Jumia has announced plans to cut at least 200 full-time jobs over the next two quarters as it accelerates the integration of artificial intelligence across its operations, marking one of its most significant restructuring moves to date.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Francis Dufay, said the platform is shifting toward a “lean, extremely efficient and cost-effective” operating model, noting that its core markets across Africa are dominated by low-income consumers earning between $200 and $300 monthly.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg from Abidjan, Dufay said the company can no longer rely on high-margin pricing strategies and must instead prioritise efficiency to remain viable.
The restructuring will affect multiple departments, including logistics, customer support, finance, cybersecurity, seller management, and software development, where AI systems are increasingly replacing manual workflows.
The latest job cuts form part of a broader transformation strategy as Jumia attempts to return to profitability after years of losses, investor pressure, and repeated restructuring cycles.
Recent financial indicators show signs of recovery. In Q1 2026, the company reported revenue of $50.6 million with a cash position of $62.6 million, while Q3 2025 results showed a 25% year-on-year revenue increase to $45.6 million and a 34% rise in order volumes.
Nigeria remains the company’s strongest market, with demand reportedly growing by more than 40% and gross merchandise volume increasing by 43%, driven by stronger consumer adoption of online retail.
However, the restructuring has significantly reduced Jumia’s workforce over time. Since 2022, total staff numbers have dropped from over 4,300 employees to fewer than 2,000 by March 2026. In Nigeria alone, staffing fell from more than 1,100 employees to about 361 by the end of 2025.
The company has repeatedly exited non-core markets, scaled back operations such as food delivery, and reshaped its leadership structure to focus more heavily on African markets.
Founded in 2012 and listed publicly in 2019, Jumia was once widely described as the “Amazon of Africa,” but has since undergone years of restructuring as it works toward financial sustainability.
The company now hopes that AI-driven efficiencies will help it reach profitability by 2026, though analysts warn that broader economic pressures could still challenge growth.
Rising smartphone costs, driven by global supply chain disruptions and energy pressures, may also limit access to e-commerce platforms across key African markets, potentially affecting both sellers and consumers.
Despite these risks, Jumia’s leadership maintains that automation and AI integration remain central to its survival strategy in a highly competitive and cost-sensitive market.
