Jumia will now be held accountable for products sold by third-party sellers on its platform

Africa's largest e-commerce platform, Jumia, has updated its terms and conditions following an investigation by the COMESA (Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa) Competition Commission, which found that some clauses and disclaimers were misleading and false.

Jumia, which operates in 11 African markets including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt, was required to review and amend its terms by the regional watchdog after it discovered that Jumia had excluded itself from being responsible for products sold by third-party sellers on its platform.

The Commission noted that Jumia's large presence in the region meant it had the potential to significantly impact trade across the common market. As a result, Jumia will now be held accountable for products and transactions on its platform, with the company required to clearly indicate where it is the seller and provide access to a sale agreement between buyers and third-party sellers.

The company will also be expected to ensure the accuracy of the information on sellers and products posted on its platform. Additionally, the company will be required to include in its terms and conditions details of the entity to be served for legal purposes. The Commission's requirements are a significant shift for Jumia, which had previously excluded itself from liability for goods sold on its platform.