Category: English

Source: APO

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) (www.Olympics.com) has announced the first group of Athlete Role Models (http://apo-opa.co/3Qky50M) for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) (http://apo-opa.co/4clOeLQ), marking an important step in preparations for the first Olympic sporting event to be held on the African continent.

Key facts

The IOC has announced an initial list of 31 Athlete Role Models for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, including multiple Olympic champions and medallists.

The Athlete Role Models will provide mentoring and workshop training to young athletes on site during Dakar 2026.

In collaboration with the International Federations, experienced Olympians from the 25 competition sports and 10 engagement sports on the Dakar 2026 programme have been selected as Athlete Role Models. They are:

• Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA, judo)
• Stéphane Badji (SEN, football)
• Christopher Bak (USA, rowing)
• Asunción Batista (ESP, beach handball)
• Rémy Bedu (FRA, golf)
• Yves Bourhis (SEN, canoe slalom)
• Jean-Pierre Bourhis (SEN, canoe slalom)
• Darcy Bourne (GBR, hockey)
• Douglas Brose (BRA, karate)
• Sheila Chajira (KEN, rugby sevens)
• Doaa Elghobashy (EGY, beach volleyball)
• Jomana Elsaiy (EGY, shooting)
• Ruth Gbagbi (CIV, taekwondo)
• Sonja Greinacher (GER, basketball 3×3)
• Zohra Nora Kehli (ALG, fencing)
• Khadija Krimi (TUN, rowing)
• Xiaoxiao Lai (CHN, wushu)
• Rayssa Leal (BRA, skateboarding)
• Vincent Luis (FRA, triathlon)
• Jamila Lunkuse (UGA, swimming)
• Dina Meshref (EGY, table tennis)
• Halimah Nakaayi (UGA, athletics)
• Kaylia Nemour (ALG, artistic gymnastics)
• Blessing Oborududu (NGR, wrestling)
• Forrester Osei (GHA, weightlifting)
• Ayako Rokkaku (JPN, baseball5, baseball/softball)
• Edmond Sanka (SEN, canoe sprint, Para canoe)
• Combe Seck (SEN, canoe sprint)
• Richard Torrez Jr. (USA, boxing)
• Maja Włoszczowska (POL, cycling)
• Siwei Zheng (CHN, badminton)

The full biographies of each Athlete Role Model can be found on the Athlete365 website (http://apo-opa.co/41KHuB3).

Since the inaugural Singapore 2010 YOG, the Athlete Role Model programme has been a central component of each edition, providing the young athletes competing with a chance to learn from experienced Olympians.

The Athlete Role Models will be on the ground in Senegal to engage with competing athletes, providing support and advice around competition and taking part in educational workshops. These workshops cover topics such as career management, injury prevention and mental preparation, among many other things.

The Athlete Role Models will also attend training sessions, engage with the local community, support the athletes from the sidelines and be there to congratulate them at victory ceremonies.

Speaking about his selection as an Athlete Role Model, Chinese Olympic champion in badminton (mixed doubles) Shiwei Zheng said: “This opportunity is a powerful extension of my life’s work… It allows me to show that being a ‘champion’ isn’t just about medals – it’s about how you live, lead and lift others up.”

Meanwhile, Spaniard Asunción Batista – named best player in the world in beach handball in 2022 – spoke about what being an Athlete Role Model means to her: “Personally, this opportunity means growth, purpose and the chance to be part of something bigger than me.”

Senegal’s flagbearer at the Paris 2024 Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Combe Seck (canoe sprint), spoke about what it means to serve as an Athlete Role Model in her own city: “This opportunity represents a real challenge and is a great source of pride for me. Being an Athlete Role Model in Dakar, my city, is a chance to push myself, bring value and contribute to something truly meaningful.”

Jamila Lunkuse, a two-time Olympian in swimming from Uganda, spoke of what she wants to achieve in this role: “Representation really matters to me… I want to be that visible presence for young athletes that I didn’t always have.”

Douglas Brose – a Brazilian karateka and one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of men’s kumite – explained why he wanted to be an Athlete Role Model for Dakar 2026: “I didn’t build my career only to win medals – I built it to open paths.”

On this milestone announcement, IOC Athletes’ Department Director Kaveh Mehrabi said: “Like many in our society, young athletes naturally look up to Olympians for guidance and inspiration. At every edition of the YOG, we have witnessed the incredible impact of Athlete Role Models in terms of athlete experience, and that’s why we are convinced that these outstanding role models will play a central role during Dakar 2026 and beyond. They represent the very best of Olympism and will help shape the experience of the young athletes competing in Senegal. Their contribution will be invaluable in supporting the mission of Dakar 2026 and empowering the next generation to chase their dreams.”

This announcement underscores the IOC’s commitment to delivering a meaningful athlete experience at the Youth Olympic Games, while supporting the legacy of Dakar 2026 in Senegal and across Africa.

The Dakar 2026 YOG will take place from 31 October to 13 November 2026, bringing together around 2,700 young athletes aged up to 17 across three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Olympic Committee (IOC).

About IOC:
The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organisation made up of volunteers which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 4.7 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.

Source: APO

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Senior officials gathered in Windhoek last week for an Urban Mobility Working Session built around an unusual principle: no proposal could be submitted unless those present were willing to commit to it. Organisers said the approach created the basis for a trust-rich pathway toward a more coordinated and effective transport system.

The City of Windhoek last week convened senior leaders from local and national government for an Urban Mobility Working Session aimed at urgently advancing the city’s transport agenda and informing Namibia’s Draft Public Passenger Transport Act.

Transport systems connect almost everything necessary for life. Reflecting the importance of this, the session brought together senior representatives from the City of Windhoek, the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Khomas Regional Council, the Roads Authority, the Road Fund Administration, the Road Transportation Board and other key stakeholders.

The session was underpinned by two principles: commitment and trust. All delegates agreed that proposals could only be submitted during the session if those present were prepared to commit to them. If not, they could not be submitted.

“Too often, workshops produce good ideas with no ownership,” said Pierre van Rensburg, Strategic Executive for Urban and Transport Planning at the City of Windhoek. “Our intention was that every proposal emerging from this process should already have a name, an institution and a commitment attached to it.”

The session was also grounded in co-creating what The Global Trust Project describes as a trust-rich pathway: a practical basis for sustained action built on trustworthiness, shared responsibility and follow-through. Evidence from government and transport systems internationally suggests that higher levels of trust and coordination are associated with more effective implementation, greater public confidence and stronger institutional performance. OECD research similarly finds that institutions perceived as fair, responsive and coordinated are more likely to secure public trust and deliver better outcomes.

Grounded in this approach, the session focused on three practical objectives identified by the City of Windhoek: securing guaranteed funding for transport improvements; finalising the Draft Public Passenger Transport Act; and strengthening coordination between the institutions responsible for planning, financing, regulating and delivering mobility services.

The proposed funding objective includes an annual fiscus contribution and fuel levies to ensure more consistent financial support for transport improvements. The Draft Public Passenger Transport Act is intended to provide the legislative framework required for more effective implementation and governance of Namibia’s public transport system. The coordination objective seeks closer alignment between all roleplayers to support integrated service delivery.

Today, 45 per cent of the world’s 8.2 billion people live in cities, and two-thirds of future population growth is expected to occur there. Namibia reflects that pattern: approximately 500,000 people – nearly one in five Namibians – live in Windhoek. Decisions about mobility in the capital therefore have implications for a substantial share of the country’s economy, access to work, education, healthcare and public life.

The session was facilitated by The Global Trust Project, part of the VUKA Group, and centred on translating those three objectives into practical actions and declared commitments.

“Commitment became one of the principal outputs of the session,” said Dominic Wilhelm, Executive Director of The Global Trust Project. “If an input could not be committed to, it could not be submitted. This provides a meaningful basis for what we call a trust-rich pathway.”

The commitments developed during the session are expected to contribute to the next phase of work on Windhoek’s mobility agenda and the refinement of Namibia’s Draft Public Passenger Transport Act.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Media enquiries:
The Global Trust Project (TGTP)
path@theglobaltrustproject.one

About The Global Trust Project (TGTP):
TGTP works with organisations and governments to operationalise trustworthiness as a strategic asset. Working across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia, TGTP has supported multinational companies, and public institutions to strengthen leadership, performance, and stakeholder confidence. As Venture Partner to VUKA Group, TGTP also works at the intersection of leadership, convening, and strategic engagement across major African business and policy platforms. Its evidence-based approach, built around the Trust Equity Index (TEi), has contributed to stronger leadership alignment, improved team cohesion, reduced conflict, sharper strategic clarity, increased stakeholder confidence, and measurable gains in trust, engagement, and organisational performance.

About VUKA Group:
VUKA Group connects people and organisations across Africa’s energy, mining, mobility, green economy, and retail sectors through events, content, and strategic networking. Venture partners to The Global Trust Project and leaders of NPO Go Green Africa.  www.WeAreVUKA.com         

Source: APO

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Petrobras President Magda Chambriard has been confirmed as a speaker at the upcoming Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition – taking place September 9-10 with a pre-conference day on September 8. Building on a series of deals signed between Angola and Brazil in recent months, Chambriard’s participation cements the re-entry of a major deepwater operator into Angola and the strengthening of South Atlantic upstream partnerships. 

Chambriard’s participation comes at a time when Petrobras is renewing its engagement with Angola. In 2025, the company signed two deals, marking its return to the market and commitment to assessing exploration opportunities. A May 2025 deal with Angola’s national oil company (NOC) Sonangol signaled the start of research and development activities between the companies, outlining bilateral cooperation in the fields of oil, gas and associated sectors. This followed an agreement signed between Petrobras and Angola’s upstream regulator the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency in March 2025 for the joint study of offshore acreage in Angola.

These agreements collectively signal more than just Petrobras’ return to Angola: they reflect a broader geopolitical and industry shift toward South–South cooperation in energy development. In March 2026, Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy signed an MoU with Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water, formalizing a joint agenda focused on the exchange of experiences, institutional development and the strengthening of public policies between the nations. The agreement aims to advance cooperation in energy planning, power generation and transmission as well as capacity building, supporting Angolan electrification. While the deal reflects opportunities for collaboration in energy, it is the oil and gas sector that Angola-Brazil cooperation truly stands out. 

Given their geological similarities, Angola and Brazil are well positioned to leverage cross-Atlantic cooperation to strengthen their respective oil and gas markets. For its part, Brazil represents one of the world’s most prolific deepwater markets, with projects such as the Lula oilfield in the Santos Basin established as the world’s largest ultra-deepwater fields. By 2030, over 600 wells are expected to be drilled at Lula, with Brazil’s national production forecasted to reach 4.9 million bpd by 2032.

Angola features similar geological potential, with the same salt tectonics and conjugate-margin petroleum systems witnessed on the African side of the Atlantic. Strong geology and competitive fiscals have strengthened Angola’s attractiveness as a deepwater player, with ongoing exploration and production programs cementing the country’s status as a leading deepwater producer. TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil recently signed a Principles Agreement for the allocation of four blocks in the Benguela and Namibe basins, bringing renewed momentum to deepwater exploration efforts. Azule Energy plans to drill the Kiando prospect at Block 47 in 2026, while Shell recently farmed into ultra-deepwater Blocks 49 and 50. 

For Petrobras, leveraging experiences gained in Brazil could support Angola’s deepwater drive. As the company strengthens its position in the Angolan market, Chambriard’s presence at AOG 2026 underscores the growing importance of Brazil–Angola cooperation in shaping the future of deepwater oil and gas development in the South Atlantic.

AOG 2026 provides a strategic platform for these discussions, bringing together NOCs, international operators, investors and policymakers to shape the next phase of Angola’s oil and gas development. Petrobras’ renewed engagement in Angola, combined with strengthening government-to-government cooperation between Brazil and Angola, signals growing momentum around joint development, knowledge sharing and cross-Atlantic investment.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

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Atlantic margin focused energy company Sintana Energy’s planned secondary listing on the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX) has emerged as one of the most significant signals yet that Namibia’s oil and gas sector is entering a new phase of financial maturity. Announced in April 2026 at the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) in Windhoek, the move aims to open direct participation in offshore exploration assets such as PEL 83 and PEL 87 to Namibian investors for the first time at scale.

At a moment when final investment decisions (FIDs) are approaching across multiple Orange Basin developments, the listing reflects a broader shift underway in Namibia’s energy landscape: capital is no longer flowing only into exploration, but increasingly into domestic market formation, local ownership and structured participation in the upstream value chain. As the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) supports this listing as a pivotal step toward deepening local ownership, expanding capital market participation and embedding Namibians directly in the country’s rapidly evolving upstream oil and gas sector.

“Where we are right now, we have a fierce urgency of NOW,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC. “You need to think about energy security. This goes across the board in Africa. Don’t make the mistake of thinking things are just going to happen, you have to become active. We have to make some bold choices and those bold choices need to come around stabilization terms, taxes and other fiscal decisions.”

At NIEC 2026, Sintana Energy positioned its upcoming NSX listing as a cornerstone of its long-term strategy to deepen Namibian participation in the upstream sector. Chief Executive Robert Bose emphasized that current market conditions, strong exploration success and evolving fiscal frameworks create a unique window to align capital markets with national development goals and broaden local investor involvement in key offshore assets.

As one of the country’s premier financial institutions, Standard Bank Namibia is expanding its energy-focused corporate and investment capabilities as offshore oil and gas activity accelerates, positioning itself as a key intermediary between global capital and domestic opportunity. The bank is increasingly involved in structuring financing solutions, advisory services, and public-private participation-linked transactions, while also deepening skills programs to build technical and financial expertise needed for large-scale upstream and infrastructure development across Namibia’s emerging energy value chain.

Standard Bank Namibia’s Head of Corporate and Investment Banking Nelson Lucas said that predictability and regulatory certainty are essential to unlocking investment in the oil and gas sector. He noted Namibia’s strong investor base, shaped by past listings, and emphasized opportunities to expand local capital market participation in supporting energy development.

Furthermore, insurance company Old Mutual Investment Group Namibia is emerging as a key enabler of domestic institutional capital for the country’s energy build-out. The group manages diversified investment portfolios within Namibia’s financial system and is increasingly focused on infrastructure-linked opportunities tied to oil and gas development. Its role is centered on deepening local capital markets, supporting long-term project financing and strengthening investor confidence in the sector’s growth trajectory.

The group’s Managing Director Designate Sepo Haihambo underscored the scale of domestic financial capacity, noting that Namibia’s banking sector reached $187 billion in 2024. She emphasized that leveraging this local capital in infrastructure and energy projects is essential to crowding in international investment, strengthening confidence and ensuring balanced, sustainable sector growth.

With a high-impact exploration portfolio spanning multiple offshore licenses, including PELs 97, 99, 100 and 107, exploration company Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas is advancing its position in the Walvis Basin. In April 2026, the company farmed down a 60% stake to energy major bp, securing capital and technical backing ahead of a planned drilling campaign, as it targets significant deepwater prospects.

At NIEC 2026, Eco (Atlantic) CEO Gil Holzman highlighted how rapidly Namibia’s upstream landscape has evolved, pointing to a surge in major discoveries and investor interest. He stressed that the next phase must focus on enabling meaningful local participation, ensuring Namibians are integrated into the sector as development accelerates.

In the midst of these major financial and technical developments, financial institution Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) Namibia is positioning itself at the center of the country’s energy financing landscape, with a growing focus on structuring deals that balance international capital with local participation. As RMB Namibia’s Investment Banking Transactor Leonard Hamunyela noted, the bank sees significant opportunity in supporting Namibian companies across the oil and gas value chain, particularly through trade finance, project structuring and risk allocation frameworks tailored to large-scale energy developments.

As Namibia advances toward FID and first oil, the AEC maintains that aligning capital, policy and local participation will be decisive, ensuring the country’s oil and gas sector evolves into a globally competitive, investment-ready and inclusive engine of long-term economic growth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

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Ghana’s Minister for Energy & Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, will join African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 this October. Backed by a newly secured $3.5-billion investment drive and a pivot toward nuclear and battery-supported renewables, the Minister is expected to share critical insights into Ghana’s regulatory reforms and the future of its offshore blocks.

Under Minister Jinapor’s leadership, the ministry has prioritized boosting upstream activity, with recent reforms designed to reinvigorate exploration activity and attract fresh capital to offshore blocks struggling with declines. In early 2026, the government secured a $3.5 billion investment drive involving Jubilee/TEN and Offshore Cape Three Points partners, aimed at revitalizing production and expanding reserves through coordinated upstream development efforts.

On the energy transition front, Minister Jinapor has been driving support for renewable energy deployment and inclusive energy access. Part of Ghana’s green agenda includes plans to procure 200 MW of battery energy storage systems to stabilize the grid and better integrate renewable generation, helping reduce reliance on thermal power during peak demand and support long‑term energy transition goals, such as achieving near‑universal electrification and increasing renewable generation. These efforts are complemented by initiatives like the Scaling‑Up Renewable Energy Program, launched to electrify off‑grid communities and expand clean access to underserved populations. 

In addition to hydrocarbons and renewables, Ghana is advancing long‑term baseload diversification by exploring nuclear power as part of its future energy mix. The country has moved through key early stages of nuclear planning, with the International Atomic Energy Agency completing a safety review in 2025 of Ghana’s site selection process for its first nuclear power station, identifying a candidate and alternative site – a major step toward eventual construction.

At AEW 2026, Minister Jinapor is expected to bring strategic insights into how Ghana is navigating the complex balance between traditional hydrocarbon development and an inclusive energy transition. Delegates at the event will gain first‑hand perspectives on regulatory and policy reforms, investment opportunities in both fossil and renewable segments and collaborative frameworks that support private‑sector participation across value chains.

“Minister Jinapor’s participation at AEW 2026 highlights the vital role of African leadership in shaping an energy future that is secure, diversified and resilient. Ghana’s holistic approach exemplifies the forward‑thinking strategies needed to power sustainable development across the continent,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) on Thursday concluded a landmark Consultative Dialogue on a New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD, formerly NAFA), with a bold roadmap to address Africa’s development financing gap.

The day-long dialogue held 9^th April, resulted in the adoption of an 11-point “Abidjan Consensus” on NAFAD. NAFAD is designed to overcome the structural obstacles to mobilising resources on a large-scale, to plug Africa’s $400 billion annual development finance gap.

Among the commitments made by participants was a resolution to unlock Africa’s vast domestic savings, and channel them into productive investment on the continent. They also pledged continuous coordination and annual reviews to ensure sustained momentum and track progress.

The New African Financial Architecture for Development is a core part of Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah’s Four Cardinal Points strategic vision.

Thursday’s Consultative Dialogue, which took place in the Ivorian commercial capital, Abidjan, involved nine “Labs,” in which a broad spectrum of Africa’s top financial sector stakeholders brainstormed to produce concrete instruments, platforms and frameworks towards building a new financial architecture for the continent.

The Dialogue was held under the patronage of the President of Cote d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara who was represented at the opening ceremony by nation’s Prime Minister Mr Robert Beugré Mambé. The event was also attended by other government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organizations and agencies, among others.

“The conference bringing us together today presents a real opportunity to deepen our collective reflection on the reforms needed to build an international financial system that is fairer and better suited to the realities of the contemporary world,” Prime Minister Mambé said on behalf of President Ouattara.

As Dr Ould Tah put it during the opening ceremony, “The current architecture of financing Africa’s development is inadequate and not fit for purpose,” he said. “The truth is that we do not suffer from a lack of capital: Africa has approximately $4 trillion in medium- and long-term savings.”

NAFAD proposes a systemic framework aimed at reorganising how capital and risk are deployed across the African financial ecosystem. It will focus on building a permanent implementation architecture, capital mobilisation and deployment.

“The transition from NAFA to NAFAD is not merely a semantic shift; above all, it expresses your genuine determination to overcome the structural obstacles to the large-scale mobilisation of resources to finance Africa’s development,” Dr Ould Tah said in closing remarks. 

In remarks during the opening plenary, Guinea Bissau economist Professor Carlos Lopes noted that the real constraint to executing the African Union’s Agenda 2063 is finance.

“For decades, Africa has worked with its development partners, and concessional finance has played a role—particularly for the most vulnerable countries. But we have also learned its limits. It was never designed to finance transformation at scale.”

The Dialogue drew participants from a cross-section of financial sectors. They included African central bank governors, senior executives from sovereign wealth funds, regional commercial banks, regional and national development banks, securities exchanges, private equity, consignment funds, guarantee funds, and development finance institutions.

The broad and representative participation reflected the systemic nature of the financing challenge the Dialogue seeks to address.

Dr Ould Tah congratulated participants for their full engagement in the discussions and mastery of the topics addressed.

“You have enabled us to achieve results far exceeding initial expectations. This is an historic moment: the Abidjan Consensus, welcomed with immense enthusiasm, redefines the future of financing on our continent,” he said.

“By cementing the unity of the African financial ecosystem on the shores of the Ébrié Lagoon, this agreement provides NAFAD with the legitimacy and grounding necessary to uphold the ambitions of our “Four Cardinal Points.”

The Abidjan Consensus was presented to the delegates by Souleymane Diarrassouba, Cote D’Ivoire’s Minister for Planning and Development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Images: Flickr

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

Source: APO

On Location, the Official Hospitality Provider of the FIFA World Cup 26™, has expanded its partnership with Integral (www.Integralsande.com), appointing the company as a Referral Agent in Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Senegal for the tournament’s official hospitality programme.

Building on its successful role as Nigeria’s Exclusive Sales Agent, Integral will now support awareness, market engagement, and client referrals across key West African markets, connecting fans, brands, and corporate organizations in Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Senegal to official FIFA World Cup 26™ hospitality experiences.

“We are excited to deepen our relationship with Integral as we expand into new African markets,” said Alicia Falken, General Manager of On Location’s FIFA World Cup 26™ business. “Their strong regional expertise and proven track record in delivering premium hospitality experiences make them a valuable partner in driving access to official FIFA World Cup 26™ offerings across West Africa.”

As a Referral Agent, Integral will play a strategic role in identifying and engaging high-value clients across these markets, ensuring they are directed to official and authorized hospitality channels.

Fans are urged not to purchase tickets or packages from unauthorized platforms or sellers as FIFA reserves the right to cancel tickets obtained via unofficial channels. While there may be offers of unauthorized tickets and hospitality packages currently in the market, On Location is the only official hospitality provider of the FIFA World Cup 26™. On Location is proud to collaborate with respective Host Committees and their partners including local teams. Additionally On Location is partnering with Major League Soccer and the League’s clubs across the U.S. and Canada as official appointed Sales Agents for the tournament. The full list of authorized global sales agents will be published on https://FIFAWorldCup26.Hospitality.FIFA.com/ and added to, once a region is announced. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Integral.

About Integral: 
Integral (www.Integralsande.com) is a leading sports management and marketing company with operations across Nigeria, Canada, Poland, the UAE, and the United Kingdom. With over 16 years of hospitality experience spanning five consecutive FIFA World Cup™ tournaments, Integral has worked closely with FIFA and its appointed hospitality partners, including MATCH Hospitality AG and now On Location, to deliver premium matchday experiences to brands, fans, individuals, and corporate organizations.The FIFA World Cup 2026™ marks another milestone in Integral’s journey, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted partner in connecting African markets to the world’s biggest sporting event.

About On Location:
On Location (https://OnLocationExp.com/) is a premium experience provider, offering world class hospitality, ticketing, curated guest experiences, live event production, and travel management across sports, entertainment, and fashion. From unrivaled access for corporate clients, to guests looking for fully immersive experiences at marquee events, On Location is the premier and official service provider to over 150 iconic rights holders, such as the IOC (Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026, LA 2028), NFL, NCAA, UFC, PGA of America, and numerous musical artists and festivals. The company also owns and operates a number of unique and exclusive experiences, transforming the most dynamic live events into a lifetime of memories. On Location is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company.

Source: APO – Report:

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In a test of institutional appetite for African credit, Liquid Intelligent Technologies (www.Liquid.Tech) has closed a $ 660 million debt financing round, including a $300 million Eurobond that was oversubscribed 2.5 times – a result that signified a meaningful vote of confidence in the continent’s digital infrastructure story.

The bond, listed on Euronext Dublin and issued under Rule 144A/Regulation S, formed the centrepiece of a broader debt paydown and refinancing completed by Liquid, the pan-African fibre and technology business owned by Cassava Technologies. The transaction retires the company’s prior debt obligations, extends its debt maturity profile, and resets its balance sheet on terms that give management the financial headroom to accelerate the company’s growth and cement its leading position as a critical enabler of Africa’s digital transformation.

The demand of that scale, against a challenging capital markets environment, points to something more than routine refinancing. It suggests that a cohort of international institutional investors has made a considered judgement; that Liquid’s asset base, its 115,000-kilometre fibre network spanning more than 25 countries, its growing cloud and cybersecurity revenues, and its positioning at the intersection of connectivity and AI infrastructure, constitute a credit that warrants allocation.

The bond was accompanied by syndicated ZAR and USD term loan facilities. The USD 210 million ZAR syndicated term loan, provided by Nedbank, Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Bank, and the International Finance Corporation, provides a natural currency hedge against Liquid’s substantial South African revenues. This is a structural refinement that addresses one of the more persistent concerns institutional investors have raised about African issuers. The USD 150 million syndicated term loan was provided by Ninety One, via its own funds and the Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund and The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited (MCB). Together with the USD 195 million fresh equity injection by Cassava, these instruments retire our prior debt obligations, extend Liquid’s debt maturity profile and provide a natural ZAR currency hedge on our South African revenues, whilst placing net leverage on a firmly downward trajectory.

Anchor orders in the Eurobond were placed by leading development finance institutions (“DFI”), including DEG, the German DFI. DFI participation at this level is rarely cosmetic. It signals that institutions whose mandate is explicitly tied to sustainable development in emerging markets have assessed that Liquid’s infrastructure is consequential to that agenda.

Fitch Ratings upgraded Liquid Intelligent Technologies ahead of launch. Moody’s has placed the issuer on Review for Upgrade. The convergence of two agency actions reinforces our improved financial profile and will be noted by investors who track African credit closely.

J.P. Morgan, Rand Merchant Bank and Standard Bank acted as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners.

“This refinancing is a significant milestone, not just financially, but strategically. A stronger, more sustainable balance sheet gives Liquid the platform it needs to pursue the full scope of digital transformation opportunities across Africa, from fibre and cloud to cyber security and AI-enabled infrastructure. The quality of the institutions that participated in this transaction is a statement of confidence in Liquid’s fundamentals and in Africa’s digital growth story.” Hardy Pemhiwa, Group CEO, Liquid Intelligent Technologies

– on behalf of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

Media Enquiries:
Angela Chandy
Executive Head: PR & Corporate Communications
Angela.chandy@liquid.tech

About Liquid Intelligent Technologies:
Liquid Intelligent Technologies is a business of Cassava Technologies (Cassava), a global technology leader with operations in 40-plus markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, where the Cassava group companies operate. Liquid has firmly established itself as the leading provider of pan-African digital infrastructure with a 110,000 km-long fibre broadband network and satellite connectivity that provides high-speed access to the Internet anywhere in Africa. Liquid is also leveraging its digital network to provide Cloud and Cyber Security solutions through strategic partnerships with leading global players. Liquid is a comprehensive technology solutions group that provides customised digital solutions to public and private sector enterprises and SMEs across the continent.

For more information, visit www.Liquid.Tech.

About Cassava Technologies:
Cassava Technologies is a global technology leader providing a vertically integrated ecosystem of digital services and infrastructure enabling digital transformation. Headquartered in the UK, Cassava has a presence across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the United States of America. Through its business units, namely, Cassava AI, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Liquid C2, Africa Data Centres, and Sasai Fintech, the company provides its customers’ products and services in 94 countries. These solutions drive the company’s ambition of establishing itself as a leading global technology company of African heritage. 

www.CassavaTechnologies.com