The Gabonese group Samb’a Finances Holding submitted an application on 4 September 2026 to the insurance department 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. The company is chaired by Andrew Gwodog, founder of the group, with Barthélemy Zoua serving as managing director and Abel Blaise Ezo’o Engolo as independent director.
Samb’a Assurances Cameroun positions itself as the first company in the country entirely dedicated to micro-insurance, a segment of non-life insurance aimed at low-income populations. Premiums will start at 3,500 FCFA per month.
To reach its target customers, 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, up from 274.6 billion in 2023, according to regional economic press reports. Micro-insurance is not entirely new in the country: Activa Assurances launched a product as early as 2015, followed by AXA, which received approval in 2016. However, the sector still struggles to scale up, according to market observers.
Samb’a Finances Holding started its activities in Gabon on 18 September 2024 with an initial capital of 610 million FCFA, before embarking on this Cameroonian expansion.
