Mali will launch a digital platform allowing the diaspora to access important documents through diplomatic missions globally. This initiative aims to modernize administrative data and simplify processes for both Malians and foreigners applying for visas. The project is part of Mali’s larger digital transformation efforts in collaboration with Huawei and aligns with regional mobility initiatives.
Mali is set to introduce a national digital platform aimed at providing the diaspora with easier access to vital documents. This platform, designed by Malian experts, will be available at diplomatic and consular missions globally, enabling nationals to retrieve administrative, identity, and travel documents, as reported by Wearetech.africa.
Malian Foreign Affairs Minister Abdoulaye Diop noted that this initiative marks a substantial advancement in modernizing administrative data and enhancing the accessibility of important documents for expatriates. Furthermore, the platform is expected to streamline visa applications for foreigners wishing to visit Mali.
This initiative is part of Mali’s broader digital transformation, which aims to digitize all public services in the forthcoming years. The government has partnered with Huawei to install additional fiber optic cables and establish a new data center, as reported by the Ecofin Agency.
Diop also emphasized that the platform demonstrates Mali’s commitment to a more responsive and efficient administrative system. The new digital system will be compatible with the Liptako Visa, which promotes regional mobility among citizens of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Recently, Mali, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, introduced a biometric passport as part of their collaboration under AES, departing from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) passport framework. Lt Gen Assimi Goita, the transitional leader of Mali, assured that existing passports will remain valid until their expiration date.
Although Chinese identity solutions firm Emptech has sought to influence the issuance of government documents in Mali, it has been clarified that Emptech was not involved in the creation of the new passports for the countries in the Sahel region. The exit from ECOWAS may have broader implications for regional initiatives supported by the World Bank designed to enhance socio-economic integration in West Africa, particularly the WURI project aimed at supporting ID issuance in several member states.
Mali’s launch of a digital platform for its diaspora signifies a progressive step towards modernizing administrative systems and facilitating easier access to essential documents for expatriates. This initiative is part of a larger effort to digitalize public services across the country. It aligns with regional mobility goals and represents Mali’s commitment to enhancing governmental efficiency, despite recent geopolitical challenges.
Original Source: www.biometricupdate.com
