Djibouti has officially launched its Mobile ID digital identity platform, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to modernise public administration and strengthen the foundations of its digital economy.
President Ismail Omar Guelleh inaugurated the platform on Monday during the closing session of the National Digital Identity Forum at the People’s Palace, an event held under his patronage and attended by senior government officials, private sector representatives and international partners.
The Mobile ID system is designed to provide citizens with secure digital identification and electronic authentication through mobile phones or a unique digital identifier. Authorities say the platform will simplify access to both public and private services, reduce administrative bottlenecks and improve transparency in state-citizen interactions.
“This initiative places digital identity at the heart of administrative reform,” government officials said, describing Mobile ID as a cornerstone of Djibouti’s broader digital transformation agenda.
Priority use cases for the platform include access to civil registry services, tax declarations, bank account opening, and the electronic signing of official documents. Officials believe these applications will reduce paperwork, limit fraud and speed up service delivery across government institutions.
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Beyond streamlining administrative processes, authorities intend to use Mobile ID as a tool for data interoperability. The platform is expected to eventually integrate multiple personal documents such as driving licences and selected health records under a single, secure citizen identifier.
The Interior Minister highlighted the potential benefits for emergency healthcare services, noting that doctors could access essential patient information quickly through biometric identification during urgent medical situations. “This can save valuable time and improve the quality of care,” he said.
The launch of Mobile ID forms part of a broader strategy to modernise public administration and accelerate digital adoption. The project aligns with the government’s flagship five-year programme, “Djibouti, Foundation of Digital,” which focuses on expanding broadband infrastructure, strengthening mobile and internet coverage, and developing digital skills across the population.
Connectivity in Djibouti has been improving steadily, providing a supportive environment for digital initiatives. According to DataReportal, the country recorded approximately 616,000 active mobile cellular connections at the end of 2025, representing 51.9 percent of the population. Internet usage reached about 772,000 users, equivalent to a penetration rate of 65 percent.
Despite these gains, authorities acknowledge that the success of the Mobile ID platform will depend heavily on public trust, particularly regarding data protection and privacy. To address these concerns, the government has pledged that citizens’ biometric data will be stored exclusively within the Interior Ministry.
Officials said other public institutions and private service providers will not have direct access to biometric databases. Instead, information exchanges will take place through a secure architecture that transmits encrypted requests and responses between authorised servers.
“This system is designed to preserve data sovereignty, confidentiality and personal privacy,” authorities said, adding that strict governance mechanisms would regulate access and usage.
Djibouti joins a growing number of African countries deploying digital identity systems as a foundation for e-government services, financial inclusion and digital commerce. While such systems promise efficiency gains and broader access to services, they have also raised concerns globally over surveillance, cybersecurity and the misuse of personal data.
For Djibouti’s government, Mobile ID represents both a technological and institutional shift. Officials say its long-term success will depend not only on technical robustness, but also on public confidence, regulatory oversight and the ability to scale services as digital adoption expands.
As implementation begins, the platform will be closely watched as a test case for how small states can leverage digital identity to modernise governance while safeguarding citizen rights in an increasingly data-driven economy.
