WAEMU’s Payment Network Faces Delays as Banks Rebuild Infrastructure

The much-anticipated GIMpay platform, designed to connect all banks, fintechs, and mobile money wallets across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), has yet to achieve widespread adoption more than two years after its launch.

GIMpay was initially touted as a ‘super app’ that would enable seamless payments between different platforms—allowing users in Senegal to pay electricity bills in Côte d’Ivoire through MTN, InTouch, or Orange Money without needing cash. Former GIM-UEMOA director Minayegnan Coulibaly described it as a single key replacing multiple separate ones.

However, data released after the November 2024 launch showed only around ten partners had signed on for integration—far short of the 75 initially projected. By June 2026, despite ongoing efforts, GIMpay still hadn’t reached a critical mass of users or enabled general transactions.

The delays stem from technical challenges requiring banks to rebuild their APIs and mobile money operators to make significant adjustments. This has proven to be a slow, costly process that has yet to deliver on its initial promise.

While the vision for greater financial inclusion through interoperable payment systems remains valid, GIMpay’s experience highlights the complex infrastructure requirements needed to connect diverse digital ecosystems in Africa.