Orange and MTN are planning to make mobile money transactions interoperable in West Africa. In that regard, they requested WAEMU commission’s authorization for an Ivorian joint-venture named JVCO to manage the activity. Among the arguments presented as motivation for their requests, the two telecom companies explain that the inter-operational platform would boost the financial industry in the sub-region.

The inter-operationality means that both operators’ subscribers would be able to conduct mobile money transactions thanks to the other party’s platform wherever they are. This solution which has already been realized in some African countries, Rwanda, Madagascar, and Tanzania notably, largely boosted financial transactions. Implemented regionally, its impact would be more important.

As specified by the law N°3/2002/CM/UEMOA of May 23, 2002, related to the agreement and abusive use of their positions as market leaders within the WAEMU, the commission required operators and regulators of various West African markets to submit their views on this project initiated by Orange and MTN within thirty days.

Muriel Edjo