VimpelCom is to sell two of its African assets for about $100 million and is interested in joining the race for Pakistan’s Warid Telecom, according to Reuters.

The operator is to sell Telecel Global, whose interests include VimpelCom’s units in Burundi and the Central African Republic, to Neil Telecom, a venture focused on telecoms in emerging markets.

The two units were inherited by VimpelCom with the acquisition of Orascom in 2011.  Reports last year mentioned a total of five Orascom units that were considered superfluous to requirements, as Vimpelcom focused on larger markets and looked to cut its debt.

The unit in Burundi is the country’s market leader with 1.25 million subscribers (GSMA Intelligence, Q2, 2103 figures), equivalent to a 50 per cent market share, while the Central African Republic unit is second-placed with 434,000 subscribers.

A third African asset in Zimbabwe is being sold to a separate buyer, said a source.

Meanwhile, banking sources also say VimpelCom is eyeing a bid for Pakistan’s Warid Telecom in what looks like turning into a consolidation battle in the country’s mobile market.

VimpelCom (via Orascom’s Mobilink unit) is Pakistan’s largest operator and would cement its position if it could acquire fifth-placed Warid Telecom. The combined entity would have a total of 49 million subscribers, which is an equivalent to a market share of 39 per cent (GSMA Intelligence, Q2 2013 figures).

However VimpelCom will have a fight on its hand if it goes ahead with a bid. Yesterday, Etisalat confirmed its affiliate Pakistan Telecommunications (PTCL) is interested in Warid Telecom. PTCL is the country’s third largest operator with 23.7 million subscribers.

VimpelCom said at the time of its results an agreement had been signed for the disposal of Telecel Global without naming buyer or price. A company spokesman would not comment on its intentions in Pakistan.