• Mauritania launches “Ijraati” portal consolidating over 800 procedures
• Platform centralizes services, supports full digitization roadmap
• Country ranks 165th in UN 2024 e-government index

The Mauritanian government launched a digital platform for administrative procedures earlier this week. Named "Ijraati," the portal consolidates more than 800 processes into a single centralized directory of administrative procedures for citizens, investors and businesses, as part of the country’s broader public administration digitization strategy.

According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Innovation and Modernization of Administration, "Ijraati" allows users to consult required documents, processing times and the relevant agencies. The platform also includes an administrative dashboard and tracking tools to help ensure procedures remain up to date.

At the launch workshop, Minister Ahmed Salem Ould Bede said the official launch of the national administrative procedures portal "Ijraati" marks a key step in modernizing public administration, according to the Mauritanian Information Agency (AMI).

He outlined a three-phase roadmap: centralizing all procedures on a unified national platform; continuously updating them and ensuring data reliability in coordination with relevant ministries; and fully digitizing the most frequently used services and integrating them into the "Khdamati" platform so that transactions can be completed remotely, within set deadlines and with full transparency.

Several services have been added in recent months, including student enrollment at the University of Nouakchott; the Digital Road Traffic System (SNTR); investor services such as company registration and investment code approval applications; criminal record certificates; vehicle registration documents; certificates of loss for official documents; and services from the Mauritanian Electricity Company (SOMELEC).

These efforts come as the government steps up initiatives to position digital technology as a driver of socioeconomic development. In January 2025, it launched the "Digital-Y" project, backed by four million euros in funding through a partnership with German development cooperation. The project aims to further integrate digital tools into public administration to modernize services and strengthen administrative transparency.

Mauritania currently ranks 165th globally in the United Nations’ 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.3491 out of 1, below both the African and global averages. Among the index’s three sub-indices, the country records its lowest score in online services, at 0.1688 out of 1.

On cybersecurity, Mauritania falls within the fourth and second-to-last tier of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Index 2024. The ITU notes a relatively solid performance on the legislative front but identifies room for improvement at the organizational, technical, capacity-building and cooperation levels.

Availability vs. adoption

The faster rollout of digital services nonetheless raises questions about real-world uptake and whether the administration is effectively reaching the population it aims to serve. According to the ITU, 2G coverage reached 97% of the Mauritanian population in 2023. In 2022, 3G and 4G networks covered 43.9% and 34.7% of the population, respectively.

Beyond network coverage, adoption depends on access to compatible devices such as smartphones, computers or tablets. Some 56.61% of Mauritanians aged 15 and older owned a smartphone at the end of 2024, according to the World Bank.

Other factors also shape usage, including the affordability of telecom services, digital literacy, service quality and public trust in government platforms. Mauritania had approximately two million internet users at the end of December 2025, representing a penetration rate of 37.4%, according to DataReportal.

Isaac K. Kassouwi

• The government operationalized $500 million to support digital development.
• Authorities will prioritize broadband infrastructure and public service digitalization.
• The national digital plan targets $1 billion in public investment over 2026–2030.

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said it operationalized $500 million in financing to accelerate digital development as part of its national strategy.

Officials announced the measure on Feb. 17 after a working session chaired by Digital Economy Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba with a high-level delegation of experts from the World Bank and the French Development Agency.

The Ministry of Digital Economy said technical assistance programs are nearing completion to launch investments around two priority pillars.

The first pillar focuses on strengthening digital infrastructure. Authorities plan major works to connect the country’s main cities to high-speed broadband networks. The government aims to improve service quality and significantly reduce internet access costs for the population.

The second pillar targets public service digitalization and skills development. Authorities will prioritize the dematerialization of civil registry services to simplify administrative procedures and improve the reliability of public data. The program will also include training and capacity-building initiatives to support administrative transformation and enhance employability in digital professions.

The announcement follows the signing in June 2025 of financing agreements totaling $1.9 billion with the World Bank, including $400 million specifically allocated to the digital sector. The European Union has also committed €100 million, equivalent to about $117.5 million, to support the country’s efforts.

The financing forms part of broader efforts to implement the national digital transformation strategy, which authorities consider a lever for socio-economic development. To support the National Digital Plan 2026–2030 (PNN2), which the government launched in October 2025, the administration plans $1 billion in public investment over five years. Authorities have already mobilized $500 million in external support from international partners and continue to explore additional financing partnerships.

According to the GSMA, digital technologies could contribute about $4.1 billion to the Congolese economy by 2029 if the country invests heavily in key sectors such as industry and agriculture. However, the country currently ranks 179th out of 193 economies in the United Nations E-Government Development Index. The country remains below the averages for Central Africa, Africa and the global benchmark.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Chad opened talks with Azerbaijan to digitalize transport services and infrastructure.
• Discussions covered e-documents, smart traffic management, and airport digital platforms.
• Authorities kept the partnership at the discussion stage while technical work continued.

The Chadian government explored a partnership with Azerbaijan to accelerate transport sector digitalization. The agenda dominated a meeting held on Monday, February 16, between Boukar Michel, Minister of Digital Economy, and Fatima Goukouni Weddeye, Minister of Transport, who received an official Azerbaijani delegation on mission in Chad.

The talks focused on several strategic priorities for the sector. The discussions covered the digitalization of transport documents and services, the deployment of intelligent road traffic monitoring and management systems using geolocation, and the modernization of airport platforms through integrated digital solutions. Both sides also examined advanced control, alert, and surveillance systems to strengthen security and improve operational performance.

According to Chadian authorities, “the Azerbaijani delegation presented proven technological solutions adapted to national realities and capable of effectively supporting the digital transformation of Chad’s transport sector.”

This rapprochement formed part of a broader framework to strengthen cooperation between Chad and Azerbaijan on digital transformation, which began in late January 2026 with the signing of two memorandums of understanding. Boukar Michel said the initiative aligned with the national digital transformation strategy, which aims to improve public service quality, increase transparency and administrative efficiency, strengthen the security of strategic infrastructure, and stimulate innovation and economic attractiveness.

In the transport sector, the supervising ministry had already announced, in September 2025, the launch of a large-scale project to digitalize its financially oriented administrative services. The project plans to deploy an integrated digital system that centralizes all services, including vehicle registration cards, driving licenses, transport licenses, accreditations, and the mandatory waybill.

Authorities said the proposed cooperation between Azerbaijan and Chad on transport digitalization remained at the discussion stage. However, officials said technical work would continue to identify priority projects, define a clear operational framework, and establish an implementation timeline.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• The Democratic Republic of Congo aims to train 250,000 young people in digital skills under a five-year national program.
• The government signed a memorandum of understanding with Cisco and Cybastion in September 2025 to implement the initiative.
• Authorities target digital skills as a response to youth unemployment, as young people represent more than 50% of the working-age population.

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced on Monday, February 16, the completion of the first phase of trainer training in Kinshasa under a national digital upskilling program that ultimately targets 250,000 young Congolese. Authorities will now extend the project rollout to the provinces.

On February 13, 2026, the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education detailed the program framework. Five hundred young participants began a hybrid training pathway, and organizers will use a final test to select 200 top-performing candidates. Program managers will assign selected participants to three levels—Basic, Intermediate and Advanced—and will deploy them nationwide as skills multipliers.

In September 2025, the Congolese government signed a memorandum of understanding with Cisco and Cybastion to implement the program over five years. The curriculum will provide training in networking and cybersecurity, data science, programming and operating systems, technical English, digital transformation and entrepreneurship.

The ministry stated that, beyond training, “Cisco and Cybastion will support the professional integration of young people through their network of local partners, thereby creating real employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.”

The completion of the trainer training phase marks the effective launch of the broader youth training program in digital professions. Authorities view digital technology as a key driver of economic and social development and as a vehicle for job creation and youth empowerment, particularly as employment concerns persist in the country.

A 2022 study by the Ministry of Planning showed that individuals aged 15 to 29 account for 50.44% of the working-age population. The study reported a youth unemployment rate of 2.5%, compared with 1.4% for adults, and it showed that long-term unemployment affects 61.8% of young people versus 61.2% of adults. The study estimated that the country will need to create about 9.6 million jobs between 2022 and 2030 to stabilize unemployment and labor force participation rates, and nearly 35 million jobs by 2050.

Isaac K. Kassouwi