Africell

Africell was founded in 2001 by US entrepreneur Ziad Dalloul. Africell launched its first commercial operations in The Gambia in 2001, before entering Sierra Leone in 2005 and building up a solid market leadership position in both West African countries. Subsequently, Africell Group expanded south and east, into Democratic Republic of Congo (2012) and Uganda (2014). Africell's strategy is to move into markets in which it can "make a positive difference" in terms of reducing prices, covering more territory, and improving internet speed and reliability. Africell ended services in Uganda in October 2021.

In 2018, it was announced that Africell group had secured a $100m loan facility from the US Government's International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). DFC's substantial investment in Africell followed a strict due diligence process and reflected a policy goal of the US government to significantly increase its commercial investments in Africa. In May 2022, Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted Africell as an example of US investment in sub-Saharan Africa making "real impact" and advancing "security and transparency" in the region. In a statement made by The White House during the 49th G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Africell was listed as a key vehicle of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment in the 'Lobito Corridor' region of Africa. Antony Blinken visited Africell's head office in Luanda in January 2024 and Africell's CEO, Ziad Dalloul, met President Joe Biden - along with the leaders of Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zambia - in Lobito, Angola, in December 2024. In October 2024, Africell issued a $300 million debut public corporate bond, putting them among an elite cohort of African firms to have raised finance through public markets.

Africell launched the Africell Impact Foundation in June 2022. It produced the DRC Pavilion at the 2023 London Design Biennale and has undertaken collaborations with organisations including the London School of Economics, Sotheby's and NBA Africa. Africell's podcast series about Sierra Leone, Salone Stories, which was co-produced with Sierra Leonean playwright and historian Charlie Haffner, included interviews with Dame Judi Dench, Aminatta Forna and David Sengeh. Africell's first feature length documentary, Lobito Bound, follows British explorer Dwayne Fields on an expedition across Africa's 'Lobito Corridor', and was released worldwide on Prime Video and Apple TV in December 2025.

Africell is the predominant mobile network provider in The Gambia and Sierra Leone and growing rapidly in Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, both of which are considered high potential markets for the African telecoms sector. Africell's activity is directed from its group headquarters in London.

The Gambia

Africell launched operations in Gambia in 2001. Africell has been the market leader in the country since 2006 in terms of the number of subscribers, and it boasts 93% territorial coverage. Africell offers 2G, 3G and 4G services in Gambia and the country is the Africell operating market with the highest percentage penetration of data services. Africell is well-respected in Gambia, both as a mobile network provider and as a significant private sector employer, and the company known to have the widest coverage and the highest quality network structure with services available to almost 100% of the Gambian population.

Sierra Leone

Africell launched commercial operations in Sierra Leone in 2005. The company extended its footprint further in 2009 through the acquisition of Tigo Sierra Leone. Today, Africell's network covers more than 92% of the population. Africell has been the market leader in Sierra Leone since 2009, with approximately 4.2 million active subscribers and an extensive portfolio of 3G and 4G services. Africell's growth in Sierra Leone is driven by increasing data revenues, robust commercial promotions with data products accounting for a steadily increasing share of customer recharges over time.

During the Ebola epidemic which struck Sierra Leone and other West African states between 2014 and 2016, Africell played a prominent role as a local private sector partner to the government and international agencies battling the virus on the ground, deploying its hardware, telecommunications services, media platforms and distribution network to support the anti-Ebola campaign. Africell has earned a reputation in the nation as the premier company in terms of meeting its corporate social responsibilities.