Guinea Acquires Full Ownership of Areeba Guinee, Paving Way for Telecom Transformations

The Guinean government has officially seized complete ownership of Areeba Guinee, a major mobile network operator, marking a significant milestone in the country’s telecom sector. Following a decree signed by President Mamadi Doumbouya, this acquisition finalizes the transfer of MTN Group’s stake, making Areeba Guinee a fully state-owned enterprise. During a national address, President Doumbouya emphasized that the operator will now operate under a newly established framework, governed by an independent board of directors and empowered with enhanced financial and managerial autonomy.

Transition from Temporary to State-Controlled Management

The new governmental ownership formally concludes an interim period initiated in December 2024, during which Areeba Guinee operated under temporary management. Under this arrangement, the company worked to maintain operations while the government assessed its next steps. Additionally, minority shareholders have exited their stakes, a decision that had been under consideration since the initial phase of government intervention. This structural shift demonstrates the administration’s intent to assert greater control over Guinea’s telecom infrastructure and to strengthen state-led innovation in the market.

What’s Next: Areeba Guinee and Guinea Telecom Merger in Discussions

The full acquisition of Areeba Guinee comes at a pivotal moment as the government evaluates its broader strategies for telecom sector development. Previously, Guinea had announced plans to launch a new mobile network operator, Guinea Telecom, which was supposed to replace the defunct state-run operator, SOTELGUI, in early 2023. However, ongoing challenges, such as outdated infrastructure, have delayed these efforts. The recent developments have sparked speculation over a potential merger between the newly acquired Areeba Guinee and the yet-to-launch Guinea Telecom. According to reports, this merger could see one company functioning as a wholesale provider while the other focuses on retail services, streamlining operations and enhancing service delivery.

Implications for Guinea’s Telecom Future

The Guinean government’s move to fully acquire Areeba Guinee signals a broader ambition to reclaim control over critical digital infrastructure and modernize the country’s telecommunications industry. By transitioning from private to public ownership, Guinea is positioning itself to explore innovative solutions to long-standing challenges, ranging from infrastructure modernization to improved connectivity for citizens. If successful, these efforts could pave the way for Guinea to emerge as a competitive player in the regional telecom market, with state-driven strategies at the forefront of industry evolution.