PAPSS Expansion Grows, but Cross-Border Payments Still Lag

In Short

The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) is growing across Africa. But businesses trading across borders still face delays and extra costs because payment networks and rules do not line up.

What Happened: Moonshot 2026 Focuses On Payment Links

The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, or PAPSS, was highlighted as one of the efforts trying to reduce barriers in African cross-border payments.

According to TechTrendsKE reporting cited in the piece, PAPSS has expanded to more than 30 countries. The system includes 24 central banks, over 200 commercial banks and payment service providers, and 16 switches participating.

At Moonshot 2026, discussions about regional payment infrastructure pointed to what is still missing. The focus was on harmonising regulatory requirements, connecting national payment systems and investing in shared financial infrastructure. In simple terms, that means making country rules compatible, wiring domestic payment rails together, and building common plumbing that multiple markets can use.

The article notes that businesses may be able to accept digital payments at home, but cross-border transactions can require additional processes. Differences in infrastructure and regulation can affect how quickly funds move and how much businesses pay to complete transactions.

PAPSS has described its priority as moving from network expansion to actual use by businesses and consumers. The article argues that this matters because connections between financial institutions do not automatically translate into merchant services that are easy to use in day-to-day trade.

Why It Matters: Trade Depends On Everyday Usability

For businesses, cross-border payments infrastructure is only useful if it works in practice. The article points to common needs such as receiving payments from customers in other markets, settling supplier invoices, and managing transactions without excessive delays or costs.

It also flags that a network connecting banks still needs to show up as accessible services through those banks and payment providers.

The same issue showed up in TechTrendsKE’s reporting on Kenya’s digital trade infrastructure. That coverage examined how mobile money, e-commerce, financing, cross-border payments and regulatory frameworks need to connect for Kenya to participate more effectively in global digital trade.