African cross-border trade hindered by fragmented payments and regulations

Fragmented systems delay cross-border trade

At the 2026 Moonshot by TechCabal conference, experts identified Africa’s fragmented payment systems and regulatory requirements as major barriers to cross-border trade. While trade between African countries grew to $220.3 billion in 2024—a 12.4% increase from the previous year—businesses still face high costs and delays due to disparate currencies, payment infrastructure, and local regulations.

Tola Onayemi, CEO of Norebase, highlighted that domestic transfers in Nigeria can be completed within seconds, but cross-border transactions often suffer from inefficiencies. The lack of interoperability forces businesses to navigate separate licences, hold funds locally in multiple countries, and replicate infrastructure, increasing operational complexity.

Calls for harmonised regulations and shared infrastructure

Speakers at the conference emphasised the need for harmonised regulatory frameworks and connected payment systems to reduce trade barriers. Tatiana Ndlovu, Executive Head of Marketing at Nedbank Africa Regions, noted that payment systems across Africa were designed for individual countries rather than a continental market, limiting seamless transactions.

Iheakachi Nwabueze, Vice-President of Global Marketing and Growth at Grey, argued that greater interoperability would lower costs and help businesses expand. He cited Nigeria’s domestic payment infrastructure as a model, where providers offer services through a common system instead of building separate capabilities.

A shared financial infrastructure, such as those proposed by Afreximbank, could allow institutions to connect their services while maintaining customer relationships. This approach would reduce duplication and improve efficiency for merchants, logistics providers, and customers alike.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

For founders and operators in Africa’s fintech and trade sectors, the message is clear: regulatory and infrastructural fragmentation is not just a compliance hurdle—it is a direct cost to growth. Companies that build or integrate with interoperable payment systems stand to gain a competitive edge as trade volumes rise. The push for harmonisation also signals an opportunity for startups to act as connectors between markets, filling gaps left by traditional financial institutions. However, the slow pace of regulatory alignment means operators must still design for flexibility, accommodating multiple licences and local fund-holding requirements for the foreseeable future.

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