Vodafonewatch

Vodacom completes ‘high-growth market arc’ with controlling Safaricom stake

2026-06-30T14:59:00

vfw248-safaricom deal completes

Source: Safaricom

South African operator completes $2.1bn deal to take majority control of Safaricom, including its Ethiopian venture and m-money platform M-PESA. CEO Shameel Joosub considers it more than a mere bulk-up as Vodacom looks to leverage East African experience elsewhere across the continent.

This article includes:

  • Themes: Digital financial services; Fintech; Market consolidation; Mobile money; Telecommunications strategy; Telecommunications mergers and acquisitions (M&A); Technology services.
  • People: John Mbadi; Peter Ndegwa; Shameel Joosub; Sitoyo Lopokoiyit; William Ruto.
  • Geographic: Ethiopia; Kenya; South Africa; Sudan.
  • Organisations: Absa Group; Communications Authority of Kenya; Government of Kenya; M-PESA; M-PESA Africa; Safaricom; Vodacom; Vodafone Group.

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