Verify an African company by testing its identity, authority and ability to perform the proposed transaction through independent evidence. Registration is one part of that process. It does not by itself prove that the person contacting you represents the company, that a licence is valid or that the promised goods and facilities exist.
Use the same transaction-based discipline you would apply in any market, while allowing for differences in registry access and available records. This guide sets out a practical sequence from legal identity to operational capability, explains how to handle conflicting information and shows why a clean database result should not be treated as a guarantee.
Confirm the legal entity and the person representing it
Match the exact legal name and registration number across the official registry, tax record, licences, invoices, website and bank account. Trace beneficial owners rather than stopping at a corporate shareholder. FATF guidance emphasizes accurate, current basic and beneficial-ownership information because companies and trusts can conceal control.
In Kenya, an Official Search formerly called CR12 can be requested through BRS/eCitizen. Other countries use different registries and access rules. A clean registry record does not prove inventory, solvency or performance, so add financial and site checks appropriate to the deal. Duara provides cross-border verification.
Obtain the exact legal name and registration number before searching. Trading names, group names and similarly named companies can create false matches. Confirm which entity will sign the contract, invoice and receive payment. If the contact claims to represent a group, ask for the relationship and authority rather than assuming that the reputation of one company extends to every affiliate.
Use independently sourced contact details to confirm the person’s role and signing authority. A genuine company can be impersonated, so a successful registry match is not the end of the investigation. Compare dates and identifiers across the contract, invoice and correspondence. Where a newer entity claims older trading experience, ask whether it acquired a predecessor or whether the claim refers to an individual’s experience, then verify that explanation.
Check licences, ownership and the financial ability to perform
A legitimate trading company has active tax registration and, in many markets, can produce a tax compliance certificate. For regulated activities, verify the licence directly with the regulator rather than accepting a copy. A licence certificate is one of the easiest documents to fabricate and one of the easiest to check.
Request audited accounts or filed financial statements and read them for whether the business has the scale to fulfil what it is proposing. A supplier offering to ship twenty containers a month with a balance sheet that cannot support two is telling you something important.
Request evidence that relates to the specific activity and location. A valid licence for one operation may not cover another product, facility or contracting entity. Note expiry and renewal conditions and confirm material details with the issuer. Tax standing is a separate issue from solvency, and neither should be inferred solely from possession of a certificate.
Review financial information in the context of the order. Consider working capital, borrowing, customer concentration and whether the proposed commitment fits the company’s demonstrated scale. Where accounts are unaudited or unavailable, state the limitation and seek other relevant evidence rather than labelling the business financially sound. Trace controlling interests sufficiently to understand authority and conflicts, while respecting lawful access and handling of personal information.
Test operational claims through references and site evidence
If the counterparty would sell your products, connect the checks to a distributor selection brief: the required channels, storage, sales capability and coverage determine which operational claims matter. Registration alone does not establish that commercial fit.
Ask for named trading partners and contact them independently, using details you find yourself rather than those supplied. Ask specific questions about volumes, consistency, quality disputes and payment behaviour. Vague or unreachable references are themselves a finding.
A site visit should test a defined claim. If the company says it manufactures goods, establish what production is performed there, by whom and at what available capacity. If it is a trader, assess its supplier relationships and control over the offered stock. A modest registered office can be legitimate; the issue is whether the operating model matches the representation, not whether the address looks impressive.
Ask to see relevant activity and records, with permission. Photographs, equipment lists and staff explanations are stronger when linked to recent production, inventory or dispatch evidence. Distinguish owned equipment from rented or shared facilities and total capacity from capacity available for your order. References should be contacted independently and asked about comparable transactions rather than simply whether they know the company.
A visit remains a snapshot. Combine it with contract terms, inspection rights and payment controls that address what could change before delivery. Duara’s verification service can help scope local checks, while technical quality or specialist regulatory questions may require an appropriately qualified reviewer.
Resolve conflicts and document a transaction decision
- Search the competent registry using legal name and number.
- Confirm directors, owners, status, address and charges where available.
- Verify tax and sector licences directly with issuers.
- Screen sanctions, PEP exposure, litigation and adverse media.
- Check references and bank details independently.
- Inspect facilities and evidence of recent trading where capacity matters.
Record source, date and limitation for every finding. “No result” is not the same as “no risk,” especially where courts or registries are incomplete.
Create a short evidence matrix showing the claim, source, date, finding and limitation. Separate “confirmed,” “inconsistent” and “not verified.” A search that returns no record may reflect poor coverage, a wrong identifier or a genuine issue; determine which before drawing a conclusion. Give the company an opportunity to explain discrepancies, then test the explanation independently.
Decide what the unresolved issue means for the transaction. An administrative mismatch might be corrected before signing, while unexplained bank ownership or a missing essential licence may require a pause. Do not average critical findings into an reassuring overall score. Record the conditions for proceeding and who will verify that they have been met. Refresh material facts before transferring money, especially if the deal or payment instructions have changed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I verify an African company online?
Often partly. Online coverage varies, and some records or site checks require local follow-up.
What is beneficial ownership?
The natural person or people who ultimately own or control an entity, even through intermediate companies.
Is a tax certificate enough?
No. It supports one aspect of standing but not ownership, solvency, capacity or transaction legitimacy.
What is the strongest operational check?
A documented site visit that confirms premises, people, equipment, stock and activity against the company’s claims.