AUDIT AND CONSULTING : Following Ernst & Young’s Split, Eritedge and Elyos Reshape the Francophone African Landscape
La voix des entreprises 
(LVDE) — On the eve of the announced separation between Ernst & Young and its eleven offices in sub-Saharan Francophone Africa, a new map of the auditing and consulting sector is taking shape. Two independent entities, Eritedge and Elyos, have emerged to take over the British firm’s activities in the region, opening a new chapter for professional services in Africa.
The auditing and consulting landscape in sub-Saharan Francophone Africa is undergoing a major transformation. After several months of internal discussions and strategic reorganization, the divestiture of Ernst & Young’s (EY) operations in eleven countries marks a turning point. This transition has led to the creation of two distinct pan-African networks: Eritedge and Elyos, which will inherit client portfolios and local teams from one of the prestigious “Big Four” firms.
The split occurs in an international context where large audit firms face increasing demands regarding independence, governance, and risk management. In Francophone Africa, the offices involved covered strategic markets, notably in Central and West Africa, serving both multinational corporations and local public and private groups.
According to several specialized economic media outlets, this reorganization aims to provide greater autonomy to regional teams while ensuring continuity in statutory audits, financial consulting, and strategic advisory services. Eritedge positions itself as a network focused on auditing and accounting expertise, whereas Elyos intends to develop a broader offering in consulting, digital transformation, and transaction support.
For client companies, the main concern remains stability. Leaders of the new structures have assured that existing teams, methodologies, and professional standards will be maintained to guarantee service quality. The transition is being implemented gradually, under regulatory supervision in each jurisdiction, to ensure compliance with international standards.
This development also reflects a wider trend toward the Africanization of professional services. Increasingly, firms operating on the continent aim to strengthen their local presence and tailor their offerings to regional economic realities. The emergence of Eritedge and Elyos could thus foster greater strategic agility and a deeper understanding of national markets while maintaining technical partnerships with international networks.
Observers note that this sector reshaping could intensify competition with other global giants present in Africa, such as Deloitte, PwC, and KPMG. It comes at a time when African economies, engaged in structural reforms and diversification programs, have a growing need for expertise in governance, compliance, and financial structuring.
The creation of Eritedge and Elyos thus marks a new phase for consulting in Francophone Africa: less dependent on a single global brand but firmly focused on ambitious regional structuring. The coming months will be crucial in assessing the capacity of these networks to establish a lasting presence in a highly competitive environment.
Tressy Chouente
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