NAIROBI, May 8 – Airtel Africa said on Friday that it has delayed the planned initial public offering of its mobile money business, Airtel Money, to the second half of 2026 as geopolitical tensions and rising energy prices fuel uncertainty across global markets.
The telecommunications group had initially planned to list the unit during the first half of the year, but said inflationary pressures linked to the conflict in the Middle East are expected to weigh on near-term profit margins.
Airtel Money has been preparing for a public listing after years of rapid expansion across African markets, where digital payments and mobile banking services continue to grow strongly.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the world’s largest mobile-money market, accounting for about $1.4 trillion in transactions during 2025, or roughly two-thirds of global activity, according to the GSMA.
The business has attracted backing from major international investors, including TPG Inc., Mastercard and an affiliate of Qatar Investment Authority.
Africa has increasingly become a major growth market for fintech firms as a young and digitally connected population turns to mobile platforms for payments, savings and other financial services.
