The Federation of African National Insurance Companies (FANAF) is preparing for a major deadline. In February 2026, at its 50th General Assembly scheduled in Abidjan, the pan-African organization will have to appoint its new president to replace Gabonese Cesar Ekomie Afene, who has been in office since 2020.
Two figures in the sector are already emerging: Ivorian Mamadou G.K. Koné and Senegalese Mamadou Faye. Currently the president of the Association of Insurance Companies of Côte d’Ivoire (ASACI), Mamadou G.K. Koné heads Sanlam Allianz CI, an entity resulting from the merger of two insurance heavyweights. Re-elected as the head of ASACI for a second term in April 2024, he has a strong presence in the Ivorian market, one of the most dynamic in the CIMA zone. His candidacy for the presidency of FANAF was announced with the support of his national association and unanimously endorsed by its general assembly.
Opposing him, Mamadou Faye, managing director of Senegalaise de l’Assurance Vie, is familiar with the workings of FANAF. Currently the vice-president of the federation, he embodies institutional continuity and a close relationship with the organization’s internal mechanisms. His experience in FANAF governance, combined with his understanding of the specific issues in the sub-region, makes him a credible candidate capable of uniting beyond his country.
The anticipated vote in Abidjan will be far from trivial. First, due to the symbolic context: Côte d’Ivoire, the founding country, is hosting this 50th edition in a climate where the challenges of digitization, solvency, and regulation weigh more than ever on the players. Secondly, because this election pits two approaches against each other: on one hand, a candidacy led by a leader of an internationally structured group; on the other hand, that of an actor rooted in a national company, involved in the internal workings of FANAF.
If Mamadou Koné’s profile (cover photo) suggests extensive management and reform, Mamadou Faye’s profile reflects patient and methodical knowledge of federal dynamics.
With a few months left until the election, public statements remain measured. But behind the scenes, consultations are intensifying among the national associations that are members of FANAF. The support of major zones in the CIMA, particularly Central Africa, could be crucial in differentiating between the two contenders.
