Kelly Mua Kingsley: Leading Africa’s Investment Future as Head of ATIDI
The election of Professor Kelly Mua Kingsley as Chair of the Board of Directors of the African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) marks a significant moment not only for Cameroon but also for the broader African investment landscape. An international financial engineer of high repute, Professor Kingsley will now lead a critical institution that facilitates trade, investment, and development across 24 member states. His immediate challenge: rally the remaining members of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) to join the organization.
The ATIDI, founded in 2001, operates in a domain vital to Africa’s economic aspirations: risk mitigation. By offering political risk insurance, credit insurance, and investment guarantees, it shields foreign investors and African companies from uncertainties that could derail major projects. With this mandate, Professor Kingsley sees an unprecedented opportunity to leverage the continent’s natural resources, its youthful demographic, and its burgeoning technology sector. His goal? To position Africa as an attractive destination for global capital, backed by a robust, transparent governance framework and modern infrastructure.
Under his leadership, the ATIDI will aim to simplify investment processes, nurture innovation, and establish sustainable practices that align with international standards. Crucially, he seeks to foster stronger ties between governments and private sector actors. These partnerships, according to Professor Kingsley, are key to building a resilient ecosystem that can attract not only foreign investment but also support local entrepreneurship. His focus on capacity building, transparency, and regional integration could mark a turning point for Africa’s role in global trade.
A pivotal element of Kingsley’s tenure will be strengthening regional cooperation, especially within the CEMAC bloc. Currently representing Cameroon at the Directorate General of Treasury in the Ministry of Finance, Professor Kingsley has set his sights on bringing all CEMAC member states under the ATIDI umbrella. By doing so, he aims to unlock new opportunities for cross-border trade and investment within the region, which includes countries such as Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As the first Cameroonian to chair the ATIDI board, his election sends a strong signal about the organization’s commitment to enhancing its impact in Central Africa. « My vision is to promote best practices in corporate governance within ATIDI and to stimulate economic growth that benefits the continent, » Kingsley has said. His call for CEMAC members to join the institution is a testament to his belief in the power of regional collaboration.
Kingsley’s career is built on a deep foundation of financial expertise. A graduate of Harvard Kennedy School, he has accrued more than 25 years of experience across a range of financial disciplines, including forensic finance, financial investigation, and combating financial crime. His qualifications are bolstered by certifications from top institutions like Canada’s Institute of Forensic Finance.
His international roles have been diverse, from serving as a non-voting member at the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) to advising the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Kingsley’s intellectual contributions to the financial world are equally impressive: he has authored 45 books and over 200 peer-reviewed articles.
Alongside Christina Westholm-Schröder, who was elected Vice-Chair of the Board, Kingsley will focus on fostering collaboration among ATIDI’s member states, expanding the organization’s product offerings, and increasing its visibility across the continent. He will also aim to broaden ATIDI’s investor base—a move that aligns with the organization’s recent financial rating upgrades. In October, Moody’s raised ATIDI’s credit rating from A3/Positive to A2/Stable, while Standard & Poor’s confirmed its A/Stable rating. These assessments reflect the institution’s strong financial management and strategic direction.
Since its inception, ATIDI has been instrumental in facilitating cross-border trade and investment in Africa. It has insured projects worth $85 billion, equivalent to over 51,000 billion CFA francs. Kingsley’s leadership comes at a time when Africa’s economic potential is becoming ever more apparent, and with his vision, the continent could see a dramatic increase in both foreign and local investment.
The challenge now is execution. If Kingsley succeeds in integrating CEMAC countries and promoting sustainable investment practices, ATIDI could become a cornerstone of Africa’s development, fostering a more interconnected and economically resilient continent.
Mérimé Wilson