Onafriq, Africa’s largest digital payments network, has announced a strategic partnership with Visa to launch Visa Pay, a cloud-native Payments-as-a-Service (PaaS) platform designed to expand digital financial access in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Through the partnership, consumers in the DRC will be able to fund Visa Pay wallets directly from mobile money accounts, unlocking seamless access to digital and e-commerce payments.
Bridging Mobile Money with Visa’s Global Network
The collaboration leverages Onafriq’s APIs to enable collections and disbursements from popular mobile money services such as M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and Orange Money. This integration effectively connects Visa’s global card network with millions of mobile money wallets across the country.
“Our collaboration with Onafriq represents our ambition to accelerate financial inclusion in the DRC. By connecting Visa Pay to existing mobile money infrastructure, we’re not just adding convenience, we’re creating the interoperability foundation that will fuel digital commerce adoption across the country.”
— Sophie Kafuti, General Manager, Visa DRC
Growing Opportunity in DRC’s Mobile Payments Market
The launch of Visa Pay comes at a time of rapid growth in the DRC’s mobile payments sector. According to GSMA, the industry is projected to reach $3.85 billion in transaction value in 2025, representing a 19% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
This growing market includes:
- Retail payments
- E-commerce transactions
- Government services
- Bill payments
- Payroll disbursements
- Business collections
With its deep local presence, Onafriq has long connected Congolese consumers to Africa and the world, serving as trusted infrastructure in the background of digital payments.
“This partnership demonstrates how combining Visa’s global network reach with Onafriq’s deep on-ground presence creates unprecedented possibilities for innovation and financial inclusion across Africa.”
— Christian Bwakira, Chief Commercial Officer, Onafriq
Path to Pan-African Expansion
Beyond the DRC, this partnership positions Visa Pay for expansion into other African markets, where mobile money adoption is already high and demand for interoperable, digital-first solutions continues to accelerate.
By uniting world-class global capabilities with trusted local networks, Visa and Onafriq are unlocking transformative opportunities for financial inclusion, e-commerce growth, and digital innovation across the continent.
