PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the world’s leading professional services firms, has shut down operations in nine Sub-Saharan African countries as part of a sweeping strategic review.
The move comes amid intensifying scrutiny and reputational challenges linked to a series of global audit failures and client-related controversies.
According to the notice, PwC has exited Ivory Coast, Gabon, Cameroon, Madagascar, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Republic of Guinea, and Equatorial Guinea.
The firm, which operates as a global network of independently owned partnerships, did not provide specific reasons for the closures in its announcement.
The confirmation follows a report by the Financial Times, which cited internal sources indicating that the decision was driven by concerns over the viability of operations in certain smaller and higher-risk markets.
The report also stated that internal tensions between PwC’s global leadership and local partners had grown, especially after sustained pressure to drop clients deemed risky, resulting in significant revenue losses—reportedly over one-third in some countries.
PwC declined to elaborate beyond its published statement but directed media inquiries to the March 31 announcement in response to the Financial Times coverage.
The report further indicated that PwC had severed ties with additional member firms in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Fiji, although these exits have not been officially confirmed by the firm.
The closures add to a series of challenges PwC has faced globally in recent years. In mainland China, the firm’s unit was fined $62m and suspended for six months due to audit lapses connected to property giant China Evergrande’s $78bn accounting scandal.
In March, British regulators imposed a £5m ($6m) fine on PwC in relation to audit failures involving Wyelands Bank for the 2019 financial year.
PwC has also been working to rebuild trust in the Middle East. Relations between the firm and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), became strained following the suspension of PwC’s activities with PIF’s holding company.
The firm is currently engaged in efforts to restore its standing in the region, amid broader internal reforms and a reassessment of its client portfolio.
Industry analysts view PwC’s recent market exits as part of a broader recalibration aimed at strengthening the firm’s risk management framework and focusing on more sustainable and profitable markets.
While PwC has not ruled out a return to some of these territories in the future, the move marks a significant shift in its global footprint and underscores the increasing pressures faced by audit firms navigating complex regulatory and reputational landscapes.
