AISL Insurance Signals

Regulatory Access

AISL assesses regulatory access across five categories. These categories reflect the practical barriers foreign insurers and reinsurers encounter when considering market entry.

Open / Low Friction

Little to no structural restriction on foreign reinsurer access.

Key Criteria

  • No compulsory cession
  • No ROFR
  • No local capacity imposed

Examples: South Africa, Morocco

Moderate Restrictions

A few identified barriers, access workable with placement discipline.

Key Criteria

  • 1 to 2 active friction mechanisms

Examples: Senegal, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda

Restrictive

Significantly constrained access, several friction mechanisms combined.

Key Criteria

  • 3 or more friction mechanisms

Examples: Mauritius, Eswatini, Nigeria, Djibouti, Seychelles, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Namibia, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Tunisia, Niger, Guinea-Bissau, Libya

Highly Restrictive

Materially constrained access for cross-border reinsurance.

Key Criteria

  • 4 or more friction mechanisms, or a high friction factor

Examples: Algeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Burundi, Gabon, Chad, Mauritania, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Egypt, Sudan, Liberia, Cameroon, Eritrea, Benin, Mali, Ethiopia, Angola, Guinea, Ghana, Togo, Malawi, DR Congo, Central African Republic, Gambia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Somalia, Sao Tome and Principe, Comoros, Lesotho

Under Review

Categorization pending sufficient data.

Key Criteria

    Market breakdown by access category

    Country-level detail is available just below.

    73.3/100 en moyenne sur 54 marchés
    Ouvert / Friction faible2 (4%)
    Restrictions modérées4 (7%)
    Restrictif15 (28%)
    Très restrictif33 (61%)

    Per-market detail

    For each mechanism, AISL answers yes or no, in the same style as the Global Reinsurance Forum's comparative analysis of trade barriers, with AISL's own reading and framing.

    🇲🇺Mauritius100/100
    Compulsory cession
    No
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Score V2 + Atlas Magazine + Wikipedia

    🇸🇨Seychelles100/100
    Compulsory cession
    No
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇧🇼Botswana100/100
    Compulsory cession
    No
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: KPMG Insurance in Africa, NBFIRA, Atlas Magazine (Hollard/Absa Botswana), juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇹🇳Tunisia100/100
    Compulsory cession
    No
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Score V2 + Atlas Magazine + Wikipedia

    🇲🇦Morocco97/100
    Compulsory cession
    No
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Methodology V0.3 (founder-reviewed)

    🇿🇼Zimbabwe86/100
    Compulsory cession
    No
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: GRF - Reinsurance Trade Barriers and Market Access Issues Worldwide, mai 2026

    🇲🇿Mozambique86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine) - MozRe existe mais cession specifique non confirmee

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: ISSM, Decret 1/2010, recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee (Mozambique non couvert)

    🇸🇿Eswatini86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume) - aucune cession locale specifique chiffree trouvee

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee, alignement SACU/CMA presume

    🇧🇮Burundi86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume) - aucune cession locale specifique chiffree trouvee

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: ARCA, recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇬🇦Gabon86/100
    Compulsory cession

    SCG-Ré 5-15% + Africa Re 5%

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: GRF - Reinsurance Trade Barriers and Market Access Issues Worldwide, mai 2026

    🇩🇯Djibouti86/100
    Compulsory cession

    ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company) 30% de toute la reassurance + 15% des accords de fronting

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Oxford Business Group Djibouti 2016 (regle toujours citee comme en vigueur), Africa Re Dashboard, juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇲🇷Mauritania86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume) - aucune cession locale specifique chiffree trouvee

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee, PAS membre CIMA

    🇲🇬Madagascar86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume) - aucune cession locale specifique chiffree trouvee

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AfDB Madagascar Economic Outlook, recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇧🇫Burkina Faso86/100
    Compulsory cession

    FASO Re 5-7,5% + CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5%

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Score V2 + GRF + Atlas Magazine + Banque mondiale + GRF Trade Barriers Table mai 2026

    🇱🇷Liberia86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇨🇲Cameroon86/100
    Compulsory cession

    CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5% (base CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Score V2 (methodologie transparente) + GRF Trade Barriers Table (base CIMA) + Atlas Magazine + Banque mondiale

    🇨🇻Cabo Verde86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇧🇯Benin86/100
    Compulsory cession

    CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5% (base CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Score V2 + GRF + Atlas Magazine + BAD

    🇲🇱Mali86/100
    Compulsory cession

    CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5% (base CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Score V2 + GRF + Atlas Magazine + FMI

    🇦🇴Angola86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, pas de regime CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Loi 18/22 (Angola), recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee (Angola non couvert)

    🇬🇳Guinea86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume) - aucune cession locale specifique chiffree trouvee

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: BCRG, OLEA Insurance Solutions, recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee, PAS membre CIMA | Marche corrige avec sources reelles BCRG+Atlas Magazine (etait estime)

    🇹🇬Togo86/100
    Compulsory cession

    CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5% (base CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Score V2 + GRF + Atlas Magazine + Wikipedia (partiel)

    🇲🇼Malawi86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume) - aucune cession locale specifique chiffree trouvee

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: RBM/PISU, Insurance Act 2024, recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee (Malawi non couvert)

    🇬🇲Gambia86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇸🇱Sierra Leone86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇸🇹Sao Tome and Principe86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇰🇲Comoros86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇱🇸Lesotho86/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% (base Union Africaine, presume)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Recherche web juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇷🇼Rwanda75/100
    Compulsory cession
    No
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    Yes
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Methodology V0.3 (founder-reviewed)

    🇩🇿Algeria72/100
    Compulsory cession

    CCR (État) — 50% min.

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    Yes
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: GRF - Reinsurance Trade Barriers and Market Access Issues Worldwide, mai 2026

    🇹🇩Chad72/100
    Compulsory cession

    CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5% (base CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: CIMA Code des assurances, AfDB Chad Economic Outlook, juillet 2026

    🇬🇶Equatorial Guinea72/100
    Compulsory cession

    CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5% (base CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: CIMA Code des assurances, etude Heliyon 2024, AfDB Equatorial Guinea Outlook, juillet 2026

    🇿🇲Zambia72/100
    Compulsory cession

    ZEP-RE 10% + Africa Re 5% + National Re. 10%

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: GRF - Reinsurance Trade Barriers and Market Access Issues Worldwide, mai 2026

    🇨🇬Congo72/100
    Compulsory cession

    CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5% (base CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: GlobalData Congo Insurance Industry Report, CIMA Code des assurances, juillet 2026

    🇸🇩Sudan72/100
    Compulsory cession

    National Reinsurance Co. 25% + Africa Re 5% + ZEP-RE 10%

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    Yes
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: GRF - Reinsurance Trade Barriers and Market Access Issues Worldwide, mai 2026

    🇳🇦Namibia72/100
    Compulsory cession

    NamibRe 12,5% polices + 20% traités

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    Yes
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: GRF - Reinsurance Trade Barriers and Market Access Issues Worldwide, mai 2026

    🇳🇪Niger72/100
    Compulsory cession

    CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5% (base CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: CIMA Code des assurances, rapports annuels CIMA, juillet 2026

    🇨🇩DR Congo72/100
    Compulsory cession
    No
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    Yes
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: GlobalData DRC Insurance Industry Report, ARCA, CG Re Africa (Reinsurance News), juillet 2026 - PAS de source GRF dediee

    🇨🇫Central African Republic72/100
    Compulsory cession

    CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5% (base CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: CIMA Code des assurances, AfDB CAR Economic Outlook, juillet 2026

    🇬🇼Guinea-Bissau72/100
    Compulsory cession

    CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5% (base CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: CIMA Code des assurances, juillet 2026

    🇿🇦South Africa67/100
    Compulsory cession
    No
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    Yes
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Methodology V0.3 (founder-reviewed) + GRF Trade Barriers Table mai 2026

    🇬🇭Ghana62/100
    Compulsory cession
    No
    Right of first refusal
    Yes
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    Yes
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Methodology V0.3 (founder-reviewed)

    🇪🇷Eritrea58/100
    Compulsory cession

    National Insurance Corporation of Eritrea (monopole d'Etat presume) - non confirme precisement

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    Yes
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Estimation par defaut faute de source fiable - PAS de source GRF dediee, PAS de donnees economiques officielles recentes disponibles

    🇱🇾Libya58/100
    Compulsory cession

    Libyan Reinsurance Company (monopole d'Etat presume)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    Yes
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Estimation par defaut - PAS de source GRF dediee, PAS de donnees sectorielles fiables et recentes disponibles

    🇸🇸South Sudan58/100
    Compulsory cession

    ZEP-RE (presume, membre COMESA/PTA) - non confirme precisement

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    Yes
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Estimation par defaut - PAS de source GRF dediee, PAS de donnees sectorielles fiables disponibles

    🇸🇴Somalia58/100
    Compulsory cession

    Non determine avec certitude

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    Yes
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: Estimation par defaut - PAS de source GRF dediee, PAS de donnees sectorielles fiables disponibles

    🇺🇬Uganda44/100
    Compulsory cession

    Uganda Re 15% + Africa Re 5% + PTA Re 10%

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    Yes
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    Yes
    Withholding tax
    Yes
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: GRF - Reinsurance Trade Barriers and Market Access Issues Worldwide, mai 2026

    🇸🇳Senegal43/100
    Compulsory cession

    SEN-Re + CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5%

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Methodology V0.3 (founder-reviewed) + GRF Trade Barriers Table mai 2026

    🇨🇮Cote d'Ivoire35/100
    Compulsory cession

    CICA-RE 20% + Africa Re 5% (base CIMA)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    Yes
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    Yes

    Source: AISL Methodology V0.3 (founder-reviewed) + GRF Trade Barriers Table Mai 2026 (2e verification)

    🇹🇿Tanzania35/100
    Compulsory cession

    Tan-Re 10-20% + Africa Re 5% + ZEP-RE 10%

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    Yes
    Withholding tax
    Yes
    Fronting special acceptance
    Yes

    Source: GRF - Reinsurance Trade Barriers and Market Access Issues Worldwide, mai 2026

    🇪🇹Ethiopia30/100
    Compulsory cession

    Réassureur local 25% traités + 5% par police

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    Yes
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    Yes
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    Yes
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: GRF - Reinsurance Trade Barriers and Market Access Issues Worldwide, mai 2026

    🇳🇬Nigeria29/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5% + WAICA Re 5%

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    Yes
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Methodology V0.3 (founder-reviewed) + GRF Trade Barriers Sept 2025 + GRF Trade Barriers Table mai 2026

    🇰🇪Kenya21/100
    Compulsory cession

    Kenya Re 20% + ZEP-RE 10% + Africa Re 5% (35% total)

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    No
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    Yes
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: AISL Methodology V0.3 (founder-reviewed) + IRA Insurance Amendment Regulations 2025 + Reinsurance Advisory Board response + GRF Trade Barriers Table mai 2026

    🇪🇬Egypt20/100
    Compulsory cession

    Africa Re 5%

    Yes
    Right of first refusal
    No
    Local capacity required
    No
    Minimum rating required
    Yes
    Accreditation required
    No
    Withholding tax
    No
    Fronting special acceptance
    No

    Source: GRF - Reinsurance Trade Barriers and Market Access Issues Worldwide, mai 2026

    Regulatory environments change. Categories reflect AISL's assessment at a point in time and should be verified before any commercial decision.