Over the past decades, microfinance institutions (MFIs) have attracted the interest of governments and academics alike due to their unique role in promoting social development while functioning as financial entities. With dual financial and social objectives, MFIs must achieve efficiency in both areas. In this study, we attempt to: first, identify whether MFIs primarily focus on social outreach or pure financial profitability; second, to evaluate the nature of the relationship between social and financial performance in the African context. To this end, the Data Envelopment Analysis is applied to relatively evaluate the efficiency of 95 microfinance institutions from five African regions (over the years 2005 to 2018). The findings show that the majority of the samples focus more on profit rather than social outreach. Additionally, the study highlights the strategies employed by successful institutions to integrate social goals without compromising financial stability. Ultimately, this research provides insights into how MFIs can better align their operations to foster sustainable development in Africa.