Johannesburg: AfricUpdate – News Desk
Hormuud Telecom, Somalia’s largest telecoms operator, has been re-certified by the GSMA Mobile Money Certification programme, reaffirming its commitment to global best practices in consumer rights, anti-money laundering, and resilient financial service delivery.
This milestone places EVC Plus, Somalia’s most widely used mobile money platform, among just ten services globally to meet the GSMA’s rigorous standards, setting it apart as a trusted platform for customers, regulators, and international partners. Hormuud joins leading fintech players, including Safaricom M-PESA, Vodacom M-PESA, and MTN MoMo, in being awarded the certification.
Originally certified in 2022, Hormuud’s renewed status reinforces both its technical capability and its ability to operate at scale with transparency and security. The GSMA Mobile Money Certification is based on independent assessments across 8 core principles and nearly 300 criteria, including fraud prevention, customer data protection, and operational resilience.
EVC Plus stands among a select group of mobile money services globally to achieve GSMA Mobile Money Certification, including Safaricom, Vodacom and MTN, underscoring its role in advancing safe, inclusive, and trusted digital finance on the continent.
With mobile money use far outpacing traditional banking, EVC Plus has become the financial backbone of the Somali economy. According to a World Bank report, Somalia records approximately 155 million mobile money transactions each month, worth an estimated $2.7 billion, with nearly three-quarters of the population aged 16+ using mobile money.
EVC Plus, Somalia’s first mobile money platform, is used by over [4.5] million Somalis for daily transactions, and by more than 145 NGOs to distribute humanitarian cash aid across the country. For investors, regulators and NGOs, it offers a trusted benchmark of the sector’s maturity and integrity, and that controls are in place to transact securely.
The re-certification comes as Hormuud sets sights on expanding smartphone adoption, whilst accelerating its nationwide 5G rollout. Together, these efforts will lay the groundwork for a digitally inclusive, cashless economy, underpinned by systems that are trusted, certified, and built to meet international standards.
