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West Africa’s payment sovereignty push challenges Visa and Mastercard’s global card dominance

Payment system. Photo by Nathana Rebouças @ Unsplash
Payment system. Photo by Nathana Rebouças @ Unsplash

Brandon Orion Mensah

Brandon Mensah tracks Africa’s markets, uncovering the forces shaping investment, policy, and financial trends.
  • UEMOA orders domestic card payments onto regional infrastructure.
  • Policy could become blueprint for emerging economies.

 

DAKAR, SENEGAL — West Africa’s drive to reclaim control over domestic card payments is escalating into one of the world’s biggest tests of payment sovereignty, challenging the dominance of Visa and Mastercard over one of their most lucrative businesses.

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