• Burundi introduced a digital platform for civil registration management and the production of a new biometric national identity card.

• Authorities said the reform required legal amendments to replace manual civil registration procedures with digital processes.

• Burundi still faces infrastructure constraints, including limited electricity and internet access, with internet penetration standing at 11.1% at the end of 2025.

Burundi has continued the modernization of its public administration through a broad digitalization program focused on civil registration and citizen identification systems. On Tuesday, May 6, the Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security presented a digital platform dedicated to managing administrative documents and producing a new biometric national identity card.

According to Valentin Nahimana, Director General in charge of administrative programs at the ministry, authorities had prepared the reform for several years. However, implementation required adjustments to the existing legal framework, particularly provisions in the family code that still mandated manual registration of civil records. Nahimana said the government needed these legal changes to integrate new technologies into the administrative system.

The future biometric identity card will include several security features designed to reduce the risks of forgery and identity theft. Authorities said the card’s unique identification number will also serve as a reference for other official documents, including passports and various administrative services.

The initiative forms part of Burundi’s broader digital transformation strategy aimed at modernizing public services, strengthening data security and improving citizen identification systems. The project notably includes the digitization of civil registration records, which authorities have long managed manually, as well as the introduction of an identification system aligned with international standards.

On the technical side, authorities said they have nearly completed the required infrastructure and now await the adoption of a decree that will formally govern the system’s use. However, several challenges remain, including limited access to electricity and internet connectivity in some rural areas. According to the latest DataReportal figures, Burundi’s internet penetration rate reached 11.1% at the end of 2025, one of the lowest levels in sub-Saharan Africa.

Beyond the issuance of a national identity document, the project marks a new stage in Burundi’s digital transformation agenda. Authorities expect the initiative to strengthen administrative governance, facilitate access to public services and establish the foundations of a more modern and interconnected digital ecosystem.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Tunisia’s central bank launched the national “TUNPAY” label to unify and strengthen the country’s mobile payment ecosystem.

• Mobile transactions in Tunisia rose 81% in 2025 to 8.4 million operations worth 1.769 billion dinars ($616 million).

• Banks, payment institutions, and Tunisia’s postal service must integrate the TUNPAY visual identity into their digital and physical payment channels.

The Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) advanced its digital payments strategy through the launch of “TUNPAY,” a national label designed to unify and strengthen the country’s mobile payment ecosystem. In a note published on Monday, May 5, the institution said it developed the initiative in partnership with Société Monétique Tunisie (SMT).

The initiative aims to harmonize the identification of mobile payment services for the general public. Authorities want to make payment solutions more visible and easier for users to recognize.

Under the framework, banks, payment institutions, and Tunisia’s postal service, which operate electronic wallet services, must integrate the TUNPAY visual identity into their applications, digital interfaces, and physical acceptance points. Merchants, agencies, and agent networks using mobile payment services will also display the label.

Through the initiative, the central bank seeks to strengthen user confidence and accelerate the adoption of digital payments in a market that remains in a development phase. Authorities also want to improve service interoperability and simplify the user experience as financial technology offerings continue to diversify.

The move comes as mobile payments record sustained growth in Tunisia. According to BCT data, the number of mobile phone transactions increased by 81% in 2025 to 8.4 million operations. In value terms, the transactions reached 1.769 billion dinars ($616 million) during the year.

Despite the momentum, Tunisia’s market still trails several African countries where contactless payments and near-field communication (NFC) technologies are expanding rapidly. In Tunisia, many mobile transactions still rely on SMS-based validation systems.

Tunisian authorities nevertheless continue to roll out initiatives aimed at accelerating the digitization of financial services. The strategy reflects a broader trend across North Africa and the continent, where central banks seek to modernize payment infrastructure to promote financial inclusion and reduce cash usage.

With TUNPAY, Tunisia aims to lay the foundations for a payment environment that is more structured, more recognizable, and better aligned with the rapid expansion of digital financial services.

Samira Njoya

• Huawei, Moroccan authorities, and Dott Medical signed an agreement to deploy telemedicine solutions and upgrade primary healthcare facilities.
• The partnership will combine digital infrastructure, medical equipment, and remote consultation platforms, starting with a pilot phase.
• The initiative supports Morocco’s broader healthcare reform and aims to reduce regional disparities in access to care.

On the sidelines of GITEX Future Health Africa, Morocco’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei Morocco and Dott Medical on May 4 in Casablanca. The agreement aims to structure the deployment of telemedicine solutions and modernize primary healthcare facilities.

Amine Tehraoui oversaw the signing of the agreement. The initiative aligns with Morocco’s ongoing healthcare reform, which includes the gradual expansion of universal health coverage and efforts to reduce disparities in access to care.

The partnership will develop an integrated solution that combines digital infrastructure, medical equipment, and remote consultation platforms. The stakeholders aim to improve patient care, optimize the use of medical resources, and streamline care pathways, particularly in underserved regions.

Huawei will provide connectivity and digital infrastructure, while Dott Medical will supply specialized medical equipment tailored to healthcare facilities.

At the same time, the partners will ensure compliance with national health data protection requirements, which remain critical to building a sovereign digital health ecosystem.

Before scaling deployment, the partners will launch a pilot project to assess the technical, clinical, and organizational viability of the system. In addition, they will implement training programs to help healthcare professionals adopt and use these tools effectively.

This initiative comes as e-health gains momentum across Africa, where governments are leveraging digital tools to address demographic pressures and infrastructure constraints. In Morocco, authorities are betting on these technologies to improve system efficiency, as the country has about seven doctors per 10,000 inhabitants, a ratio that remains below some emerging market standards.

Beyond healthcare modernization, Morocco aims to capture economic and strategic value from digital health. The country seeks to build a local ecosystem, stimulate innovation, attract investment, and position itself as a regional hub in the sector.

Authorities reaffirmed this ambition during the launch of the first edition of GITEX Future Health Africa Morocco, which brought together public and private stakeholders in Casablanca to advance healthcare system transformation.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Burkina Faso launched a national portal to centralize public e-services and secure user access.
• The platform already lists 1,672 service guides, 95 digital procedures, and involves 183 public institutions.
• Authorities introduced a parallel citizen petition platform requiring 5,000 signatures for review.

Burkina Faso is accelerating the digitalization of public services as governments across Africa expand e-service delivery to improve efficiency and user trust.

The government launched a national portal on May 5 in Ouagadougou to centralize all online public services and secure access. Authorities designed the initiative as part of a broader digital transformation strategy aimed at improving service quality and strengthening user confidence in digital platforms.

The portal, accessible via www.service-public.gov.bf, aggregates digital services offered by the state and directs citizens to official channels. The government introduced the platform to address the growing issue of fraudulent administrative websites by ensuring the authenticity of online services.

At this stage, the platform provides 1,672 practical information sheets, 95 dematerialized procedures, and integrates 183 public institutions, reflecting the scale of the ongoing reform.

Authorities said the platform acts as a single gateway for digital administrative procedures. As a result, the system should simplify processes and improve the user experience in interactions with public administration.

In parallel, the government launched a dedicated citizen petition platform to strengthen public participation in institutional life. The system allows citizens to submit proposals and raise concerns directly with authorities. However, a petition must gather at least 5,000 signatures before authorities review it.

These tools demonstrate the government’s intention to accelerate public sector digitalization while increasing interaction with citizens. Officials said they will gradually integrate additional services into the portal to expand the dematerialization of administrative procedures.

Within this framework, each ministry will propose new procedures for digitalization in the coming months. Authorities will invite users to help prioritize these services, aiming to align digital public offerings with citizens’ actual needs.

The launch follows recent efforts to expand e-services. In early April, the public treasury introduced two digital platforms, Lanaya and e-BDT, to modernize financial operations management and simplify administrative processes.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum