Hassanein Hiridjee’s Axian launches fully digital finance firm in Comoros 

AXIAN Group, the Madagascar-based conglomerate led by Hassanein Hiridjee, has received approval to establish the first fully digital, regulated financial institution in Comoros. The move strengthens its Digibank & Fintech portfolio and expands access to formal financial services nationwide. 

The Central Bank of Comoros granted AXIAN a Decentralized Digital Financial Institution (DFI) license, allowing the creation of a regulated entity operating under prudential supervision.

The initiative aligns with AXIAN’s broader Pan-African goals of designing secure, interoperable, and accessible digital financial solutions. 

“From an individual to a small business owner, access to formal financial services can change everyday life,” said Erwan Gelebart, CEO of AXIAN Digibank & Fintech Cluster. “This license allows people across Comoros to access regulated digital financial services directly from their mobile phones, without the need to visit a branch.”

Digital loans launch in Comoros

The new institution will launch with core digital credit products, including nano- and micro-loans, fully accessible via mobile devices. The branchless model allows near-instant credit approvals and disbursements, supporting needs such as working capital, healthcare, education, and informal economic activity. 

Additional services will roll out gradually, guided by customer demand and regulatory requirements, ensuring growth remains measured and responsible. 

While AXIAN already operates mobile financial services through MVola, the licensed institution will function as a separate regulated entity, fully compliant with governance and supervisory standards. It complements existing financial infrastructure and strengthens Comoros’ national financial system.

Advancing financial inclusion 

The license enhances AXIAN’s ability to combine mobile distribution with regulated financial services under a single framework. Leveraging MVola and AXIAN’s digital ecosystem, the group can extend services beyond traditional banking and microfinance networks. 

In regions with few physical branches, digital access reduces barriers related to distance, cost, and bureaucracy. Integrating payments, transactional data, and regulated financial services helps households manage daily finances, supports small-scale economic activity, and encourages formalization of underserved segments of the economy. 

AXIAN’s long-term aim is to scale digital-first financial institutions across Africa, contributing to inclusive growth and economic resilience.

AXIAN expands digital finance across Africa

Founded in 2015 by Hassanein and Amin Hiridjee, AXIAN is a pan-African infrastructure and services group operating in 21 countries. It focuses on energy, digibank & fintech, real estate, financial services, and telecommunications. Employing more than 9,200 staff, AXIAN emphasizes socio-economic development and sustainable impact. 

As a member of the United Nations Global Compact, the group integrates principles of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption into its business strategies. 

AXIAN’s expansion into Comoros represents a concrete step in making digital financial services universally available, offering people the tools to manage their finances safely, conveniently, and responsibly.