The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, announced on Thursday, June 19, the signing of a partnership with Maroc Telecom. Under the agreement, IFC will provide two loans totaling €370 million (USD 425 million) to improve mobile connectivity and internet quality in Chad and Mali, two key markets in its regional strategy in sub-Saharan Africa. 

With this financial support, Maroc Telecom aims to accelerate the deployment of 4G, modernize its existing infrastructure, and expand network coverage, particularly in underserved areas. This aims to meet growing demand for mobile connectivity while also promoting the growth of high-impact services such as Mobile Money, considered a key tool for financial inclusion in countries where a large portion of the population remains excluded from the traditional banking system. 

The IFC’s intervention is part of a desire to support cross-border investments led by regional players such as Maroc Telecom. The institution highlights the role of the private sector in the continent’s digital transformation, particularly in fragile or post-crisis countries. Digital technology is seen as a catalyst for job creation, the development of local skills, and the emergence of new, high-value-added services. These investments are also part of the African Union’s ambition to build a secure single digital market in Africa by 2030. 

Present in sub-Saharan Africa for over two decades, the Moroccan group claims more than 57 million customers outside Morocco. It is active in around ten countries, including Chad and Mali, where internet access remains limited. According to DataReportal, at the beginning of 2025, only 13.2% of the Chadian population had internet access, or approximately 2.74 million users. In Mali, this rate reached 35.1%, for nearly 7.82 million internet users, illustrating the extent of the digital divide in these two countries. 

As African countries step up efforts to accelerate their digital transition, the financing granted to Maroc Telecom is expected to strengthen infrastructure, expand access to digital services, and support evolving usage patterns. It also aims to ensure the viability of operators in markets that are still unprofitable. For the Moroccan group, it marks a new step in its regional expansion strategy. 

Source: Agency EcoFin