A reported cyberattack on Senegal’s treasury highlights the vulnerability of African institutions to cybercrime. As parts of the continent go digital at breakneck speed, countries are struggling to build up their defences against hackers and fraudsters at the same pace.
Issued on: 15/05/2026 - 16:59
This week, Senegal fell victim to the third cyberattack on a public institution in less than six months.
The government confirmed "an incident" began affecting IT systems at the Public Treasury on 10 May, with users continuing to report disruption days later. According to media reports, hackers claimed responsibility and threatened to release 70 gigaoctets of sensitive data.
In October 2025, the Senegalese tax authority's website was targeted by Black Shrantac, a cyber extortion group. The hackers alleged they had extracted nearly one terabyte of data and demanded a ransom of $10 million.
