MTN Completes Guinea Exit, Transfers Operations To Local Ownership

MTN Group has officially exited the Guinean market, transferring its operations to the State of Guinea as part of its strategic shift toward portfolio optimisation and risk management.

The sale was finalised on December 30, 2024, according to a statement from the telecommunications giant.

The decision aligns with MTN’s broader Ambition 2025 strategy, which prioritises simplifying its portfolio and focusing on markets that offer sustainable growth and long-term returns.

Reflecting on the transition, MTN Group president and CEO, Ralph Mupita, said; “This milestone marks a new phase for MTN Guinea-Conakry under local ownership. We thank the staff, customers, regulators, and stakeholders for their unwavering support throughout our time in the country. Simplifying our portfolio enables us to concentrate resources where we can drive significant impact and growth.”

Mupita previously explained the rationale behind MTN’s exit during a media briefing in Johannesburg in August 2024. He highlighted the challenges posed by smaller, subscale markets that struggle to fund their own growth sustainably.

“We assess each market based on its ability to deliver self-funded growth. If it cannot meet that criterion, we evaluate whether it aligns with our portfolio objectives. For Guinea-Conakry, despite potential revenue or profit increases, we determined MTN was not the best long-term owner,” Mupita explained.