Financial institutions in Mozambique will have just 60 minutes to notify the Bank of Mozambique (BdM) of any payment service disruption lasting more than ten minutes, under a new central bank directive set to take effect within 90 days. The regulation establishes updated operating rules for the Rede Única Nacional, the country’s unified national electronic payments network.
The reporting obligation applies to credit institutions, financial companies, and the network operator. The directive states that these entities must “report to the BdM, within 60 minutes of occurrence, any unavailability of a payment service lasting more than ten minutes.”
To strengthen oversight of the system, the new framework — dated 2 June — also mandates continuous monitoring of network connectivity. Institutions will be required to provide the central bank with “real-time information on the status of their connection to the Rede Única Nacional.”
The BdM justified the measures by stating it is “necessary to reinforce the rules concerning information mechanisms relating to the operation and implementation of the connection of internal banking operations management systems of credit institutions and financial companies to the Rede Única Nacional.”
The central bank further emphasised that the rules are intended to strengthen the integration of banking systems with the national network, in a context of “growing use of electronic means and the need for greater control over the availability and security of services.”
The Rede Única Nacional is described as a shared common infrastructure responsible for centralising the processing of electronic transactions in the country, including card operations, point-of-sale terminals, and digital channels. The platform has been operated by SIMORede since 2023, under the management and supervision of the central bank.
Under the new rules, connection to the Rede Única Nacional becomes a prerequisite for the operation of financial institutions. The directive establishes that institutions must ensure this integration “as a condition for commencing the provision of electronic payment products and services,” including mobile financial services.
The requirements extend across the entire payments infrastructure, stipulating that electronic payment terminals “be installed through the Rede Única Nacional.” The objective is to centralise the processing of transactions carried out at ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and other electronic channels.
The new framework also imposes additional obligations in the areas of incident management and operational risk. The network operator must establish procedures for the “detection, classification, response, and reporting of operational and security incidents of a severe nature or with systemic impact,” and must review these mechanisms on an annual basis.
In addition, the system must maintain business continuity and disaster recovery plans, subject to annual testing with results communicated to the BdM. The directive sets a three-month deadline for the integration or migration of existing terminals, and specifies that non-compliance constitutes an infraction and “a punishable contravention” under applicable financial sector legislation.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/06/15/economia/banca/bancos-terao-apenas-60-minutos-para-comunicar-falhas-nos-pagamentos-electronicos/
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