CEMAC (regional) vs Kenya · Real-time payment systems compared
| Capability | GIMACPay | M-Pesa |
|---|---|---|
| QR Code Payments | ◐ | ✓ |
| Wallet Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| 24/7 Availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-Border | ✓ | ◐ |
| ISO 20022 | — | — |
| Request to Pay | — | ✓ |
| Open API | ◐ | ✓ |
| Alias/Proxy | ✓ | ✓ |
CEMAC region's interbank interoperable retail payment platform, operated by GIMAC (Groupement Interbancaire Monétique de l'Afrique Centrale) under BEAC regulatory oversight. Covers six Central African countries (Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea) with a shared XAF rail. Connects banks, microfinance institutions, mobile money operators, payment institutions, public treasuries and fintech aggregators, supporting person-to-person, wallet-to-bank and card-to-wallet transfers across all six countries. Mobile money now accounts for roughly three-quarters of transaction volume.
Africa's pioneering mobile money platform that revolutionised financial services by enabling P2P transfers, bill payments, merchant payments, savings, and loans via basic SMS or smartphone app — no bank account required. Launched by Safaricom in Kenya in 2007, M-Pesa now serves 60M+ active users across Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Mozambique, and other African markets. It processes more transactions than many traditional banking systems and has become a textbook case study in financial inclusion, reaching unbanked populations through mobile-first design and agent networks. Note: Data follows Safaricom's fiscal year ending March (e.g. "2025" = April 2024 – March 2025).