Airtel Africa has stepped up its share repurchase program, acquiring nearly 41 million shares under its $100 million buyback initiative, signaling confidence in the company’s balance sheet even as it continues to invest heavily in connectivity and mobile money across its 14 African markets.
The telecoms group, one of the continent’s largest operators, said the buybacks reinforce its strategy of returning capital to shareholders while maintaining the financial flexibility to fund network upgrades and digital services.
Launched in December 2024, the program involves open-market purchases, all of which are subsequently cancelled, reducing the company’s share count and enhancing key per-share metrics such as earnings per share.
Since the program’s inception, Airtel Africa has repurchased shares at a cumulative average price of $2, representing roughly $84.6 million (N122.7 billion) at current exchange rates. In its latest filing with the Nigerian Exchange, the company reported acquiring an additional 40,000 shares on December 31, 2025, at prices between $4.50 and $4.60 per share.
Following the cancellations, Airtel Africa’s issued ordinary share capital now stands at about 3.66 billion shares, with total voting rights reduced slightly to roughly 3.65 billion. While the numerical change is modest, the move underscores management’s confidence in the company’s cash-generating capacity amid ongoing capital expenditures.
“Airtel Africa’s consistent buybacks highlight our commitment to disciplined capital management,” the company said, noting that the program complements ongoing investments in network expansion, mobile money, and digital services.
The strategy reflects broader industry dynamics in Africa, where telecom operators face rising infrastructure and regulatory demands while seeking to capture growth in mobile connectivity and financial inclusion. Serving more than 600 million people across East, Central, and West Africa, Airtel Africa remains one of the continent’s key players in both telecoms and mobile financial services.
By reducing the share base while maintaining investment momentum, Airtel Africa aims to strike a balance between shareholder returns and long-term growth, sending a strong signal of financial resilience to the market.
