support Africa’s first Olympic event with advanced digital services and lay the foundation for a long-term digital ecosystem in Senegal.
Alibaba Cloud infrastructure to power Youth Olympic Games in Senegal
With an initial investment of $5 million, Alibaba Cloud will deploy its hybrid Apsara Stack solution, allowing Senegal to host sensitive data locally while complying with global standards. This infrastructure will support digital tools such as e-ticketing, transport systems, live event streaming, and crowd management at the Games.
Selina Yuan, Vice President of Alibaba Group and President of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence International, called the move historic, stating it’s the first time a global cloud provider will support an Olympic event in Africa. Beyond the event, the infrastructure will transition into a national public cloud, supporting digital services across the public and private sectors.
Digital sovereignty and youth skills development at the heart of the deal
This agreement directly results from Senegal’s “New Deal Technologique” strategy, which prioritises digital sovereignty through innovation, local infrastructure, and skills development. In addition to technical support for the Games, the deal includes plans to train 200 cloud engineers, set up a Technology Centre of Excellence, and offer digital skill-building programs for 1,000 young Senegalese through the Alibaba Cloud Academy.
The Senegalese government believes the deal will accelerate innovation, strengthen local tech capacity, and position the country as a future digital hub in West Africa. Prime Minister Sonko described his China visit as “extremely instructive,” underscoring the importance of youth training in shaping Senegal’s digital future.
Alibaba’s broader vision for West Africa’s tech future
Alibaba’s involvement goes far beyond short-term event support. The company is working closely with Senegal Digital SA (SENUM) and local stakeholders to ensure that Senegalese tech experts are fully involved in the infrastructure rollout. Alibaba will also provide on-site technical support in Dakar, creating opportunities for knowledge transfer and collaborative innovation.
This strategic partnership reflects a broader trend of deepening Sino-African tech cooperation. With JOJ Dakar 2026 as a launchpad, Senegal aims to build a sustainable digital economy, create jobs, and boost its regional influence through technology.