African digital payments network Onafriq has partnered with Visa to launch Visa Pay, a cloud-native Payments-as-a-Service platform aimed at widening access to digital financial services in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
How it works
- Consumers in the DRC can now fund Visa Pay wallets directly from mobile money platforms like M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and Orange Money.
- Powered by Onafriq’s APIs, the integration enables mobile money collections and disbursements from millions of wallets.
- Visa’s global card network acts as a bridge, creating interoperability between digital wallets and card payments.
What they’re saying
- “By connecting Visa Pay to existing mobile money infrastructure, we’re not just adding convenience – we’re creating the interoperability foundation that will fuel digital commerce adoption across the country,” said Sophie Kafuti, GM of Visa in the DRC.
- “This partnership demonstrates how combining Visa’s global network reach with Onafriq’s deep on-ground presence creates unprecedented possibilities for innovation and financial inclusion across Africa,” said Christian Bwakira, Onafriq CCO.
Why it matters
The DRC is one of Africa’s fastest-growing mobile money markets. The partnership could make digital transactions more seamless in a country where access to traditional banking remains limited.
By the numbers
- The DRC’s mobile payments industry is projected to hit $3.85 billion in transaction value in 2025, according to the GSMA.
- That growth represents a 19% compound annual growth rate, spanning retail, e-commerce, government services, payroll, and bill payments.
