• Mauritania cuts smartphone import tax, launches digital customs clearance system

• Users must clear phones within 15 days or face line suspension

• Reform aims boost revenues while maintaining mobile access

Mauritania has introduced new rules on the customs clearance of mobile phones used on national networks as part of its 2026 budget law. The reform, announced in a communiqué published Saturday, March 7, lowers tax rates on imported devices and introduces a digital control system for phones in circulation, including the possibility of suspending a line if a device is not cleared through customs within 15 days.

According to the Finance Ministry, the customs duty on smartphones has been reduced from 32.75% to 30%, while so-called utility phones are subject to a 12% rate. Authorities have also launched an online customs clearance platform allowing vendors and users to complete the process without visiting customs offices.

The system enables users to check the customs status of their device by entering its IMEI code into a dedicated application. If an uncleared phone is detected on a mobile network, the owner receives a warning SMS and has 15 days to clear the device with customs before the line is suspended.

The challenge of accessibility and inclusion

The reform comes in a country where mobile phone use is widespread. According to DataReportal’s Digital 2026 report, Mauritania had 6.37 million active mobile connections at the end of 2025, equivalent to roughly 119% of the population. Nearly 2 million people use the internet, mainly through mobile devices.

Despite the tax reduction, some market players say phone prices remain a barrier for part of the population. According to the World Bank, 77% of adults in sub-Saharan Africa who do not own a mobile phone cite high prices as the main obstacle. An entry-level smartphone can represent up to 73% of the average monthly income of the poorest households in the region.

In that context, the possibility of a line suspension after 15 days if customs clearance is not completed has raised concerns among some users and traders. Mobile phones have become essential for money transfers and access to information, education and administrative services. Small retailers also warn that the complexity of digital procedures, and the risk of devices being blocked, could weigh on sales.

For Mauritanian authorities, the challenge will be to better regulate the phone market and increase customs revenues while ensuring the new rules do not slow the digital inclusion of a population that remains partly offline.

Samira Njoya