The recently released 2022 report on payment services by the CEMAC Central Bank highlights the pivotal role of mobile money in driving financial inclusion, digitizing payments, and developing African economies. Mobile money accounts for an impressive 98% of all opened payment accounts in the CEMAC zone, demonstrating its dominant position in the financial landscape.
During the referenced period, a staggering 2.4 billion mobile money transactions were processed, amounting to a total value of over 107,126 billion CFA francs. This remarkable growth is attributed to the widespread adoption of USSD technology, which accounted for 2,309 processed operations and 2.3 billion transactions.
As of the current publication, six payment institutions have been approved to operate within the CEMAC zone:
- Orange Money Cameroun S.A. – Cameroon
- Mobile Money Corporation – Cameroon
- Mobile Money Congo S.A. – Congo
- Mobile Commerce Congo S.A. – Congo
- Airtel Money S.A. – Gabon
- Airtel Mobile Commerce Tchad S.A. – Tchad
Additionally, the Central Bank has issued 15 favorable technical opinions to other payment service providers.
Critical Considerations for Payment Service Providers in CEMAC
I. Company Incorporation
The provision of payment services in CEMAC is a regulated sector, subject to mandatory share capital and management structure requirements. Payment institutions must maintain a minimum paid-up share capital of five hundred million FCFA and appoint a General Manager and a Statutory Auditor approved by the Banking Regulatory Authority.
Therefore, payment services can only be operated in the form of a public company, either as a simplified joint-stock company or a public limited company.
II. Regulatory Approvals
Payment service providers must obtain regulatory approval from the Monetary Authority. However, prior authorization may be necessary in certain cases.
1. Prior Authorization
a. Authorization to Provide Value-Added Services
Mobile money services utilized USSD technology are classified as a Value-Added Service in Cameroon. Consequently, providers intending to offer payment services via a mobile telephony solution must obtain authorization from the relevant public body overseeing telecommunications and information and communication technology. This process involves an on-site visit.
b. Interoperability Certification
To secure the Central Bank’s technical opinion for approval, payment service providers must ensure the interoperability of their technical solution. This is typically achieved by becoming a participant in the Interbank Monetics Group of Central Africa (GIMAC), which certifies the interoperability of participants’ technical solutions through an on-site visit.
2. Approval
Three main authorities are involved in the approval process for payment service providers, each with distinct roles.
a. The Monetary Authority
The Monetary Authority is responsible for receiving applications and issuing approvals, subject to the favorable opinion of the Banking Commission and a technical opinion from the Central Bank. The application file must include essential elements such as shareholder breakdown, commercial names, distribution channels, domain names, risk management details, anti-money laundering procedures, and interoperability certification.
b. The Banking Commission (COBAC)
COBAC evaluates the applicant’s ability to comply with prudential standards, considering factors such as consistency between services, proposed strategy, planned activities, and the adequacy of proposed capital to the risk profile. A favorable opinion from COBAC is contingent upon satisfying these criteria.
c. The Central Bank
Before COBAC issues its favorable opinion, it seeks the technical opinion of the Central Bank on aspects such as technical and functional standards, information system security and efficiency, transmission quality, network access, interoperability, and relevant authorizations. The BEAC’s on-site visit concludes with a technical opinion addressing these critical aspects.
Conclusion
Mobile money has emerged as a robust catalyst for financial inclusion and economic development in the CEMAC zone. Payment service providers play a vital role in facilitating this growth. By carefully considering the critical considerations outlined above, prospective payment service providers can easily get into the CEMAC market with a population of about 42.5 million people.
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