The appearance of the postal system in Senegal coincides with the country's colonial conquest. It served as a critical tool of colonialism. Before colonization, information was exchanged on foot or horseback under the services of kings and local rulers. The transmission of important messages across short distances was done with the help of drums played to a specific beat. This was used to announce events such as weddings, births, baptisms, deaths, enemy attacks, and preparation for a military expedition.
Under colonialism, a quicker method of communication appeared. For rulers, communication with other rulers and with their subjects spread throughout the country became a more and more pressing need. They had in their courts an epistolary service whose task was to carry correspondences.
People speaking Arabic, French and other African languages were in charge of this system which was starting to resemble a postal service. A full-fledged postal service was in operation by 1626. The year marked the start of postal communication between Senegal and France. Ships from the merchant associations of Rouen and Dieppe carried postal packages between the two countries.
In 1758, these associations were replaced by the French East India Company that was in charge of the postal transport between Europe and the African coast. In 1781, Senegal was made a colony of France, which increased communications between the two countries.
In 1850, the postal service was incorporated into a new organization and, in 1851, the postal transport between Gorée and Saint-Louis was transferred to people who crossed first the river and then the sea by simple pirogues.
The conquest of the colony's interior by Louis Faidherbe began in 1855. The French previously controlled trading posts only along the coast. Louis Faidherbe's conquest made a postal service necessary for official communication. Plans were put in place to set up telegraph lines throughout the country.
In 1879, the postal service was based on the French model.
By 1900, the principal centres of the postal service were all linked together. All principal centres, in turn, were connected to the capital. A system of telegraph lines covered almost the entire colony.
Directors-General Since 1962
• Ibrahima Ndiaye DG OPT from December 1962 to January 1973
• Ndaraw Cissé DG OPT from January 1973 to June 1976
• Mahady Diallo DG OPT from June 1976 to November 1978
• Assane Ndiaye DG OPT from November 1978 to November 1983
• El Hadj Malick Sy DG OPT/OPCE from November 1983 to June 1987
• Serigne Ahmadou Camara DG OPCE from June 1987 to December 1993
• Ibrahima Sarr DG OPCE from December 1993 to May 2000
• Iba Joseph Basse DG La Poste from May 2000 to August 2004
• Mamadou Thior DG La Poste from August 2004 to December 2013
• Siré Dia DG La Poste since January 2013
Company Mission
To stimulate the sustainable development of a universal postal service of quality, ease and accessibility.
To facilitate communication between the residents of this planet by:
Guaranteeing the free circulation of post on a single postal territory made up of interconnected networks,
Encouraging the adoption of common norms that are equitable and favour use of technology,
Ensuring co-operation and interaction between necessary parties,
Favouring an efficient technical co-operation,
Staying aware of the satisfaction and the evolving needs of clients.
