Onafriq and Visa Partner to Launch Visa Pay, Unlocking Interoperability Between Card and Mobile Money in the DRC

London, UK – 11 September – Onafriq, Africa's largest digital payments network, today announced a strategic partnership with Visa to launch Visa Pay, a cloud-native Payments-as-a-Service platform designed to expand digital financial access across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Through this partnership, consumers in the DRC will be able to conveniently fund their Visa Pay wallets directly from mobile money channels, unlocking seamless access to everyday digital and e-commerce payments. Powered by Onafriq’s APIs, the collaboration enables mobile money collections and disbursements from M-Pesa, Airtel Money and Orange Money wallets, effectively bridging Visa’s 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,” said Sophie Kafuti, General Manager of Visa 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.

The timing aligns with significant market growth. GSMA data projects the DRC's mobile payments industry will reach $3.85 billion in transaction value this year, representing a 19% compound annual growth rate. This market encompasses retail payments, e-commerce, government services, bill payments, payroll disbursements, and business collections nationwide.

"Onafriq has connected Congolese consumers to Africa and the world for years, operating as the trusted infrastructure in the background," said Christian Bwakira, Chief Commercial Officer of Onafriq. "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. When you unite world-class global capabilities with trusted local networks, you unlock transformative opportunities for both partners and the millions of consumers we serve."

Beyond DRC, the partnership opens the door for Visa Pay to expand into other African markets, where mobile money adoption is already high and demand for interoperable, digital-first solutions is accelerating.

About Onafriq 

Onafriq is an omnichannel network of networks, making borders matter less by providing our partners with a single pathway to unlock the full power of cross-border and cross-platform payment solutions. With a network spanning 43 African markets, Onafriq connects over 1 billion mobile money wallets, 500 million bank accounts, and over 400,000 agents in Nigeria, enabling domestic and cross-border disbursements and collections, card issuing and processing, agency banking, and treasury services.

With top-notch regulatory and compliance capabilities and a robust regional presence encompassing 10 offices in Africa, as well as locations in the UK, US, and China, we are paving the way for a new era of access for people across the African continent and beyond. Learn more at Onafriq.com.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.