Mauritania turns to the U.S. to strengthen its national cybersecurity 🛡️🇲🇷

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Mauritania is accelerating its cybersecurity strategy by strengthening ties with the United States. As the country pushes forward with the digital transformation of its public administration, protecting national digital infrastructure has become a growing priority—especially amid a sharp rise in cyber threats across Africa.

A strategic dialogue on digital cooperation 🤝🌐

Cybersecurity cooperation between Mauritania and the United States is gaining momentum. On Monday, January 12, 2026, Mauritanian authorities welcomed a U.S. delegation in Nouakchott to discuss several areas of digital collaboration, with cybersecurity at the center of the talks.

The meeting brought together Ahmed Salem Ould Bedde, Mauritania’s Minister of Digital Transformation and Administrative Modernization, and Corina R. Sanders, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Mauritania. She was accompanied by representatives from Cybastion, a U.S.-based company specializing in cybersecurity solutions and digital services.

This initiative builds on discussions that began several months earlier. In November, another U.S. delegation visited Nouakchott to explore broader digital cooperation, including digital infrastructure, e-commerce, capacity building, and information systems security.

Strengthening national cyber defense 🛡️💻

Facing increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, Mauritania is looking to leverage U.S. expertise to reinforce its national cybersecurity framework. Key projects include the creation of a national Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) and a Security Operations Center (SOC).

Training and skills development are central to these efforts. The government aims to build local expertise, encourage knowledge transfer, and strengthen national technical capabilities. The goal is to better anticipate cyberattacks, detect incidents more quickly, and coordinate responses more effectively.

This push to structure the country’s cyber defense is not new. In April 2024, Mauritania established the National Cybersecurity and Electronic Certification Agency, tasked with protecting the national cyberspace and improving cybersecurity governance. The agency now plays a central role in implementing public cybersecurity policies.

A national strategy amid growing threats 📊⚠️

Mauritania has also adopted a National Digital Security Strategy covering the 2022–2026 period. The strategy focuses on protecting critical infrastructure, combating cybercrime, raising user awareness, and strengthening international cooperation.

These efforts come at a critical time for Africa. Cyberattacks are increasingly targeting public administrations, private companies, and financial institutions across the continent. According to Interpol, cybersecurity incidents in Africa resulted in financial losses exceeding $3 billion between 2019 and 2025.

On the global stage, Mauritania still has room to improve. The country ranks in the fourth tier of the International Telecommunication Union’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index. While its legal framework is considered relatively solid, progress is still needed in technical capacity, organizational maturity, and international collaboration. The United States, by contrast, remains a global leader in cybersecurity—making it a natural partner for Nouakchott.

Do you think international partnerships are essential for African countries to strengthen their cybersecurity in the face of rising digital threats?