• Mauritania launches online criminal record service to simplify administration
• Citizens can access the service via Houwiyeti app and Khidmati portal, available on major app stores
• Government aims to improve transparency and efficiency in judicial processes

Mauritanian citizens can now obtain criminal records online, the government announced Friday, March 28, digitizing the process to streamline administrative procedures, expedite processing, and enhance judicial transparency.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation and Administrative Modernization stated that the service is accessible through the Houwiyeti app and the Khidmati portal, both available on the Play Store and App Store. "The Khidmati portal enables citizens to securely access digitized public services and complete procedures online from any smartphone or computer available in the Mauritanian market," the ministry said.

This initiative aligns with the government's goal of bringing public administration closer to citizens through digital transformation. On March 27, the ministry launched a digital platform to facilitate the creation and management of political parties. The previous day, authorities engaged with insurance sector stakeholders to integrate their services into the developing national digital services platform.

To support this digital push, the government launched the "Digital-Y" project in January, a 4 million euro (approximately $4.3 million) initiative in partnership with German cooperation. The project aims to integrate digital tools into public administration to modernize services, bolster transparency, and stimulate economic and social development.

However, the government's ambition faces potential challenges, including a lack of digital literacy and limited internet and device access. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates that approximately 55.6% of Mauritania's 5 million citizens did not use the internet in 2023.

By Isaac K. Kassouwi,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji