Africa’s largest mobile network may disconnect from parts of West Africa

MTN became the largest telco in Africa when it entered the overlooked markets. Now, weary after losses and scandals, MTN is apparently reconsidering its presence in West Africa.

Speculation began after MTN broadcasted the sale of its Cyprus unit for just over $305 million to Monaco Telecom.

The company’s only presence in Europe was MTN Cyprus, and “falls outside the group’s core footprint of Africa and the Middle East,” MTN said in the sale announcement.

CEO Rob Shuter is said to be reviewing MTN’s portfolio and whether it really needs to be in 22 countries, according to a report by Bloomberg.

According to the report, West Africa seems to be next. Liberia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau could be on the chopping block. Liberia and Guinea-Bissau had the lowest number of subscribers after Cyprus.

Earlier this year, MTN paid regulators in Benin $126 million to settle a licensing dispute. Then in Cameroon, it paid a $6.6 million penalty ahead of renewing its license there. In Ghana, MTN agreed to sell shares to local investors in exchange for a regulatory requirements for a new 4G license, reported by Bloomberg. And of course, the MTN’s woes in Nigeria are well-documented.

MTN is said to be re-prioritising to dominate a larger markets like Angola and Ethiopia, where in both cases state-owned telcos are reportedly planning to sell off a stake.