• Mauritania opens digital service center in Bassikounou

• FAO-backed facility offers free internet, e-government support

• Initiative targets digital divide amid low connectivity rates

Mauritania inaugurated a digital service center in Bassikounou, in the southeast, on Monday, Feb. 23, as part of a national push to narrow the digital divide and expand access to online public services.

Funded by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the facility will provide assistance with creating and managing online accounts, navigating government platforms and accessing digital services, the Ministry of Digital Transformation said in a statement posted on Facebook. Users will also have free access to internet-connected tablets and computers.

Authorities held a training workshop for 20 young people from the local department, who will assist residents at the center.

A tool for digital inclusion

The first centers were launched in July 2025 in Teyarett, Arafat and Tevragh Zeina, on the outskirts of Nouakchott. Digital Transformation Minister Ahmed Salem Ould Bede described them as the first phase of a project that will gradually expand to all municipalities, with the aim of ensuring nationwide access to administrative services regardless of location or digital literacy.

Another center opened in December 2025 in Ouadane under the DIGITAL-Y project, implemented by German development agency GIZ. The initiative aims to improve access to public services, particularly in vulnerable areas, and facilitate administrative procedures, GIZ said.

Officials say the centers are designed to ease procedures, cut delays and reduce the need for travel to government offices, while providing technical support to people without smartphones or with limited digital skills.

Amid a persistent digital divide

The rollout comes as authorities step up efforts to digitize public administration as part of a broader economic transformation strategy. Connectivity, however, remains limited.

According to the International Telecommunication Union’s ICT Development Index 2025, 3G and 4G networks cover 43.9% and 73% of the population, respectively, while internet penetration stands at 37.4%.

Access to devices remains another constraint. The ITU estimates that 79.1% of the population owns a mobile phone. World Bank data show that 56.61% of Mauritanians aged 15 and above owned a smartphone at end-2024.

Service affordability, network quality, connection reliability, digital literacy and trust in government platforms also affect uptake.

While the centers may help address some of these barriers by offering in-person support and free equipment, questions remain about the pace of expansion, their capacity to meet demand and the reliability of local infrastructure.

Isaac K. Kassouwi