Pan-African reinsurer Continental Reinsurance has received approval from the National Bank of Rwanda to establish a representative office in Kigali.
Operating under the name Continental Reinsurance (R) Limited, the new entity began operations on 10 August 2026, said Continental Re in a statement released last week.
The move is part of the reinsurer’s strategy to strengthen its presence in East Africa, particularly in Rwanda.
The representative office serves as a local liaison and market-development presence, strengthening Continental Re's engagement with insurers, reinsurance brokers, and industry stakeholders in Rwanda. It complements the underwriting and technical capacity delivered through the company's East Africa operations, bringing its teams closer to clients and enabling more responsive local support.
“Rwanda is one of the most dynamic and well-governed insurance markets in the region, and establishing a presence here reflects our long-term commitment to East Africa,” said Mr Kevin Mworia, Managing Director. “Our representative office allows us to work more closely with our partners on the ground, understand their needs in real time, and continue delivering the responsive service and technical expertise that define Continental Re.”
Meanwhile, Continental Re is in the midst of an initial public offering (IPO) exercise on the Botswana Stock Exchange, marking the first public offering by a reinsurer in the country. The IPO opened on 5 August 2026 and closes on 16 September 2026. The listing date is 5 October 2026.
The company is seeking about BWP2.13bn ($158m) through the Botswana IPO, but only BWP409 m will provide fresh capital to the company. The new funds will be used to strengthen its balance sheet, expand underwriting capacity, invest in technology and support growth across African markets.
Continental Reinsurance has four decades of experience providing life and non-life reinsurance solutions across more than 50 African countries. It serves a network of over 900 cedants and brokers.
The Group operates through six regional hubs in Lagos, Nairobi, Gaborone, Douala, Abidjan, and Tunis, employing 144 professionals from more than 10 nationalities.