Africell Burundi
Africell Burundi, also known as Africa Cellulaire and Tempo Africell, was a Burundian mobile telecommunications operator whose network service ended after license and tax-related difficulties.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Africell Burundi was a mobile telecommunications operator in Burundi, also identified in sources by the French name Africa Cellulaire and by the Tempo, Africell Safaris, and SAFARIS network brands. The company was established around 2000 by Bernard Busokoza and obtained licenses covering GSM and WiMAX services. Its mobile network operated nationally under the SAFARIS name, while the Tempo and Africell Safaris identities were associated with the commercial service. The operator expanded its network with external financing. In 2006, Africa Cellulaire received a US$1.569 million term loan from the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank to help finance nationwide GSM network expansion. The financing indicates that network coverage and infrastructure development were central to the company’s business, although the available reference material does not provide verified subscriber totals, revenue figures, detailed tariff information, or a complete account of its retail products. In January 2008, Dubai-based VTEL Holdings completed the acquisition of Africell Burundi. VTEL Holdings held an 81% stake and controlled the Tempo and Africell Safaris brands. The acquisition placed the Burundian operator within a broader ownership structure while retaining its local mobile-network identity. The company participated in sector-wide infrastructure cooperation in 2010, when Onatel Burundi formed a consortium with Africell and other telecommunications companies—including U-COM Burundi, CBINET, and Econet Wireless—to develop the Burundi Backbone System fiber-optic network. Africell Burundi later experienced serious regulatory and financial pressure. Its GSM operating license expired on 16 September 2014. The Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency subsequently asked whether the company intended to renew the license, reportedly at a cost of US$10 million. In an October 2014 letter, Mehieddine Makkaoui, identified as CEO of Tempo Africell, informed the regulator that the license would not be renewed and that the company would close its GSM service because of difficult economic and financial circumstances. The operator was ultimately closed on 16 March 2015 because of tax debt. Bernard Busokoza, described as the company’s founder and vice-president of its board, sought additional time to restructure the business. The network reportedly continued operating for a period, but customers could no longer interconnect with other networks such as Econet, Lacell, and Onatel. This sharply reduced the practical usefulness of the service and contributed to customers migrating to competing operators. Africell Burundi is therefore treated as a defunct telecommunications brand and operator; the available sources do not establish a subsequent revival, rebranding, or successor operation in Burundi.
History
Africell Burundi was a Burundian mobile telecommunications operator that operated under the names Africa Cellulaire, Tempo Africell, Africell Safaris, and SAFARIS. The company was created around 2000 by Bernard Busokoza and developed a telecommunications business centered on mobile connectivity. It obtained GSM and WiMAX licenses and operated its GSM network under the SAFARIS name. The company’s early development involved expansion of national network infrastructure. In 2006, Africa Cellulaire secured a US$1.569 million term loan from the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank. The loan was intended in part to finance the expansion of its GSM network across Burundi. The available source does not provide detailed coverage maps, subscriber figures, pricing plans, or technical specifications beyond the company’s GSM and WiMAX licensing. In January 2008, VTEL Holdings of Dubai completed the acquisition of Africell Burundi. VTEL held an 81% interest in the company and owned or controlled the Tempo and Africell Safaris brands associated with the operator. This transaction changed the ownership structure without altering the company’s role as a Burundian mobile-network provider. Africell also participated in national telecommunications infrastructure cooperation. In 2010, Onatel Burundi formed a consortium with Africell and other companies, including U-COM Burundi, CBINET, and Econet Wireless, to build the Burundi Backbone System fiber-optic network. The project reflected an effort by local operators to improve the country’s shared telecommunications backbone. The company’s later history was dominated by regulatory and financial difficulties. Its GSM operating license expired on 16 September 2014. On 1 October, the Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency asked whether the company wished to renew the license for a reported fee of US$10 million. In a letter dated 6 October 2014, Mehieddine Makkaoui, CEO of Tempo Africell, said the company would not renew the license and would close its GSM service because of difficult economic and financial circumstances. Reports also referred to possible discussions between VTEL and Onatel, although the available material does not establish that a partnership was completed. Tempo Africell was closed on 16 March 2015 because of tax debt. Bernard Busokoza, described as the founder and vice-president of the board, requested time to restructure the company. The network reportedly remained technically active for a period after the closure, but interconnection with other operators—including Econet, Lacell, and Onatel—was no longer possible. As a result, customers gradually moved to competing networks. No reliable source in the supplied material documents a later relaunch or successor brand, so Africell Burundi is classified as defunct.
- 2015
Operations closed
[1]Tempo Africell was closed on 16 March because of tax debt, after the company had declined to renew its GSM license.
- 2014
GSM license expired
[1]The company’s GSM operating license expired on 16 September, followed by discussions with the regulator over a possible renewal.
- 2010
Joined Burundi Backbone System consortium
[1]Africell joined other Burundian telecommunications companies in a consortium to develop a national fiber-optic backbone.
- 2008
VTEL Holdings acquisition completed
[1]VTEL Holdings completed its acquisition and held an 81% stake in Africell Burundi.
- 2006
GSM network expansion financed
[1]A US$1.569 million term loan supported expansion of the company’s GSM network across Burundi.
- 2000
Company established
[1]Africell Burundi, also known as Africa Cellulaire, was created around this period by Bernard Busokoza.
Products and positioning
A national Burundian mobile network operator serving customers through the SAFARIS, Tempo, and Africell Safaris brands.
Mobile telecommunications
SAFARIS mobile network
SAFARIS was the network identity under which Africell Burundi operated its GSM mobile service. It provided the infrastructure and network access through which the operator served customers across Burundi. The supplied material does not confirm specific handset offers, tariffs, data packages, or coverage statistics.
Mobile telecommunications brand
Tempo Africell
Tempo Africell was a commercial brand associated with the Burundian operator, particularly during its later operating period. The brand represented mobile telecommunications services delivered through the company’s GSM network. Service ended after the license was not renewed and the operator was closed in 2015.
Wireless broadband
WiMAX services
Africell Burundi obtained a WiMAX license in addition to its GSM authorization. The available source confirms the licensing but does not provide enough detail to describe the commercial rollout, customer base, pricing, or duration of WiMAX services.
Brand decisions
2015
Restructuring request after closureStrategyBackground
Tempo Africell was closed because of tax debt after the company decided not to renew its GSM license.
Action taken
Founder and board vice-president Bernard Busokoza requested additional time to restructure the company.
Aftermath
The network reportedly remained active temporarily, but loss of interconnection caused customers to migrate to other operators.
2014
Decision not to renew the GSM licenseStrategyBackground
The GSM operating license expired in September 2014, and the regulator asked whether Africell would renew it for a reported US$10 million fee.
Action taken
Tempo Africell CEO Mehieddine Makkaoui informed the regulator that the company would not renew the license and would close its GSM service.
Aftermath
The operator was subsequently closed in March 2015 because of tax debt, while its network reportedly continued temporarily without interconnection to several competing networks.
Reported GSM license renewal fee. US$10 million requested for renewal (2014)
Recent events
- 2015
Tempo Africell was closed over tax debt[1]
Bankruptcy · Regulation
Tempo Africell was closed on 16 March 2015 because of tax debt. Its network reportedly continued operating temporarily but lost interconnection with several rival networks.
- 2014
Africell Burundi’s GSM license expired[1]
Regulation
The operator’s GSM license expired on 16 September 2014. The regulator later asked whether Africell intended to renew it, reportedly at a US$10 million cost.
- 2014
Tempo Africell announced that it would not renew its GSM license[1]
Regulation · Bankruptcy
CEO Mehieddine Makkaoui told Burundi’s telecommunications regulator that the company would not renew its license and would close GSM operations because of difficult economic and financial conditions.
- 2010
Africell joined the Burundi Backbone System consortium[1]
Other
Africell participated with Onatel Burundi and other telecommunications companies in a consortium established to build Burundi’s BBS fiber-optic backbone.
- 2008
VTEL Holdings completed its acquisition of Africell Burundi[1]
M&A
Dubai-based VTEL Holdings completed the acquisition of Africell Burundi and held an 81% stake in the operator, including control of the Tempo and Africell Safaris brands.
- 2006
Africa Cellulaire received financing for GSM expansion[1]
Other
The Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank provided Africa Cellulaire with a US$1.569 million term loan to support expansion of its GSM network across Burundi.
Sources1 sources
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