African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) is the leading pan-African reinsurance company and the largest reinsurer in Africa in terms of net reinsurance written premiums.
Africa Re was set up by 36 African states in 1976, following a recommendation by the African Development Bank (AfDB), with the mission of developing the insurance and reinsurance industry in Africa through increased underwriting and retention capacities, and support to African economic development.
Ranked 38th in the 2018 Standard & Poor’s Global Reinsurance Groups and 41st of the Top 50 Global Reinsurance Groups by AM Best in 2018, Africa Re has a broad-based shareholding: 41 African member States (33.59%); the African Development Bank (8.42%); 111 African insurance and reinsurance companies (33.84%); and 3 non regional shareholders (23.15%), including leading global insurers and reinsurers from France (AXA), Canada (FAIRFAX) and Germany (ALLIANZ SE).
With headquarters in Lagos (Nigeria), Africa Re operates through six (6) Regional Offices across Africa: Casablanca (Morocco), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Nairobi (Kenya), Lagos (Nigeria), Cairo (Egypt) and Ebene (Mauritius), one (1) Local Office in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and one (1) Underwriting Representative in Kampala (Uganda). It also has two (2) Subsidiary Companies (Africa Re South Africa Limited and Africa Retakaful) in Johannesburg (South Africa) and Cairo (Egypt) respectively.
In 2017, Africa Re wrote US$746.8 million of premium income and realized a net profit of US$87.9 million. Its shareholders’ funds reached US$902 million while its total assets were US$1,628.5 million.
The Financial Strength and Credit Rating of Africa Re is A (Stable) by A.M. Best Company (since 2016) and A – (Stable) Standard & Poor’s (since 2009).
Besides its dedication to professional insurance capacity building and technical assistance to African insurers, Africa Re participates in the equity of major regional development institutions: Africa Export-Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK), Shelter Africa, African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI), Preferential Trade Area Bank (PTA Bank) and invests significantly in African financial markets.
Up to 2% of Africa Re’s annual net profit is used to finance Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in member countries with a focus on risk management for development.
Plot 1679 Karimu Kotun Street
Victoria Island P.M.B. 12765 Lagos
Nigeria
Expertise Regional Director
Former Regional Director, Ebene Office in Mauritius
Since joining the insurance industry in 1987, Mr Léonidas Baragunzwa has worked in different capacities in various insurance entities. Prior to Africa Re, he served as Underwriter, Survey Engineer and Manager at Société d’Assurances du Burundi, trainee Actuary at Aon Belgium in Life & Pensions Department, Actuary at AG Insurance Belgium, Chief Actuary and Assistant Director Underwriting & Special Risks before rising to the position of Director of Central Operations & Special Risks at Africa Re in January 2014. On 1 January 2017 he was appointed Regional Director, Mauritius Ebene Office in Mauritius.
Mr BARAGUNZWA holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (Belgium) and a Master’s degree in Actuarial Science (Belgium). He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in Belgium (IA|BE).
