The development of e-commerce in Mauritania is facing significant challenges, primarily due to the lack of a standardized payment API. According to experts, the growth of e-commerce relies on three fundamental infrastructures: online platforms, a precise geographic addressing system, and a smooth and secure online payment system. While Mauritania is set to adopt its National E-commerce Strategy, a unified national infrastructure for geographic and digital addressing is being launched, conforming to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) standards.
The new addressing system will enable precise geolocation of parcels, buildings, equipment, and points of interest across the country. This development is expected to have numerous benefits, including facilitated access to public services, optimized postal and logistics services, increased visibility for local economic activities, and improved logistics for e-commerce delivery. With the introduction of this unified mapping system and the widespread adoption of mobile banking applications, it seems that the conditions are ripe for a dynamic and functional Mauritanian digital economy.
However, the current fragmentation of payments is hindering the growth of e-commerce. Although local banking applications have gained popularity, their integration with e-commerce platforms is complicated due to the lack of standardized Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). APIs are crucial software interfaces that enable different computer systems to communicate and validate transactions in real-time. Without open and harmonized APIs, integrating a payment method on an e-commerce site requires customized development for each bank, increasing costs and technical complexity.
The absence of standardized APIs discourages startups, merchants, and independent developers from adopting e-commerce solutions. To address this issue, a coherent and inclusive approach is to centralize payment systems through the national switch of GIMTEL (Interbank Group for Monetization and Electronic Transactions). If GIMTEL opens its APIs to developers and digital ecosystem actors, a single standardized integration would provide access to the entire national interbank network.
The modernization of geographic addressing is a significant promise for Mauritania's logistics future. However, without a radical simplification of payment integration, e-commerce platforms will struggle to take off. Enabling smooth, simple, and universal transactions through open APIs is not just a technical requirement but a vital component for the emergence of an inclusive and transformative Mauritanian digital economy.
The development of a standardized payment API would facilitate the growth of e-commerce in Mauritania, making it easier for businesses and individuals to engage in online transactions. This, in turn, would contribute to the country's economic growth and development. The government and relevant stakeholders must work together to address this issue and create an enabling environment for e-commerce to thrive.
Ismail Diop, a prominent figure in the field, emphasizes the importance of a standardized payment API for the growth of e-commerce in Mauritania. His insights highlight the need for a cohesive approach to address the challenges facing the sector. As the country moves forward with its National E-commerce Strategy, it is essential to prioritize the development of a standardized payment API to unlock the full potential of e-commerce in Mauritania.
Key points
- The lack of a standardized payment API is hindering the growth of e-commerce in Mauritania.
- A unified national infrastructure for geographic and digital addressing is being launched in Mauritania.
- Centralizing payment systems through GIMTEL's national switch could provide a solution to the payment API issue.
