Vista Group completes Saham Assurances Niger acquisition 

Vista Group Holding, a pan-African financial services company founded by Burkinabe entrepreneur Simon Tiemtoré, announced Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, that it has completed the acquisition of 99.99% of Saham Assurances Niger. The company has been rebranded as Vista Assurances Niger. 

The acquisition marks Vista Group’s first entry into Niger’s insurance market, following SanlamAllianz’s announcement to sell its Nigerien subsidiary.

Vista Group had been identified as a potential buyer as early as September 2025. The deal underscores Tiemtoré’s goal of expanding Vista’s presence across West Africa. 

“Through Vista Assurances Niger, our aim is to make insurance accessible, build trust in the sector, and support households and businesses in managing everyday risks,” Tiemtoré said. “This acquisition allows us to provide practical solutions that reflect local realities.” 

Vista Group already operates in the insurance sector through Vista Assurances Guinée and Vista Assurances Burkina Faso.

With this acquisition, the group now has three insurance subsidiaries in West Africa, complementing its growing banking presence through Vista Bank and integrating banking and insurance services in the region.

Niger premiums reach $79.6 million

Niger’s insurance market remains modest. According to the 2023 report The Insurance Market in Africa, 2019-2023 Data by the Federation of African National Insurance Companies (FANAF), insurers in Niger collected 44 billion CFA francs ($79.6 million) in life and non-life premiums, a 1.5% increase from 2022. Niger ranks among the three smallest FANAF markets by premium volume. 

By comparison, Côte d’Ivoire generated 595 billion CFA francs ($1.1 billion) in premiums in 2023, representing 32.1% of FANAF’s market. Cameroon, Senegal, and Burkina Faso also hold substantial shares, with these four countries accounting for more than two-thirds of the regional total. 

The Nigerien market includes players such as Sunu Assurances, Mutual Benefits Assurance Niger, and NIA SA Niger. Insurance penetration remains low, limiting overall market growth.

Vista Group faces the challenge of increasing premium volume, broadening its customer base, and managing technical risk.

Simon Tiemtoré scales Vista Group

Vista Group, owned by Lilium Group LLC, provides innovative banking products for individuals, SMEs, businesses, and governments, driving financial inclusion and economic growth across Africa.

Burkinabe financier Simon Tiemtoré, founder of Lithium and former executive at Afreximbank, Morgan Stanley, PwC, and Skadden Arps, leverages 18+ years in global finance to steer Vista Group’s growth. 

Since taking control in 2015, Tiemtoré has led key acquisitions, including Orabank (2023), Banco Société Générale Moçambique (2024), and Société Générale Burkina Faso (2025), expanding Vista’s footprint across West and Southern Africa. 

In October 2025, Vista secured €30 million ($35.6 million) from the EIB to fund SMEs and agricultural value chains in Guinea and Sierra Leone.