Gabonese group Samb’a Finances Holding seeks approval for Cameroon micro-insurance arm

The Gabonese group Samb’a Finances Holding submitted an application on 4 September 2026 to the insurance directorate of Cameroon’s Ministry of Finance, seeking approval to launch operations of its subsidiary Samb’a Assurances Cameroun S.A., which will focus on micro-insurance.

Incorporated on 21 May 2026 in Douala, the subsidiary has a share capital of 615 million FCFA distributed among 59 shareholders. Andrew Gwodog, the group’s founder, serves as chairman, while Barthélemy Zoua holds the position of managing director and Abel Blaise Ezo’o Engolo acts as an independent director.

Samb’a Assurances Cameroun positions itself as the country’s first company entirely devoted to micro-insurance, a non-life insurance segment targeting low-income populations. Premiums will start at 3,500 FCFA per month.

To reach its target clientele, the subsidiary plans to distribute products through Mobile Money, microfinance institutions—including Financial House, cited as a key partner—and community networks.

A still underdeveloped market in Cameroon

Cameroon’s insurance market generated 288.7 billion FCFA in premiums in 2024, compared with 274.6 billion in 2023, according to regional economic press reports. Micro-insurance is not entirely new there: Activa Assurances launched a product as early as 2015, followed by AXA, which received authorisation in 2016. However, the sector still struggles to scale up in the country, according to market observers.

Samb’a Finances Holding began its activities in Gabon on 18 September 2024, with an initial capital of 610 million FCFA, before embarking on this Cameroonian expansion.