• Mauritania discussed cybersecurity cooperation with the United States on January 12, 2026, including support from U.S. firm Cybastion.

• The government plans to establish a national CSIRT and a Security Operations Center to protect sensitive digital infrastructure.

• Interpol reported that cyber incidents in Africa caused financial losses exceeding $3 billion between 2019 and 2025.

Mauritania now explores new partnership opportunities with the United States to reinforce cybersecurity and protect sensitive digital infrastructure. The initiative aligns with the government’s strategy to expand digital tools in public administration to modernize services, improve administrative transparency, and support economic and social development.

Officials discussed these prospects on Monday, January 12, during a meeting between Digital Transformation and Administrative Modernization Minister Ahmed Salem Ould Bedde and U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Corina R. Sanders. Sanders attended the meeting alongside a delegation from Cybastion, a U.S. company specializing in cybersecurity solutions and digital services.

Mauritania seeks U.S. expertise as the country plans to establish a national Computer Security Incident Response Team and a Security Operations Center. Consequently, the government places strong emphasis on local workforce training, skills transfer, and capacity building.

The government previously strengthened its cybersecurity framework by decree in April 2024 through the creation of the National Agency for Cybersecurity and Electronic Certification. The agency aims to protect national cyberspace and improve cybersecurity governance. This move followed Mauritania’s ratification in 2023 of the African Union’s Malabo Convention on cybersecurity and personal data protection.

Mauritania also implements a National Digital Security Strategy for 2022–2026 built around six strategic objectives. These objectives cover governance, critical infrastructure protection, cybercrime prevention, awareness and skills development, and national and international cooperation.

Meanwhile, cybersecurity has become a prerequisite for successful digital transformation across Africa, including Mauritania. In this context, cyber threats increasingly target public, private, and financial systems. Interpol reported that cyber incidents across the continent caused financial losses exceeding $3 billion between 2019 and 2025.

Mauritania ranked in Tier 4, the fourth and second-lowest category, in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index of the International Telecommunication Union. The ITU noted that the country performs relatively well in legislative frameworks but must intensify efforts in organizational, technical, capacity-building, and cooperation pillars. By contrast, the United States ranks among global cybersecurity role models.

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

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum