MTN bets on MoMo in South Sudan

By Phathisani Moyo, Senior contributor
Johannesburg, 01 Sept 2025
Francis Matseketsa, MTN Fintech (left) and Mapula Bodibe, MTN South Sudan spearheaded the launch of the Mata fekir MoMo campaign.
Francis Matseketsa, MTN Fintech (left) and Mapula Bodibe, MTN South Sudan spearheaded the launch of the Mata fekir MoMo campaign.

MTN South Sudan has unveiled its new MoMo campaign, ‘Mata fekir’; a mobile money product that the operator hopes will transform financial access in one of Africa’s least-banked nations.

The launch, held at the Pyramid Continental Hotel in Juba, brought together government regulators, financial institutions, and private sector leaders.

According to MTN, the Mata fekir campaign aims to simplify transactions, expand access to financial services, encourage savings, and empower communities across South Sudan.

According to the GSMA, there were over one billion registered mobile accounts in 2024, and Africa accounted for more than 70% of global mobile money transactions, to a total value of US$1.1 trillion.

Speaking at the launch, MTN Fintech CEO Francis Matseketsa told Juba-based TRC Radio: “Mata fekir is about giving people confidence to manage money, grow their businesses, and plan for the future using technology they already have in their hands.”

Mapula Bodibe, MTN South Sudan CEO, stressed the company’s commitment to tackling financial exclusion. “We have a bold vision to expand mobile money services, but we cannot do it alone. Together with regulators, merchants, and communities, we can drive awareness, education, and adoption of MoMo,” she said.

Drawing on the experience of MTN Fintech, which has 72.5 million active users across the continent, and MTN Group, which has 293 million subscribers, the partnership is a powerful push to bring South Sudan closer to a cash-light and digitally connected economy.

Government leaders also praised the move, which is set to bring unbanked South Sudanese to the mainstream economy. Papiti Okwaci, director of Technical Services at the National Communications Authority, called it a welcome milestone. “Access to financial services is no longer a privilege, but a necessity for economic growth and social empowerment,” he said.

Despite challenges, such as liquidity shortages that affect cash withdrawals, MTN underlined that it is working with partners to ensure a reliable MoMo experience.

“As mobile money continues to reshape Africa’s economies, MTN’s Mata fekir campaign highlights how digital finance can unlock opportunities, bridge the gap between the banked and unbanked, and lay foundations for inclusive growth in South Sudan,” said Bodibe.

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