Kigali Financial Centre takes over leadership of Africa financial roundtable

Kigali International Financial Centre has assumed the chair of the Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres from EnterpriseNGR, a leadership change aimed at deepening cooperation among African financial hubs and boosting the continent’s global standing. The transition gives KIFC a mandate to turn the group’s multi-year agenda into practical initiatives with WAIFC and member centres.

Why it matters: - The chair handover gives the Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres a new lead as African financial hubs try to compete more effectively in global finance. - KIFC will now help steer efforts to strengthen collaboration, raise Africa’s visibility and support investment into the continent. - The transition also signals continuity for a multi-year agenda focused on regional cooperation and long-term institutional growth.

What happened: - EnterpriseNGR officially handed over the ARFC chair role to Kigali International Financial Centre on Sept. 8, 2026. - The leadership change marks a new phase for the Roundtable’s work to strengthen ties among Africa’s financial centres. - KIFC will serve as incoming chair and work with members to advance the group’s strategic objectives.

The details: - EnterpriseNGR said its tenure focused on the theme “Connecting African Financial Centres for Global Competitiveness.” - That agenda included intra-African collaboration, global positioning, policy dialogue, research, knowledge sharing and institutional development of the Roundtable. - KIFC CEO Hortense Mudenge said the centre will build on EnterpriseNGR’s foundation and work with members to position Africa’s financial centres as trusted gateways for investment and sustainable economic growth. - EnterpriseNGR CEO Obi Ibekwe said the organisation aimed to strengthen Africa’s collective voice, deepen strategic partnerships and increase global relevance for the continent’s financial centres. - Lamia Merzouki, chair of WAIFC and chief operating officer of Casablanca Finance City Authority, congratulated Mudenge and said the Africa Chapter can further strengthen its role in collaboration, innovation and international engagement under her leadership. - ARFC said it will continue deepening collaboration among member centres, strengthening Africa’s collective voice, advancing thought leadership and promoting greater knowledge exchange. - KIFC will guide the Roundtable under the theme “The Future of African Financial Centres: Pathways to Global Competitiveness.” - KIFC will work with ARFC members and WAIFC to turn shared priorities into practical initiatives. - ARFC was established under the World Alliance of International Financial Centres. - Current ARFC members include KIFC in Rwanda, EnterpriseNGR in Nigeria, Casablanca Finance City Authority in Morocco, Nairobi International Financial Centre in Kenya and Two Rivers International Finance and Innovation Centre in Kenya. - KIFC describes itself as Rwanda’s international financial centre and a platform for investment into Rwanda and across Africa. - EnterpriseNGR describes itself as a private sector-led platform working to transform Nigeria into Africa’s leading financial and business services hub. - Casablanca Finance City Authority describes itself as Africa’s leading international financial centre and a founding member of ARFC.

Between the lines: - The chair rotation shows ARFC is trying to keep leadership distributed across major African financial centres rather than concentrated in one market. - The group’s emphasis on policy dialogue, research and knowledge sharing suggests the Roundtable wants to influence both market perception and the rules that shape cross-border finance. - KIFC’s mandate points to a broader strategy: make African financial centres more visible to global investors while building practical cooperation inside the continent.

What’s next: - KIFC will work with ARFC members and WAIFC to convert the group’s strategic priorities into initiatives that support Africa’s financial ecosystem. - The Roundtable is expected to keep building its collective voice and expanding knowledge exchange across member centres. - The new chair’s success will likely be measured by whether ARFC can turn coordination into measurable gains in competitiveness, visibility and investment appeal.

The bottom line: - KIFC inherits a regional platform with a clear mandate: help African financial centres work together more effectively and compete more confidently on the global stage.