Anwar Soussa, managing director of Vodacom DRC, has been named CEO of the new telco in Ethiopia by a Safaricom-led partnership, effective July 1, 2021.
Mr. Soussa has also served as the chairman of Vodacash (M-Pesa) since 2017. He will report to the company’s board of directors as well as Safaricom’s CEO, Mr Peter Ndegwa.
“Anwar will lead the Ethiopian Operating Company on behalf of the Global Partnership for Ethiopia Consortium. He will be responsible for execution of the consortium’s goal to bring about transformational economic and social impact in Ethiopia and positively enhance the lives of its over 112 million people.” said Safaricom in a statement.
The impact investment consortium aspires to support Ethiopia’s digital transformation and positively enhance the lives of its citizens.
The partners in the consortium are led by Safaricom Plc, a partner member of the Vodafone Group, and will establish a new operating company in Ethiopia which aims to start providing telecommunications services from 2022.
In addition to Safaricom, the partnership includes: Vodacom Group; Vodafone Group; Sumitomo Corporation – one of the largest international trading and business investment companies; and CDC Group – the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor.
Ethiopia is home to over 112 million people, making it the second-largest country in Africa by population. It is one of the last countries in the world to introduce competition in the telecom industry, a rigorous process started by the government in 2019 as part of its Economic Reform Agenda, with the support of the International Finance Corporation.
The reforms aim to increase jobs, reduce poverty and grow the local economy in an inclusive and sustainable manner.
