The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission (CCPC) has initiated a formal investigation into Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, alleging the company abused its dominant market position by restricting access to its WhatsApp Business API for certain artificial intelligence service providers.
The probe centers on amendments Meta made to its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms in October 2025. According to the Commission, these changes unilaterally blocked providers of general-purpose AI services from using the API, while Meta’s own AI offerings retained access. The CCPC asserts this conduct potentially violates COMESA’s competition rules.
Willard Mwemba, Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, stated there is “reasonable cause to suspect that Meta holds a dominant position in the Common Market.” The investigation will assess whether the amendments have the object or effect of restricting competition, as prohibited under Regulation 36 of the COMESA Competition and Consumer Protection Regulations, 2025.
The Commission noted the WhatsApp Business API serves as a critical gateway for businesses to reach customers, and excluding AI providers could “substantially lessen competition.” It has invited affected stakeholders to submit representations by March 16, 2026, with confidentiality assured.
This case represents a significant early test of COMESA’s newly enforced competition framework against a major global technology firm. It underscores heightened regulatory scrutiny across Africa regarding digital platform practices and their impact on market fairness in the region’s rapidly expanding digital services sector. The inquiry’s outcome may set important precedents for how dominant tech firms operate within the 21-nation COMESA bloc.
