Makhtar has over 20 years’ experience in telecommunications policy, serving in multiple leadership positions at Sonatel, Senegal’s incumbent national telecommunications operator, and at ARPT, the Senegalese regulatory authority.

Makhtar also has experience at the International Telecommunications Union, serving as Head of the Regulatory and Market Environment Division based in Geneva. This role involved assisting ITU Members in the development of enabling policy and regulatory environments, as well as analysing national telecommunication and ICT sector structures.