• Morocco signed eight memorandums of understanding to launch the operational phase of the Idarati X.0 unified digital services platform.

• Authorities will build the system around a national digital wallet authenticated through the electronic national identity card (CNIE).

• Morocco ranks 90th globally and 4th in Africa in the 2024 UN E-Government Development Index, with 600 public services already online.

Morocco is accelerating the structuring of its e-government ecosystem. Authorities signed eight memorandums of understanding in Rabat on Tuesday, February 10 to launch the operational phase of the “Idarati X.0” project, a meta-application designed to become the single entry point for digital public services.

The Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform leads the project in coordination with the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection (CNDP). The initiative aims to structure a comprehensive ecosystem around a national digital wallet. Authorities will use this core infrastructure to allow citizens to access multiple administrative services through a single interface, relying on the electronic national identity card (CNIE) as the authentication foundation.

The agreements commit several key institutions, including the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), the National Road Safety Agency (NARSA), and the National Agency for Land Conservation, Cadastre and Cartography (ANCFCC). Other public administrations also joined the framework, underscoring a cross-sector approach based on system interoperability.

Authorities designed Idarati X.0 as more than an aggregator of existing services. The project seeks to redesign user pathways, reduce fragmentation across public platforms and centralize interactions between citizens and the administration. Project leaders structured the rollout into four phases, ranging from an initial benchmark to the assessment of capital expenditures (Capex) and operating costs (Opex), over an estimated six-month period.

Authorities placed data protection at the center of the framework. Project leaders adopted “privacy by design” and “security by design” principles and integrated regulatory compliance and cybersecurity requirements at the technical design stage. The CNDP participates in the process to ensure alignment with national standards on data confidentiality and governance.

The initiative forms part of the broader “Maroc Digital 2030” strategy, which seeks to accelerate the dematerialization of procedures, strengthen digital inclusion and improve public service quality. In 2024, authorities had already placed 600 public services online, including 300 for citizens, 200 for businesses and 100 for public administrations. This performance positions Morocco among Africa’s leaders in digital transformation.

Morocco ranks 90th globally and 4th in Africa in the United Nations 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.6841 out of 1, exceeding both African and global averages.

Morocco’s digital environment supports such initiatives. DataReportal reports that the country counted more than 35.3 million internet users at the end of 2025, representing a penetration rate of around 92% of the population. Mobile connections exceeded 54.9 million, reflecting widespread mobile adoption and large-scale internet access.

Samira Njoya

• Algeria launched a national data governance framework to support state modernization and digital transformation.
• The system will establish a legal, institutional, and technical framework for managing public data.
• The initiative aligns with “Digital Algeria 2030” and builds on recent investments in five regional data centers.

Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb officially launched the national data governance framework on Monday, February 9. Authorities presented the initiative as a foundation for state modernization and faster digital transformation.

According to the Prime Minister, the framework establishes a sovereign model based on data control, organization, and protection. Authorities classify data as a strategic asset and aim to shift from traditional administrative governance to digital governance based on the use of reliable data to improve public decision-making.

The system provides a legal, institutional, and technical framework to organize the collection, storage, sharing, and use of public data. The framework will strengthen information system security, ensure interoperability between public administrations, and establish a unified national database of data sources. As a result, institutions will exchange information through secure and standardized channels, reduce data silos, improve the reliability of public statistics, and support the development of digital services based on centralized and regularly updated data.

The initiative aligns with the “Digital Algeria 2030” strategy, which targets administrative modernization and the development of the digital economy. Algeria has already launched several public service digitization projects and strengthened digital infrastructure, including the commissioning of five regional data centers dedicated to hosting and securing public information.

The government formally anchored the national data governance framework in Presidential Decree No. 25-350 of December 30, 2025. Authorities now expect the framework to serve as the backbone for structured public data use. Policymakers anticipate stronger coordination between administrations, more reliable public decision-making, and a clearer regulatory environment for economic operators, as data increasingly drives digital transformation and national economic attractiveness.

Samira Njoya

• Djibouti launched its Mobile ID platform to enable secure digital identification and access to public and private services.

• The government positioned Mobile ID as a core pillar of administrative modernisation and digital economy development.

• Authorities pledged to store biometric data exclusively at the Interior Ministry to address privacy and data sovereignty concerns.

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh officially launched the Mobile ID platform on Monday, February 9. The launch took place alongside the closing session of the National Digital Identity Forum held at the People’s Palace under presidential patronage.

The government designed Mobile ID to simplify and secure citizen access to public and private services. The platform enables electronic authentication through smartphones or a unique digital identifier. Authorities aim to reduce administrative procedures, strengthen transparency in state interactions and anchor Djibouti in a modern digital economy.

Priority use cases include access to civil registry services, tax procedures, bank account opening and electronic signature of official documents.

Beyond administrative simplification, the government plans to use Mobile ID as a data interoperability tool. Authorities expect the platform to integrate documents such as driving licences and selected health information around a single citizen identifier.

The Interior Minister illustrated this objective by citing emergency medical care. He said a doctor could quickly access essential patient health data through a biometric identifier during urgent treatment.

The project forms part of a broader public administration modernisation strategy. Authorities aligned the initiative with programmes such as “Djibouti, Foundation of Digital,” a five-year plan that aims to expand broadband infrastructure, promote digital skills and strengthen mobile and internet coverage nationwide.

The launch comes as connectivity gradually improves. DataReportal data showed Djibouti recorded 616,000 active mobile cellular connections at the end of 2025, representing 51.9% of the population. The data also showed 772,000 internet users, corresponding to a penetration rate of 65%.

However, project success depends largely on data security. The government addressed privacy concerns by stating that the Interior Ministry will store citizens’ biometric data exclusively.

Authorities said other institutions will access information only through a secure system that exchanges encrypted requests and responses between servers. The government said the architecture will preserve data sovereignty and confidentiality.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM

• Gabon signed a memorandum of understanding with Presight, a subsidiary of UAE-based G42, to support digital government reforms.
• The partnership focuses on artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and big data for public administration.
• Presight already works with African governments and trades on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

Gabon’s Ministry of Digital Economy signed a memorandum of understanding with Presight on Friday, February 6, on the sidelines of high-level discussions held in Abu Dhabi. Presight operates as a subsidiary of UAE-based technology group G42. The agreement aims to support the digital transformation of public administration and several strategic state services.

À Abu Dhabi, le Gabon a signé trois Mémorandums d’Entente stratégiques dans les secteurs minier, numérique et logistique.

Ces accords s’inscrivent dans la vision du Président de la République, S. E. @oliguinguema, visant à accélérer la transformation économique et renforcer… pic.twitter.com/hkZcUEH6bP

— Présidence de la République Gabonaise (@PresidenceGA) February 6, 2026

Authorities said the cooperation will focus on deploying artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and big data solutions. The partnership seeks to improve public data management, optimize administrative services, and strengthen decision-support capabilities. Governments typically use such solutions to modernize state information systems, automate selected processes, and improve service delivery to citizens and businesses.

This partnership comes as digital transformation ranks among Gabon’s top policy priorities. DataReportal said Gabon recorded about 1.8 million internet users in 2025, representing nearly 71.9% of the population, while mobile connections exceeded 3.27 million. However, public service digitalization and nationwide data governance remain key challenges for improving administrative efficiency and supporting economic diversification.

Presight operates across multiple markets and has already formed partnerships with governments and institutions in Africa, including in Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire, on projects related to artificial intelligence, security, and public data management. The company trades on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and positions itself as a major exporter of AI solutions developed in the United Arab Emirates.

With this memorandum, Libreville and Presight have laid the groundwork for cooperation expected to take shape in the coming months. Future operational agreements will define project scope, implementation modalities, and associated investments, as Gabon seeks to build a more coherent digital strategy aligned with its public sector modernization priorities.

Samira Njoya