Abdourahmane Baldé has been appointed Director General of the Senegalese National Lottery (LONASE), replacing Toussaint Manga, the Presidency announced after a Council of Ministers meeting chaired by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on 1 July.
Baldé, a tax lawyer with qualifications in law and taxation, has spent much of his career in Senegal’s tax administration, specialising in fiscal and financial matters. Following his appointment, he thanked Faye for the confidence placed in him, describing the role as “an honour, but above all a responsibility in the service of our country.”
He pledged to carry out his duties with “rigour, integrity and a spirit of dialogue,” adding that his priorities include consolidating LONASE’s achievements, strengthening its operational performance, and reinforcing its contribution to Senegal’s economic and social development.
Baldé also said he would work closely with employees to improve efficiency, strengthen public confidence, and ensure the state-owned lottery continues to grow responsibly while maintaining high standards of governance.
He succeeds Manga, who had led LONASE since May 2024. In a farewell message, Manga thanked President Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko for the opportunity to serve, saying he was leaving the organisation with “a sense of duty fulfilled.”
During his tenure, Manga said LONASE recorded a net profit of CFA19 billion (approximately US$33 million) in 2025 and generated more than CFA90 billion (around US$157 million) for the Senegalese state between October 2025 and June 2026. He also congratulated Baldé on his appointment and wished him success in leading the organisation through its next phase of development.
Baldé’s appointment comes shortly after LONASE launched LPbet, an online sports betting platform aimed at strengthening the lottery’s position in Senegal’s regulated digital betting market. LPbet was designed to provide a locally developed alternative to international online bookmakers while expanding LONASE’s digital services.
At the platform’s launch, Manga described the initiative as a step towards enhancing the organisation’s digital capabilities and supporting Senegal’s ambitions for greater digital sovereignty.
Developed by a multidisciplinary team of more than 25 specialists, LPbet is available on desktop and mobile devices and integrates multiple mobile payment options. LONASE said the platform is intended to offer bettors a secure, regulated domestic alternative while helping retain a greater share of betting revenue within Senegal.
The launch reflects a broader shift across Africa as state lotteries expand digital platforms to compete with international operators and strengthen regulatory oversight.