The verdict in three sentences
From Ziguinchor, selling online to Dakar and all of Senegal is realistic with a well-run WhatsApp channel, Wave or Orange Money payment before shipping and a price that includes delivery. Startup costs can stay close to 0 FCFA, but one pricing mistake on the 2,000 to 5,000 FCFA shipping per parcel is enough to wipe out the margin. The 12-hour course at 50,000 FCFA is mainly about setting these rules before the first order.
Selling from Casamance: the numbers that matter
Casamance products have a strong image in Dakar and among the diaspora: mangrove honey, madd and baobab juice, palm oil, soaps, baskets, fabrics. The challenge is not demand but logistics: 450 km by road through The Gambia or an overnight boat trip. Every parcel must therefore be built into the price.
| Cost item (2026 ballpark) | Amount | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Ziguinchor to Dakar by road carrier | 2,000 to 3,500 FCFA per parcel under 5 kg | 24 to 48 h |
| Shipping by boat (freight) | 3,000 to 5,000 FCFA per parcel | Safer for well-packed liquids |
| Last-mile delivery in Dakar by motorbike | 1,000 to 2,500 FCFA | Depends on the neighborhood |
| Packaging (jar, box, bubble wrap) | 300 to 1,000 FCFA per order | Essential for honey and juices |
| Wave fee for the customer | 1%, capped | Simple money transfer |
| WhatsApp Business or Facebook shop | 0 FCFA | Free catalog |
| Hosted online shop | 0 to 15,000 FCFA per month | Useful after 30 orders a month |
A core rule taught in the course: the Dakar customer pays for the product and delivery, collected via Wave or Orange Money before shipping. Cash on delivery remains possible within Ziguinchor, never for a parcel crossing the country.
Setting your price to keep a 30% margin
| Product | Production cost | Packaging + delivery share | Dakar selling price | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honey, 1 liter | 4,500 FCFA | 1,500 FCFA | 8,500 FCFA (about 13 EUR) | 2,500 FCFA, or 29% |
| Madd juice, box of 6 bottles | 3,600 FCFA | 2,000 FCFA | 8,000 FCFA | 2,400 FCFA, or 30% |
| Handmade soap, pack of 4 | 2,000 FCFA | 800 FCFA | 4,000 FCFA | 1,200 FCFA, or 30% |
| Woven basket | 6,000 FCFA | 2,500 FCFA | 12,500 FCFA | 4,000 FCFA, or 32% |
| Casamance discovery box | 9,000 FCFA | 2,500 FCFA | 16,500 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA, or 30% |
These are ballpark examples. The principle matters more than the amounts: grouping several orders into one shipment to a single pickup point in Dakar cuts the delivery share per parcel by 30 to 50%.
Getting trained: which option for a Ziguinchor producer
| Option | 2026 price | Suited to Casamance? |
|---|---|---|
| Free e-commerce videos | 0 FCFA | Rarely: European examples, card payments |
| One-off workshops from women's support projects | 0 to 25,000 FCFA | Useful, but short with no follow-up |
| In-person training in Dakar | 100,000 to 250,000 FCFA, plus travel | Expensive from Ziguinchor |
| Kolonell, level 2 'E-commerce: selling online in Senegal' | 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR, about 83 USD) | Yes: WhatsApp, Wave, Orange Money, regional delivery |
| Full E-commerce and online selling track | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | To aim for a real shop and business management |
The course E-commerce: selling online in Senegal and francophone Africa, taught in French, has 6 modules: choosing what to sell, to whom and at what price, setting up your sales channel, getting paid safely, delivering to Dakar, the regions and the diaspora, writing product listings and messages, then building loyalty and measuring results. It is level 2 (Practical) of the E-commerce and online selling track, at 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR) for 12 hours, and can be followed on a phone.
Mini case study
Aïssatou, 34, a honey and juice producer in Ziguinchor, mainly sells at the Saint-Maur market and to occasional passing customers. She takes the course (50,000 FCFA), creates an 8-product WhatsApp Business catalog and organizes a grouped shipment every Thursday to a pickup point in Dakar.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
In her second month, she handles 25 orders with an average basket of 12,000 FCFA, or 300,000 FCFA in sales. At a 30% margin, that is 90,000 FCFA of extra profit per month. The course is repaid in just over two weeks of activity. A 2026 estimate, to adjust to actual order volume and season.
FAQ
Do I need a website to start?
No. WhatsApp Business and a Facebook page are enough for the first 20 to 30 orders a month. An online shop, at 0 to 15,000 FCFA a month, becomes useful later.
How do I avoid customers who do not pay?
For any parcel to Dakar or the regions, collect 100% via Wave or Orange Money before shipping. The payment module details template messages and how to verify transfers.
How do I ship honey or juice without breakage?
Sealed jar under film, plastic bag, bubble wrap and a rigid box: about 500 to 1,000 FCFA of packaging per order. Breakage then drops below 2%.
Can I sell to the diaspora?
Yes, the course covers shipping to the diaspora and collecting payment from abroad. Allow 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA to ship a 2 kg parcel to Europe, built into the price.
I have never sold online, is this the right level?
If you already sell face to face, yes. Otherwise, level 1 'Selling on WhatsApp' (25,000 FCFA, 5 h) is a good entry point, credited toward the full track.
Take the next step. Enroll in E-commerce: selling online in Senegal and francophone Africa: 12 hours online, 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR), certificate of completion. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
