Category: English

Source: APO – Report:

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The fifth edition of the African Development Bank’s (www.AfDB.org) Trade Finance Report paints a picture of resilient African financial institutions in the post Covid-19 years, despite a challenging global environment.

The 2025 Trade Finance Report, which provides an updated assessment of Africa’s trade finance landscape over the 2020–2024 period following the COVID-19 pandemic, was released on Wednesday, during the Bank Group’s 2026 Annual Meetings, taking place in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

The report examines trade finance from a bank-intermediation perspective, filling important knowledge gaps while introducing new dimensions such as digitalization and environmental sustainability. It also, for the first time, quantifies the contribution of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to trade finance on the continent.

Presenting the report, Anthony Simpasa, Director of the Macroeconomic Policy, Forecasting and Research Department at the African Development Bank, said unmet demand for trade finance declined by nearly 10% between 2019 and 2024, supported by strong interventions from multilateral development banks, governments, export credit agencies, and global banks. These interventions were critical in sustaining trade flows, with estimates suggesting that, in the absence of DFI support, the annual trade finance gap could have exceeded $100 billion during the 2020-2024 period.

“Renewed geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global supply chains and trade flows could reverse post-pandemic progress in narrowing the trade finance gap. For instance, tighter correspondent risk appetite could widen the trade finance gap to $86.6-$102.6 billion by 2027 under a moderate to severe scenario. This is at least 17.7 % above the 2024 level, potentially erasing a decade of gains,” Simpasa cautioned.

The report launch event was attended by policymakers, private-sector leaders, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Financial Institutions, and trade finance experts from across the continent.

Some highlights of the report:

• The unmet demand for trade finance in Africa ranged from $74 billion to $92 billion in 2024. The estimated gap of $ 74 billion represents 5.4% of the region’s total merchandise trade value in 2024.
• African trade remains underserved by commercial banks. Over the five years of the study, commercial banks intermediated an average of 23% of Africa’s total trade, down from 40% during 2011-19.
• Between 2020 and 2024, intra-African trade accounted for 34% of total bank-intermediated trade, representing an 89 percent increase above pre-pandemic levels (2011-2019).
• Foreign exchange liquidity shortages have become the primary barrier limiting banks’ growth in trade finance. About 36% of banks cited limited foreign exchange liquidity as the primary constraint to their trade finance growth between 2020 and 2024, compared with 18% in the 2015-2019 period.
• The adoption of digital trade finance solutions by banks remains low, primarily due to high implementation costs and inadequate technological infrastructure. Only 28% of the banks surveyed reported having adopted digital tools or platforms for their trade finance operations.

In a short panel discussion following the launch, Didier Acouetey, Senior Advisor to African Development Bank President Sidi Ould Tah for the Private Sector, Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals for the  African Union Commission, Admassu Tadesse, Group President and Managing Director, Trade and Development Bank; and Mehdi Tanani, Regional Director for Central Africa, Proparco, discussed the report’s findings, noting opportunities and challenges to unlocking sustainable bank-intermediated trade finance in Africa.

 Although trade finance remains a major constraint for most of Africa, exciting innovations are gaining ground, such as digitization, guarantees and asset management initiatives to expand the trade finance asset class and related offerings to the market, Tadesse said. “This should be advanced further by new systemic initiatives such as New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD) and related thrusts such as derisking and smart partnerships that should multiply the impact of African capital and unlock more global capital,” he added.

“NAFAD gives us, for the first time, a coherent continental framework to close the trade finance gap — not project by project, but systemically. That is the shift that changes everything for African SMEs,” Acouetey noted.

Commissioner Belobe called for eliminating the ‘missing middle’ in African banking. “SMEs are too large for microfinance, too small for corporate banking, but far too commercially important to be left outside the trade finance system. It is time for commercial banks to treat SME trade finance as a deliberate, core business line, not a residual activity,” he said.

“Africa will not close its trade finance gap by adding constraints, but by building a more resilient, more digital, and more sustainable trade finance ecosystem — one that protects SMEs against global shocks while accelerating the continent’s economic integration,” Tanani said.

The African Development Bank and other DFIs have played a significant role in reducing the trade finance gap in Africa. Development finance institutions facilitated about $32 billion in trade finance annually between 2020 and 2024, accounting for about 3% of Africa’s total merchandise trade on average over the same period.

The African Development Bank’s Trade Finance Program was established in 2013, with an inaugural survey conducted in 2014. Since 2014, AfDB has produced 4 periodic surveys, including two country-specific reports on Kenya and Tanzania.

Read the full report here (http://apo-opa.co/49tkhrq).

– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Editor’s Note:
A previous version of this press release, issued on 27 May 2026, erroneously stated “89 percentage point increase” in the subheading, instead of 89 percent.

Contact:
Amba Mpoke-Bigg
Communication and External Relations Department
Email: media@afdb.org.

Source: APO

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The global artificial intelligence race is rapidly becoming an energy race. As companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Oracle expand hyperscale data centers to support AI workloads, electricity has become one of the industry’s biggest constraints. Across the United States and Europe, tech firms are now signing long-term power agreements, financing dedicated generation assets and partnering directly with energy companies to secure reliable supply.

That same model could soon reshape Nigeria’s gas industry. AI data centers require enormous and continuous power loads. Unlike traditional cloud infrastructure, AI-focused facilities operate at significantly higher rack densities and consume vastly more electricity due to GPU-intensive computing. In March 2026, Google announced plans to commit 2.7 GW of power capacity for a major AI-related data center project in the U.S. – roughly equivalent to the electricity demand of two million homes.

This shift is forcing technology firms to think like energy companies. Last month, Microsoft, Chevron and Engine No. 1 signed an exclusivity agreement to build 2.5 GW of gas-fired generation in West Texas to support Microsoft’s AI expansion. The economics are straightforward: without reliable electricity, AI infrastructure cannot scale.

Nigeria offers a compelling solution. The country holds more than 200 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves – the largest in Africa – yet remains underpowered and digitally underserved. At the same time, Nigeria’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, fueled by a population expected to exceed 400 million by 2050, rising internet penetration and accelerating cloud adoption.

“No one questions Microsoft’s balance sheet. That changes the financing equation for Nigerian gas,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “For the first time, African gas projects can potentially be underwritten by companies whose energy demand is as large and as strategic as entire industrial sectors.”

The missing piece is infrastructure. Africa currently accounts for just 0.6% of global data center capacity despite representing nearly 20% of the world’s population. Nigeria is now attempting to close that gap. According to industry estimates, the country had 21 operational data centers by early 2026, with nearly one billion dollars in new AI-ready facilities under development.

Critically, many of these projects are already converging around gas-powered infrastructure.

In March 2026, Tetracore Energy Group announced plans for a $400 million, 20 MW gas-powered data center in Ogun State in partnership with Huawei and Inspirive Technologies. The facility will be supported by a dedicated 100 MW on-site gas-fired power plant – a model increasingly viewed as necessary in markets where grid reliability remains inconsistent.

Historically, financing domestic gas infrastructure in Nigeria has been difficult due to concerns around payment security, offtake risk and inconsistent industrial demand. Hyperscale technology firms change that equation. Long-term gas supply agreements backed by investment-grade global companies could provide the predictable revenue streams needed to unlock financing for pipelines, processing facilities and embedded generation projects.

Instead of waiting for nationwide grid reform, Nigeria could see the emergence of privately financed gas-to-power corridors anchored by data centers, industrial parks and cloud infrastructure campuses.

Beyond energy, large-scale hyperscale investment would accelerate fiber deployment, strengthen cloud sovereignty, support fintech expansion and reduce reliance on overseas data hosting. It could also position Nigeria as West Africa’s primary AI and digital infrastructure hub at a time when global technology firms are searching for new growth markets.

Importantly, gas offers something renewables alone currently cannot guarantee for AI infrastructure in emerging markets: stable baseload power. While solar and battery systems will play a growing role, hyperscale operators prioritizing uptime and latency continue to favor dispatchable energy solutions for mission-critical facilities.

As discussions intensify around the upcoming AI and Data Center Track at African Energy Week 2026, one message is becoming increasingly clear: the future of African gas may not only be industrialization or LNG exports. It may also be powering the global AI economy. And in that future, Big Tech may become one of Nigeria’s most important energy partners yet.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

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The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) and Venezuela have intensified coordination through high-level engagements in Brazzaville and Caracas, building on a structured cooperation roadmap linking the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO), Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and Venezuelan diplomatic channels. The most recent meetings confirmed Venezuela’s formal status as a strategic non-African observer within APPO, expanding technical exchanges and policy alignment with African national oil companies (NOCs).

These developments underline a wider AEC strategy to integrate African energy institutions into global upstream markets while supporting long-term energy access goals. Through coordinated investment frameworks, knowledge transfer and join project pipelines, the Chamber is positioning African operators and financiers to participate in Venezuela’s oil and gas rehabilitation while reinforcing South-South energy cooperation and industrial capacity expansion.

Earlier this month in Brazzaville, the AEC engaged APPO and Venezuelan Ambassador Laura Suarez to deepen regulatory coordination and accelerate the African Energy Bank framework. Discussions centered on technical cooperation, upstream financing mechanisms and Venezuela’s observer role in APPO, reinforcing structured collaboration between African producers and Venezuela’s petroleum institutions for long-term project execution.

In March 2026, Venezuela sent a delegation to Cape Town for reciprocal engagement with the AEC following the Caracas mission. Led by Deputy Minister of Hydrocarbons Aruro Gil and Ambassador Carlos Feo Acevedo, the meetings focused on execution timelines for executive training, investment matchmaking and technical education programs tied to the agreements arranged in Caracas in February and emerging production participation contracts.

The AEC conducted its main working mission in Caracas in February this year, signing a landmark MoU with PDVSA and Venezuela’s energy ministries. AEC Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk met Acting President Delcy Rodriguez to align on upstream recovery, modular gas development and regulatory reform, establishing a structured cooperation framework covering investment promotion, technology transfer and workforce development.

Venezuela’s upstream system remains anchored by the Orinoco Belt, which holds roughly 303 billion barrels of extra-heavy crude and around 195 trillion cubic feet of gas. These resources sit across mature infrastructure-constrained basins requiring intensive upgrades, blending and diluent systems, making them structurally suited to long-term partnerships rather than short-cycle production models.

For African stakeholders, the commercial logic sits in shared capability gaps. African NOCs, service companies and financiers bring expertise in marginal field redevelopment, offshore engineering and modular LNG systems, aligning with Venezuela’s need for rapid well workovers, refinery rehabilitation and gas monetization. This creates a framework where technical execution, not just capital, becomes the binding constraint.

The AEC’s cooperation model emphasizes structured investment entry points through production participation contracts, joint ventures and export-linked financing structures. These mechanisms are designed to improve bankability by giving operators clearer export rights, pricing frameworks and operational autonomy, while maintaining state ownership of reserves. For African investors, regulatory predictability and contract durability are central to long-term participation.

At the institutional level, the partnership is increasingly framed around continuity, coordination and trust. African and Venezuelan stakeholders are prioritizing stable engagement channels, technical exchanges and joint planning rather than transactional deals. This includes coordinated training pipelines, shared data rooms and aligned upstream development strategies, reinforcing a broader South-South approach to energy security, capital mobilization and industrial resilience.

“The future of African energy lies in partnerships that respect sovereignty while unlocking shared value across borders. Venezuela represents a historic opportunity to align African capital, expertise and ambition with one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon endowments. Together, we are building a model where energy development directly translates into energy access, industrial growth and long-term prosperity,” says Ayuk.

The AEC-Venezuela partnerships signals a longer-term shift toward South-South energy integration, where coordinated investment, technical exchange and stable policy frameworks unlock production growth, capital flows and shared industrial development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

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The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) headed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Thursday as the country continues to combat a deadly resurgence of Ebola in its volatile eastern region where instability is rife. 

Ahead of his arrival, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed to armed groups to declare a ceasefire so that health workers can reach people and halt spread of the disease. 

Since 15 May, UN agencies have been supporting the DRC and neighbouring Uganda to contain the outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is no treatment. 

As of Wednesday, there were more than 900 suspected cases, 105 confirmed cases and 10 confirmed deaths in the DRC, while Uganda reported seven confirmed cases and one death. 

‘We are committed’ 

In a message to the people of DRC, particularly those in Ituri province – the epicentre of the crisis -Tedros underscored WHO’s solidarity. 

“We are working under the leadership of the Government of DRC, together with all relevant partners, united around one goal: to stop this outbreak and protect your communities,” he wrote.  

“No one is working alone. No one is working at cross purposes. We are coordinated, we are committed, and we are here.” 

Similar challenges 

This marks the 17th time that the DRC is facing Ebola since the virus was first discovered in 1976.  The largest outbreak – which spread across North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces – took place from 2018 to 2020. 

“Ebola is not new to me personally,” Tedros said, as during that epidemic he made 14 visits to North Kivu, the epicentre of that particular outbreak – “one of the most complex in history”. 

It unfolded amid armed conflict that sparked displacement and disrupted supply routes, with “health workers operating under constant threat”. At the same time, “mistrust ran deep,” he recalled.  

Heavy burden in Ituri 

Tedros noted that such challenges are not so different today in Ituri, where some 90 per cent of cases have been reported, with smaller numbers in the Kivus. He underscored the burden the people of the province are bearing. 

“You are already carrying so much: malaria, hunger, insecurity, and the daily struggle to keep your families safe. And now Ebola,” he said.  “It is not fair, and I will not pretend otherwise.” 

He highlighted the vital role of young people, urging them to talk to their friends and families and share what they know about Ebola in efforts to “help break the fear and the silence that allow this virus to spread.” 

Support for health workers 

Tedros also had a message for health workers in Ituri, who are “the backbone of this response.” WHO stands with them and is working to get the support they need. 

He acknowledged regional instability, where “conflict and displacement make everything harder, including reaching people who need care and keeping health workers safe.” 

Speaking frankly, Tedros said “this is one of our greatest challenges. We cannot do this work if those who are trying to help are prevented from doing so or put in danger,” adding that WHO is working closely with all relevant partners to reach communities. 

Ceasefire appeal 

“That is why today I am making a direct appeal to all warring parties in this region: please, declare a ceasefire. Even briefly. Even just enough to let health workers through,” he said. 

“People are dying from Ebola who do not have to die. Children are sick. Families are suffering. No cause, no conflict, no grievance is worth condemning innocent people to death from a preventable disease.” 

He stressed that “a ceasefire, even a temporary one, would save lives. I urge you, I implore you: give us the space to help the people who need it most.” 

Anger and mistrust 

Tedros also addressed the issue of anger and mistrust in some communities, saying he understands why. 

“Trust must be earned, it cannot be assumed,” he said. “We have not always done things correctly. But I promise you, we are here to learn as much as we are here to help.”  

He explained that most previous Ebola outbreaks in the DRC were caused by the Zaire virus strain, which can be treated.    

‘There is much we can do together’ 

Although no approved vaccines or treatments are currently available for the Bundibugyo strain, “there is much we can do together to prevent the spread of this virus and save lives,” he insisted. 

“Early supportive care in our treatment centres can make a real difference,” he said. “Coming forward early can make the difference between life and death. And everything we do, we will do with you.” 

Tedros noted that WHO teams are already on the ground and will stay there for as long as necessary.  

“And when this outbreak is over, we will not quietly disappear,” he said. “We will not forget you. We will stay, and we will keep working with you to build health systems that protect every person in every community.” 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO

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With one of the world’s youngest populations, youth in South Sudan are disproportionately impacted by conflict, losing their lives as well as access to education, health services, and professional opportunities.

To empower youth in the pursuit of peace, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan launched a campaign leveraging a global United Nations-led advocacy effort under the theme ‘Hear Us, Act Now’ that aims to give voice to youth.

Not just a mere get-together but a symbol of unity, the launch at the University of Juba was attended by around 150 students, youth, women, civil society representatives, academics, traditional authorities, and elders who participated in a vibrant conglomeration of debate, poetry, and music.

Youth leader, Babur Sokiri, used the event as an opportunity to denounce violence and turn a new page of peace and tranquility in his suburbs:

“As all of my community, I’ve lived in darkness for ages, so I want to testify to you that I have now decided to leave my old self and be a positive agent from now on.”

He urged the government and other organizations to create employment opportunities for young people, build recreational centers, and provide vocational training initiatives to reduce destructive behaviors.

Joining these sentiments, youth leader Mark Andaria emphasized that peace can only thrive in the absence of tribalism, hunger, and disease:

“We just need basic necessities to live in peace. It’s human nature that where essentials such as food, water, safety, and security are plenty, communities will be peaceful, and the youth are likely to shun violence.”

Senior UNMISS officials and authorities highlighted the importance of young people shaping a better future for themselves and their country.

“Too often, youth are excluded from political and peace processes which are the very spaces where solutions are shaped. Yet, they represent the country’s greatest hope for a successful transition from conflict to peace as a generation that has a real stake in building a better future for everyone,” said Mike Dzakuma, UNMISS Deputy Director of Civil Affairs.

Jacob Gore Samuel, Central Equatoria State’s Minister of Peacebuilding, stressed that young people are, not just leaders of tomorrow, but already protectors of today during many community conflicts.

“This campaign is the right platform to explicitly voice your concerns, explore ideas, and take practical actions to promote respect, unity, and understanding among our diverse ethnicities. Choose dialogue over fighting and love over hate,” he emphasized.

“Peace is not only the absence of war but the presence of justice, equality, cooperation, and willingness to help one another,” declared the Minister.

Concluding the dynamic and diverse exchanges, Maria Nyataba, a youth representative from a camp for displaced persons, urged her counterparts at all levels of society to resist participation in intercommunal feuds, and advance grassroots peace efforts:

“Strong peace must have fixed roots and foundation at the grassroot levels. If national politics foster divisions, resist them, and come together instead to build a peaceful society. It’s up to us to build brighter futures.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO

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Angola’s oil sector has demonstrated how reform can transform a market on the cusp of rapid decline into an industry capable of attracting billions of dollars in investment. NJ Ayuk’s latest book titled Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround, and Transformation in Angola explores this transition, examining how targeted policy, structural reform and strategic leadership have turned the market around and placed Angola on a track toward growth, diversification and resilience.

Under the leadership of President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço and Diamantino Pedro Azevedo, Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, the country embarked on a complete overhaul of the sector. Now, production is stabilizing, investment is rising and Angola’s oil industry is entering its most ambitious era yet. For other oil markets in Africa, Angola’s turnaround provides important lessons for countries looking to revitalize production through investor-focused reform and strategic policy.

Restructuring the Sector

Angola’s ability to curb production decline was largely attributed to changes implemented at a structural level. When President Lourenço took office in 2017, his administration focused on addressing the challenges that had plagued the oil industry over the years: lack of exploration and transparency. The government established an upstream regulator (the ANPG) and restructured the national oil company Sonangol.

The ANPG was tasked with overseeing the industry, therefore improving certainty, procedural clarity and licensing processes, while Sonangol was able to focus on its activities as an operator. As a result, Sonangol was able to expand its portfolio, work more closely with international partners and take steps toward a future IPO. For its part, the ANPG launched a multi-year licensing strategy, targeting 60 concessions, with 40 awarded to date.

Flexibility Brings Capital

Flexibility has been a significant investment driver in Angola. Under efforts to attract capital during times of market volatility, the government implemented its Permanent Offer Regime in 2021, allowing the country to proactively promote and negotiate concessions outside of traditional licensing structures. Blocks on permanent offer remain continuously available for companies to bid on, even after a round concludes. Between 2021 and 2023 alone, 27 blocks were awarded under this regime.

The country took it one step further, introducing policies targeting marginal fields and incremental production. Aimed at encouraging the development of fields considered less economically attractive, marginal field opportunities have created investment avenues for smaller independents, diversifying the country’s investment offering and supporting broader production growth.

The Incremental Production Decree – launched in 2024 – supports reinvestment in mature assets. Ayuk notes that the decree could enable the recovery of up to 500 million additional barrels of oil while extending the life of mature fields by up to 20 years. ExxonMobil made the first discovery under this decree in 2024 at the Likember-01 well at Block 15.

Diversification as a Strategic Priority

Angola’s success in revitalizing its hydrocarbon industry comes not from oil expansion alone, but from its ability to position natural gas as a strategic priority. With 11 trillion cubic feet of gas resources, the country has used reform to attract investment across the emerging gas value chain, supporting the transition from associated gas production to non-associated development.

While the Angola LNG plants has been operational since 2012, forays into non-associated development stand to strengthen feedstock, boost exports and strengthen the domestic gas market. A cornerstone of this shift was the Gas Monetization Law (2018) and Gas Master Plan (2025) – offering a clear blueprint for investing in the market. Since these policies, the New Gas Consortium brought the country’s first non-associated gas project online in 2026, while Azule Energy made the first dedicated gas discovery at Block 1/14.

Downstream Expansion and the IRDP

Angola’s turnaround transcends the upstream sector, with its commitment to strengthening its downstream market offering important lessons for African producers. With production stabilizing, the country moved to address its next challenge: refining. Despite producing above one million bpd, Angola imports 70% of its petroleum products.

To address this, the government established the Instituto Regulador dos Derivados do Petróleo and outlined goals to develop three new facilities beyond the operational Luanda plant – notably, Cabinda (operational since 2025), Lobito (seeking financing) and Soyo (in preparation). These moves reflect Angola’s broader strategy: capture more value domestically while reducing long-term dependence on imported fuels.

“Angola proved that African oil markets do not decline because resources disappear – they decline when policy becomes rigid, institutions weaken and investment loses confidence. What Angola achieved through reform, flexibility and political will is a lesson for every producing nation in Africa: if you create a competitive environment, capital will come, projects will move forward and production can recover,” states Ayuk.

Purchase your copy of the book here – https://apo-opa.co/4vk0G5x

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.