Barclays planned  retreat from Africa is likely to be a long protracted process that will face both legal and logistical challenges.

On Tuesday the London-based financial institution detailed how it plans to cut back its 62 percent stake in the Africa unit over a two to three year period, to less than 20 percent, Wall Street Journal reported.

Interest from buyers won’t be a problem, with at least seven local and international institution showing interest in  buying the whole or part of the Barclays shareholding on the continent.

“(The split) is likely to be complex and time consuming,” Barclays warned in an AGM circular to shareholders on April 28, where it will seek approval of its plan to exit the Africa business.

The group has not said how or to whom it plans to sell the stake, which could be done as one deal or as many, but yesterday’s announcement mentioned as options an on-market disposal, a bought deal, or one done via a bookbuild offering, BDlive reported.

According to FTSE News, the Africa Banking business is managed under three primary businesses: retail and business banking; wealth, investment management and insurance; corporate and investment banking, as well as an Africa Head Office function.

Barclays Group provides its Africa unit with services including technological support, credit risk management, human resources and branding.

Terminating its technology support service will requires it to give a 12-month notice period and if it decided to terminate before this notice elapses it will be required to pay up a ‘separation fee’ determined by an independent expert.

The British-owned bank, which has hired JPMorgan and Citi to help with the sale-off, would also have to provide ‘exit assistance’  to its African business for up to three years after the deal is done.

In some markets, such as Egypt and Zimbabwe, Barclays may continue to offer operational support until individualized separate agreements of release are reached.

It will have to apply for expensive regulatory approvals due to its large presence in the U.S. and United Kingdom.

Regulators may also require that Barclays maintain an extra capital  of about $927 million against its African unit, something smaller banks would  not be required to do.