Why mobile money is non-negotiable for Senegal e-commerce
Over 70% of online payments in Senegal in 2026 flow through Wave or Orange Money. Credit cards remain a niche payment method; mobile money is the dominant rail. If your website only supports card payments, you are effectively closing the door to most of your local audience. This guide walks through every integration option — from the simplest payment link to full API checkout with webhook reconciliation — in plain terms for developers and business owners alike.
Four integration modes: pick what fits your stack
Both Wave and Orange Money support several integration approaches. Choosing the right one depends on your transaction volume and technical capacity.
Payment link (zero code): Wave Business lets you generate a static or dynamic pay.wave.com link from the dashboard. Paste it into a WhatsApp message or a "Pay now" button. No API key required. Best for service providers sending one-off invoices. Downside: manual reconciliation only.
QR code: Both Wave and Orange Money generate scannable QR codes. A dynamic QR encodes the exact amount so the customer just scans, confirms the PIN, and payment is done. You embed the QR as an SVG on your checkout page. Works without a server-side API call.
REST API with redirect (recommended for e-commerce): You POST to the Wave or Orange Money API, receive a hosted payment URL, redirect the customer there, and listen for a server-side webhook once payment completes. This is the same model as Stripe Checkout — reliable and tamper-proof.
Mobile SDK: For Flutter or React Native apps, both providers publish SDKs that launch the installed mobile app directly, removing the browser redirect step.
Wave Business API integration: step by step
- Register at business.wave.com and complete KYB (national ID of the business owner, NINEA, and a valid RCCM extract). Approval takes 3–7 business days.
- Retrieve your API key from the Developer section in your dashboard.
- Create a payment session:
`
POST https://api.wave.com/v1/checkout/sessions
Authorization: Bearer
{
"amount": "25000",
"currency": "XOF",
"success_url": "https://yoursite.sn/thank-you",
"error_url": "https://yoursite.sn/payment-failed",
"client_reference": "order_1042"
}
`
- Redirect the user to the
wave_launch_urlreturned in the response. - Verify the webhook on your server using the HMAC-SHA256 signature header before marking the order as paid.
Wave charges approximately 1% per transaction to the merchant (roughly 250 FCFA on a 25,000 FCFA order). Settlement to your Wave Business wallet is instant.
Orange Money Max It integration
Orange Money's web checkout in Senegal is handled through the Max It platform (maxitpay.orange.sn):
- Apply for merchant access and submit your business documents.
- Receive your
merchant_keyandsecretvia the developer portal. - Initiate a payment:
`
POST https://api.maxitpay.orange.sn/webpayment
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{
"merchant_key": "YOUR_KEY",
"currency": "XOF",
"order_id": "ORDER_2026",
"amount": 50000,
"return_url": "https://yoursite.sn/confirmation",
"cancel_url": "https://yoursite.sn/cancel",
"notif_url": "https://yoursite.sn/webhook/om"
}
`
- The customer is redirected to the Orange Money payment page, enters their PIN, and confirms.
- Orange Money posts the confirmation payload to your
notif_url.
Orange Money charges approximately 1.5% per transaction. Bank settlements arrive within 24–72 hours.
Handling webhooks and avoiding false positives
The most critical rule: never confirm an order based solely on the browser redirect URL. A user can manually craft a success URL. Always wait for the server-to-server webhook before fulfilling the order.
Key implementation rules:
- Store every incoming webhook event in a
payment_eventstable with timestamp and status. - Validate the HMAC signature on every webhook request.
- Implement a reconciliation job every 15 minutes that polls the API for payments still in "pending" status after 10 minutes — network failures do happen.
- Return HTTP 200 immediately upon receiving a webhook, then process asynchronously to avoid timeout retries flooding your queue.
Testing safely before going live
Wave provides a sandbox environment at sandbox.wave.com with test phone numbers. Orange Money Max It offers a staging environment with separate credentials. Always test the full happy path (successful payment), the cancel flow, and timeout edge cases before flipping to production.
FAQ
How much does a Wave + Orange Money integration cost?
Depending on site complexity, a dual checkout with webhook handling and reconciliation typically costs 150,000–350,000 FCFA. API access is free; only transaction fees apply (roughly 1% Wave, 1.5% Orange Money).
Do I need a registered company to access merchant APIs?
Yes. Both Wave Business and Orange Money Max It require a valid NINEA and RCCM extract. Personal accounts do not qualify for merchant API access.
Can both payment options appear side by side on a single checkout page?
Absolutely — and it's the recommended approach. Two buttons ("Pay with Wave", "Pay with Orange Money") each trigger their respective API flows. A shared abstraction like createPaymentSession(provider, amount) keeps your code clean.
How long does merchant onboarding take?
Wave: 3–7 business days. Orange Money Max It: 7–15 business days depending on document completeness. Plan this into your launch timeline.
Let's talk about your project. Kolonell handles Wave and Orange Money integration end-to-end for your e-commerce site. 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.
