Insights

Thinking from the AFRICOPIL Team

Analysis, frameworks, and perspective on the issues that matter most to financial technology leaders in Central Africa.

Payments

Payments

The ISO 20022 Deadline Is Closer Than CEMAC Banks Think

Most banks in the CEMAC zone are aware of the ISO 20022 migration requirement. Far fewer have a realistic timeline, a credible architecture plan, or a vendor in place. Here is what the deadline actually means, and what to do if you are behind.

Jean-Pierre Nkolo

AI & Data

AI & Data

Why AI Pilots Fail in African Banking and What To Do Instead

AI pilots in African financial institutions follow a predictable pattern: promising proof of concept, optimistic business case, failed production deployment. The root causes are almost always the same, and almost always fixable.

Dr. Céleste Mbarga

Leadership

Leadership

Fractional CTO Leadership: What It Is, What It Is Not, and Why It Fits Central African Financial Institutions

The Fractional CTO model is well-established in European and North American startup ecosystems. In Central Africa's financial sector, it solves a different but equally important problem.

Amungun Ngando

Regulation

Regulation

COBAC's Evolving Technology Guidance: What Financial Institutions Need to Know in 2026

COBAC's technology and cybersecurity guidance is evolving. This article summarizes the most significant recent developments and their practical implications for financial institutions in the CEMAC zone.

Fatima Essomba

Markets

Markets

Mobile Money and the Banking Infrastructure Gap in Chad and the CAR: An Opportunity Analysis

Mobile money adoption in Chad and the Central African Republic has outpaced formal banking infrastructure in ways that create both risk and opportunity for incumbents. Here is what the data shows.

Rodrigue Owona

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