Orange, Mastercard join forces to accelerate digital payments across seven African markets

Orange Group’s regional division, Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA), which operates across 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East, has partnered with Mastercard to accelerate the adoption of digital payments across Africa, targeting millions of underserved users through a new mobile money-linked card offering.

The initiative will roll out initially in seven countries, including Cameroon and the Central African Republic, with broader expansion planned as part of a 2025 growth strategy aimed at deepening financial inclusion across the continent.

Expanding access to digital financial services

Under the partnership, Orange Money users will be able to request Mastercard debit cards, both virtual and physical, directly linked to their mobile money wallets. The cards will enable customers to make local and international payments, including online purchases with global merchants that accept Mastercard.

Customers can apply for the cards through Orange’s Max it app and collect physical cards at designated Orange Money locations, streamlining access to formal financial tools for users traditionally excluded from banking systems.

Aminata Kane, CEO of Orange Money Group for Africa and the Middle East, said the collaboration marks a significant step in expanding the utility of mobile money platforms beyond domestic transfers.

Driving financial inclusion through mobile money

The partnership reflects a broader push by telecom operators and payment networks to bridge Africa’s financial access gap by integrating mobile money with global payment infrastructure.

In Central Africa, mobile money adoption continues to accelerate, particularly in Cameroon, which dominates the CEMAC region in transaction volumes and value.

Intensifying competition in Cameroon

Cameroon accounts for a substantial share of mobile money activity in the region, handling approximately 71% of transaction volumes, about 1.7 billion operations, and 55% of transaction value, estimated at around CFA59 trillion ($104.37 billion), according to available industry data. You may want to verify these figures from a primary source, as regional statistics can vary by reporting methodology.

Orange Cameroon claims a strong market position, citing roughly 10 million mobile money accounts and more than 100,000 business partners. However, competition remains intense with MTN Cameroon, whose mobile money unit has also asserted leadership in active users, underscoring a closely contested market.

Scaling digital commerce across Africa

Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) is a major regional division of the French telecommunications multinational, Orange Group. It operates as one of the group’s fastest-growing regions, serving over 161 million customers across 18 countries with connectivity, mobile financial services (Orange Money), energy access, and digital skills training.

By linking mobile wallets to globally accepted payment cards, the Orange–Mastercard partnership is expected to unlock new use cases for African consumers, from e-commerce to cross-border transactions.

As digital payments gain traction across the continent, such collaborations are becoming central to expanding financial access, improving transaction security, and integrating local economies into the global financial system.