(Business in Cameroon) – As of March 31, PwC’s francophone Africa subsidiaries are officially independent. In a statement, Bouba Kaele, Head of Marketing and Communications for PwC Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, confirmed that these firms have exited the PwC network and will now operate independently.
PwC Cameroon had an annual revenue of over €10 million (about CFA6.5 billion) and employed more than 100 people. Its client base spans key industries such as banking, telecommunications, manufacturing, energy, and oil and gas. Following the split, PwC Cameroon will adopt a new brand identity, according to Kaele.
“The francophone Africa firms are continuing their activities as independent entities to better address market needs and strengthen our commitment to clients,” he stated. To retain clients and avoid losing ground to other global audit and consulting firms in Cameroon, PwC and its former francophone subsidiaries worked together on a coordinated transition to minimize disruptions. Continuity plans were put in place to ensure reliable service for clients.
A Dispute Behind the Separation
PwC has not provided an official explanation for the split. However, sources suggest internal tensions over strategic disagreements and disputes regarding brand usage played a key role.
Beyond Cameroon, PwC Global has also withdrawn from nine other countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Guinea, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, and Chad.
According to Ecofin Agency, this marks a strategic pullback for PwC, reducing its footprint in Africa even as several economies on the continent continue to experience strong growth. While local firms may have a deeper understanding of regional markets, they still lag behind global firms in terms of technology and multidisciplinary expertise.
A Growing Market for Consulting
Sub-Saharan Africa’s consulting market is rapidly expanding, driven by increasing demand from governments and private companies. In 2018, Sami Rahal, then CEO of Deloitte France and Francophone Africa, estimated the consulting market in francophone Africa to be worth between €300 million and €400 million (approximately CFA196 billion to CFA262 billion).
The strongest demand comes from financial services, healthcare, life sciences, energy, and environmental sectors, with digital transformation and innovation playing a central role. However, agriculture and natural resources remain largely untapped by consulting firms, despite being crucial for the region’s economic development.
