African Leaders Urge Massive Investment In Energy And Infrastructure At African Development Bank Group’s 2026 Annual Meetings

African leaders called for substantial investment in energy, infrastructure, industrialisation and climate finance, while also emphasising the need for the continent to mobilise more private capital to support its long-term development goals. These messages were delivered during a presidential dialogue on Tuesday at the start of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group.

The high-level panel took place immediately after the opening ceremony and brought together Gabon’s President Brice Oligui Nguema, Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, and the host, President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo. They were joined by Dr Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group.

The dialogue was held before a diverse audience at the Kintele Conference Centre in Brazzaville, attended by government ministers, Bank Group governors, finance officials, development partners and representatives from the private sector and civil society. The meetings are being held under the theme “Mobilising Africa’s Development Financing at Scale in a Fragmented World.”President Nguema spoke about Gabon’s efforts to transform its natural resources and environmental assets into engines of sustainable economic growth.

He highlighted ongoing work to monetise forest conservation and biodiversity through a national carbon credit framework and a specialised agency created to manage and market these environmental credits internationally. He said the country intends to preserve its forests while developing eco-tourism, pointing out that proper investment in biodiversity finance can help Gabon generate long-term revenue without harming its natural heritage.

He also argued that Congo Basin countries deserve increased international compensation for protecting ecosystems that play a critical role in stabilising the global climate.Congo’s President Nguesso emphasised the need for African economies to diversify beyond hydrocarbons, even as oil and gas continue to play a major role in national revenue. He outlined Congo’s ambition to leverage its reserves of potash, phosphate and natural gas to establish a domestic fertiliser industry capable of supplying both African and global agricultural markets.

He also stressed the central role of energy as a driver of industrialisation, highlighting the hydropower potential of the Congo River basin and ongoing collaboration with the African Development Bank Group on regional power projects. Nguesso linked conservation and rural livelihoods, arguing that sustainable livestock development can help reduce reliance on bushmeat and better protect wildlife.Central African Republic President Touadéra called for greater support from the African Development Bank Group to unlock the economic potential of landlocked countries.

He said investments in roads, electricity and regional connectivity are essential to attracting investment and sustaining peace. He reaffirmed his country’s support for Mission 300, a joint initiative of the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group aimed at providing electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.

Touadéra expressed confidence that peace and stability in his country, combined with sectoral opportunities, could significantly increase investor interest.Responding to questions about Africa’s financing needs, Dr Sidi Ould Tah noted that the continent has significant untapped financial resources. He pointed out that African-held assets are estimated at around four trillion dollars, representing a major opportunity for mobilising capital at scale when paired with strong project preparation and clear investment frameworks.

He said the Bank’s role includes working with governments and financial institutions to design viable, bankable projects and to source the financing needed to implement them. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen investment conditions, protect investors and foster partnerships aimed at narrowing Africa’s widening development financing gap.

These measures, he said, are central to attracting greater foreign direct investment.Throughout the dialogue, the leaders repeatedly returned to the importance of Africa’s young population in shaping the continent’s future. President Nguema emphasised that Africa’s greatest resource is its youth and the vast human capital they represent.

He urged governments and development partners to invest heavily in education, engineering, technical training and skills development, noting that such investments are fundamental to sustained economic transformation. His comments were met with applause, underscoring a shared recognition among the panel that empowering Africa’s youth is critical to advancing the development agenda outlined at the Annual Meetings.