#MWC26 Themes

Fintech and Commerce at MWC26 Kigali

Fintech & Commerce

Fintech is no longer just a vertical - it’s the backbone of African commerce. Explore the next phase of the region’s transformation - scale, interoperability and cross‑border impact. 

New for 2026: an expanded fintech and commerce programme

Fintech and commerce takes over the Main Stage on Wednesday 17 June, with a keynote and three dedicated sessions covering AI, mobile commerce and innovation.

Explore how digital finance has become the essential infrastructure for Africa’s future and how it underpins productivity, trade and formalisation. Hear strategies for scaling innovations and expanding business across borders in Africa and connect with the influential leaders driving digital growth and cross-market opportunities. 

The current state of play

Fintech, payments and digital finance are now deeply embedded in retail, agriculture, logistics and SMEs across the African continent.  

Sub-Saharan Africa currently accounts for around 65% of global mobile money transaction value. There are over 1.1 billion registered mobile money accounts across the region, with $1.1 trillion in mobile money transactions recorded in 2024. 

Find more statistics in the GSMA’s Mobile Economy Africa Report 

Our past speakers

Keynote 3: Payments and Partnerships: Unlocking Africa’s Digital Trade Opportunity

Wednesday 17 June | 09:30 – 10:45 | Main Stage 

Discover how telecoms-led fintech platforms are transforming cross-border payments in Africa, reducing costs and expanding financial access. 

Explore ongoing challenges around limited interoperability, fragmented regulation and disconnected systems, and learn how collaborative ecosystems and aligned policy between telcos, fintechs, banks and global commerce players are helping bridge these divides.  

Other Fintech and Commerce Sessions on the Main Stage

Experience top-tier thought leadership from government, regulatory and business experts, sharing region-specific insights and proven solutions.

The questions that matter

MWC26 Kigali is where you’ll find bold leaders with big visions. It’s where ideas are formed, challenges are met and change is made.   

  • Everybody has some form of digital solution to pay, but they don't speak to each other. And as we think about the next wave of the fintech movement in Africa, that's the one thing we need to fix.

    Kemi Okusanya, CEO, Hydrogen Payment Services Company Limited

  • There's still a certain segment of the population that feels like cash is still king. So we need to find a competitor to that king.

    Bosco Yaku CEO, Access to Finance Rwanda