KEY POINTS
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Afriland Chad expansion follows new approvals from Cobac.
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Executives say the Afriland Chad expansion will begin within months.
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The group has financed major projects ahead of the branch launch.
Cameroonian banker Paul Fokam, the founder of Afriland First Group, held talks with Chadian President Mahamat Deby Itno in Abu Dhabi as the lender works to complete plans to open a banking subsidiary in N’Djamena. The meeting marks another step in a project Afriland has kept on its books for two decades, waiting for the right regulatory conditions and political backing to move forward.
Afriland Chad expansion moves
Speaking after the discussion on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, Fokam said the group is preparing to launch operations in Chad within months. He described the decision as the culmination of years of preparation and patient engagement with authorities across the region. According to him, Afriland is now confident the environment is stable enough for a full branch rollout. Guy Laurent Fondjo, the group’s head of development, joined him at the briefing and stressed that Afriland has been active in the Chadian market without a physical presence. He said the bank has financed hundreds of millions of dollars in projects and private-sector activity, a level of support he expects to grow once the subsidiary opens its doors.
The push into Chad follows regulatory approvals granted in October by the Central African Banking Commission, or Cobac, which oversees the banking sector across six nations in the CEMAC zone. The authorizations were issued under a single-license framework adopted in late 2024.
Regulatory backing for Afriland Chad expansion
According to billionaire Africa, the approvals give Afriland First Bank, Cameroon’s largest lender, room to accelerate its regional footprint. The bank plans to extend operations not only to Chad but also to Congo and the Central African Republic. Afriland has played a role in industrial and infrastructure financing across Central Africa for years and began signaling interest in setting up a branch in Chad as early as 2022. The move aligns with the institution’s broader long-term strategy, which emphasizes African-led development and financial autonomy.
Founded in 1987 by Fokam, Afriland First Bank has grown into one of the region’s most influential lenders. It now runs 87 branches and maintains a network of 218 ATMs and 386 electronic payment terminals across nine countries. The bank serves more than 705,000 customers. Its expansion has included a strong focus on digital services, a shift aimed at improving access to banking in areas with low penetration rates.
Afriland has also maintained a steady record of domestic investment in its home market. In 2023, the group committed $2.7 billion to Cameroon’s economy, backing projects tied to national development plans. Fokam has repeatedly framed the bank’s growth as part of a broader vision for strengthening African economies through locally anchored financial institutions.
