Senegal Halts National ID Issuance After Suspected Coordinated Cyberattack Senegal has temporarily suspended the issuance of national ID cards following a reported data breach affecting the country’s population database. The Directorate of File Automation (DAF), the government agency overseeing biometric records and identity documents, confirmed the disruption but assured the public that personal data remained intact. An investigation has been launched to assess the incident. The hacking group Green Blood Group claimed responsibility, alleging it exfiltrated approximately 139 terabytes of data, including biometrics, identity records, and immigration files. Reports suggest the attack may have been coordinated, as Senegal Numérique SA the agency leading the country’s digital transformation also experienced a breach around the same time. Iris Corporation, the Malaysian firm contracted to produce Senegal’s national ID cards since 2016, has dispatched teams to assist in the investigation. The government is also examining whether the supplier bears any liability. The initial contract, valued at roughly $90 million, was renewed in 2021 for $19.5 million to supply three million ID cards, with the deal set to conclude in 2023. This incident follows a recent cyberattack on Senegal’s taxation system and occurs amid the country’s ongoing New Deal Technologique digital transformation initiative, which received a $10 million grant from the Gates Foundation last year. The breach underscores growing cybersecurity challenges as Senegal expands its digital infrastructure.