Mauritania and Morocco are launching nationwide digital transformation programs to improve public services and governance, with strong backing from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
On May 20, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani chaired a justice reform meeting focused on digitising legal services, while Morocco’s Parliament reviewed plans to make artificial intelligence a core part of its Digital 2030 strategy. Both countries are betting on technology to enhance efficiency, transparency, and citizen access.
Mauritania launches digital justice reform to modernise legal services
Mauritania is taking clear steps to digitise its justice system as part of a national reform program led by President Ghazouani.
At the High Committee for Justice Reform and Development meeting, the government approved key measures to upgrade legal services using digital tools.
The plan includes a countrywide IT infrastructure assessment, creating an online platform for nationality applications, and new websites for courts and judicial institutions. These efforts aim to simplify legal processes, reduce wait times, and increase access to justice.
The reform is backed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which supports digital justice to strengthen the rule of law.
However, the agency also warns of risks, such as data breaches, algorithmic bias, and the misuse of sensitive information.
Other hurdles include poor internet coverage, outdated equipment, and low digital literacy, which Mauritania must overcome to fully realise its justice reform goals.
Morocco favours AI in digital strategy
While Mauritania focuses on justice, Morocco is centering its digital transformation on artificial intelligence. Addressing Parliament, Digital Transformation Minister Amal El Fellah Seghrouchni detailed a series of initiatives under the Digital 2030 strategy to integrate AI into government and economic development.
Key plans include establishing a national AI directorate, launching a regional Arab-African digital hub in partnership with the UNDP, and opening 12 regional Jazari Institutes to support research and innovation. Two new national training programs focused on digital and AI skills will also benefit youth between the ages of 8 and 18.
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) supports this direction, noting that AI can improve public services by streamlining tasks and advancing development goals. But Morocco still faces challenges, including ethical risks, data bias, and the digital divide. Many of its projects are in the planning phase, and success will rely on proper execution and inclusive policies.
Digital transformation in Africa is gaining ground through local innovation
The digital efforts in Mauritania and Morocco highlight a broader shift across Africa toward smarter, tech-driven governance. Both countries are building modern public service systems rooted in transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement by focusing on justice reform and artificial intelligence access.
Backed by international partners like the UNDP, these projects reflect a growing belief that digital transformation is necessary. As other African nations watch closely, Mauritania and Morocco may soon become leading examples of how to turn policy into progress.
