WSO2, an enterprise digital infrastructure technology company, has opened its first Africa-based office in Johannesburg, South Africa, strengthening its commitment to one of its fastest-growing global markets.
The new office comes as governments, banks, telecommunications companies and retailers across Africa accelerate efforts to modernise legacy technology systems and establish the digital infrastructure needed to support artificial intelligence (AI) adoption.
The Johannesburg office represents the next stage of WSO2’s expansion across the continent. The company plans to gradually establish a presence in additional markets across East, West and North Africa, with a focus on long-term growth, local partnerships and sustainable value creation.
The announcement comes ahead of WSO2Con Africa, which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from September 22 to 24. The event marks the first time WSO2 has brought its flagship technology conference to Africa and will bring together business and technology leaders to explore digital modernisation, integration, digital sovereignty and the rise of agentic AI.
“Africa isn’t a peripheral market for WSO2. It’s one of the fastest-growing parts of our business and this office launch reflects our long-term commitment to the region,” said WSO2 Vice President and General Manager for Africa Dinal Gooneratne.
“Organisations across the continent are moving from experimentation to execution. Establishing a permanent presence in Johannesburg allows us to work more closely with the customers and partners as they modernise critical systems and adopt AI at scale.”
Africa becomes a key growth market
Africa has emerged as one of WSO2’s fastest-growing regions over the past two years, with the company reporting approximately 30 percent year-on-year revenue growth.
Its customer base on the continent has expanded from around 40 organisations to more than 65, while its footprint has grown to 25 African countries. Recent growth has included markets such as Benin, Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire.
Public-sector organisations have been an important contributor to this expansion. WSO2 technology is currently used by organisations including Uganda’s National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U), Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the Government of Malawi, Kenya Revenue Authority, Uganda Revenue Authority and Lesotho Revenue Services.
These deployments reflect the growing demand for secure and connected digital services across government institutions, particularly as countries seek to improve digital access for citizens and businesses.
Modernisation and AI drive demand
WSO2 attributes its African growth to three major trends: increasing demand for digital-first services, greater investment in modernising legacy systems and growing interest in AI initiatives.
For many organisations, adopting AI requires more than simply deploying new AI applications. Existing systems need to be connected, data needs to be managed securely and organisations require infrastructure capable of supporting AI-driven services while maintaining appropriate governance.
WSO2’s open-source technology approach is designed to support these requirements, allowing organisations to deploy its platform across cloud, on-premises and hybrid environments while retaining greater control over their data and digital infrastructure.
This flexibility also aligns with the region’s growing focus on digital sovereignty and open standards, particularly as governments seek greater control over how critical data and digital infrastructure are managed.
The company noted that these principles are increasingly reflected in policy discussions across Africa, including provisions outlined in Kenya’s recently unveiled draft AI policy.
Strengthening local partnerships
WSO2’s expansion will also involve deeper collaboration with regional technology partners, with the company planning to invest further in its partner ecosystem to provide customers with local expertise and support.
DeARX Business Development Executive Steven Grundlingh welcomed the establishment of the Johannesburg office, saying WSO2’s open-source and API-first approach has helped organisations modernise their systems and adapt to increasingly interconnected digital business environments.
“Having WSO2 on the ground will accelerate collaboration and deliver even greater value for our shared customers,” Grundlingh said.
Sybyl Kenya CEO Shailendra Yadav also highlighted the relevance of WSO2’s technology as governments and financial institutions place greater emphasis on data sovereignty and open standards.
“As governments and financial institutions across Africa increasingly prioritise data sovereignty and open standards, WSO2 is well positioned to support those ambitions,” Yadav said. “This investment strengthens our confidence in bringing WSO2 into more public-sector engagements across the region.”
With its Johannesburg office and the upcoming WSO2Con Africa, the company is positioning itself to deepen its relationships across the continent as organisations move beyond digital experimentation towards large-scale modernisation and AI adoption.
WSO2 team at Africa office opening
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