Category: MIL-OSI

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Ethiopia: International community must act to safeguard press freedom ahead of national election

Source: APO


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Ethiopian authorities have intensified their crackdown on press freedom in a cynical attempt to silence criticism in the lead-up to the country’s national election on 1 June, Amnesty International said today.

In recent months, Ethiopian authorities have launched a campaign of repression against independent media by arbitrarily arresting, forcibly disappearing and unlawfully surveilling journalists. Other journalists have had their accreditation  revoked, while several media houses have lost their licenses arbitrarily.

“Ethiopian authorities should reverse these increasingly authoritarian tendencies and immediately end this campaign of repression against the media. Ethiopia’s development partners and relevant regional and international human rights bodies must also speak out against the systematic dismantling of the country’s independent media as citizens prepare to vote”, said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

Six media representatives interviewed by Amnesty International, who asked to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisals, reported that their coverage of the upcoming election has been severely affected by ongoing hostility against the media.

They said that journalists frequently self-censor to avoid reprisals by authorities. Two of them noted that their already limited pre-election coverage has been further hampered by a lack of transparency from the election board. Another told Amnesty International that almost all opposition politicians now fear speaking to the media.

“I had to drop a story because every quoted politician was anonymous, as they refused to disclose their identity for fear of reprisals for criticizing the government or the ruling party,” said one news editor interviewed by Amnesty International.

Several of the interviewees also told Amnesty International that the election board has imposed an “oath”, first introduced in 2021, as a precondition for official accreditation to cover the election.

The Ethiopian Election Board is an independent constitutional body established to conduct elections across Ethiopia’s federal and state constituencies.

This oath, which Amnesty International has reviewed, requires media organizations to comply with “ethical responsibilities and obligations set out in the directives for covering elections” and to acknowledge that it is against the law to publish “false information about the Board”.

The restrictions outlined in the oath contain words that can be broadly interpreted.

“Press freedom and the free flow of information are vital during elections. The oath required by the election board is clearly a tool for controlling what is discussed in public about the upcoming election and gives it the power to censor uncomfortable information or determine what is considered to be true or false,” said Tigere Chagutah.

In recent months, public statements by top government officials have framed critical and independent reporting as threats to national interests, a pretext that has been used to justify the ongoing crackdown on media freedom. Just two months ahead of the election Redwan Hussien, Ethiopia’s intelligence chief, and the prime minister’s advisor, Daniel Kibret, made this kind of statements, which have been echoed by officials from the country’s media regulatory body, the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA). Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has also frequently used rhetoric that frames the free press as a threat to national interests.

“A smear campaign against the media that frames independent journalism as a national threat, just weeks before the election, is an example of how authoritarian tendencies are taking root in Ethiopia and are being deployed to consolidate power”, said Tigere Chagutah.

Background

Over the past year Ethiopian’s media regulatory body, EMA, has arbitrarily suspended the registration of Addis Standard and Wazema Radio, while revoking the accreditation and licenses of Reuters journalists. The revocation of accreditation for the Reuters journalists was linked to the outlet’s coverage of a military base inside Ethiopia hosting the Sudanese armed group, the Rapid Support Forces.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

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Deputy President arrives in India for working visit

Source: Government of South Africa

Deputy President arrives in India for working visit

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has arrived in New Delhi, India, for a working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between South Africa and India.

During the visit, he will engage with Indian business leaders and investors in a high-level roundtable discussion aimed at encouraging greater investment flows and economic cooperation between the two countries.

The visit is expected to advance bilateral cooperation in key sectors, including trade, investment, healthcare, science and technology, digital innovation, and small business development.

In a statement issued after his arrival on Friday, the Deputy President said he was confident the high-level deliberations would further strengthen strategic cooperation between the two countries.

“The visit to India aims to strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and India, building on a foundation of solidarity and shared developmental priorities. 

“The focus is on promoting South Africa as a competitive investment destination to encourage Indian investments in key sectors, enhancing trade partnerships and supporting job creation and inclusive economic growth through investment-led partnership,” he said.

The working visit is scheduled to take place from 29 May to 03 June 2026.

South Africa and India share a longstanding relationship grounded in a common history, strong cultural ties, and a shared vision of advancing the Global South through South-South cooperation.

Both countries are members of several multilateral formations that reflect this commitment to the development of the Global South, including the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), BRICS, the India, Brazil and South Africa Dialogue Forum, the Group of Twenty (G20), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

The visit is also intended to reaffirm the South African government’s commitment to its relationship with India, with emphasis on the two countries’ historical and cultural ties.

The visit will also highlight India’s role in global affairs and its contribution to the African Agenda, while positioning the country as a key investment partner. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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Transnet signs deal for R22 billion gas facility project

Source: Government of South Africa

Transnet signs deal for R22 billion gas facility project

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has signed a landmark agreement with Ukwanda LNG to build and operate a gas facility at the Port of Ngqura for the next 25 years.

The development has been designated a national Strategic Integrated Project aimed at strengthening the country’s energy security by advancing the gas infrastructure needed to help stabilise electricity supply.

The project is valued at approximately R22 billion.

TNPA will construct a dedicated LNG berth valued at R2 billion while development of the onshore facility takes place in parallel. Full operations are targeted for 2035 to support long-term energy security.

“The development of an onshore LNG regasification facility at the deepwater Port of Ngqura is a direct response to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition programme, which is set to unlock a planned 6 000 MW gas-to-power pipeline,” Transnet said on Thursday.

The LNG facility will serve as critical fuel infrastructure to support a 3 000 MW gas-to-power allocation, providing lower-carbon baseload electricity to complement the country’s growing renewable energy mix.

The project also includes the establishment of a temporary floating unit.

The scope also includes the construction of permanent onshore infrastructure to supply gas to off-takers, industry, data centres and independent power producers, enabling the generation of about 3 500 MW of electricity within the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

The initiative aligns with Transnet’s ongoing operational recovery and infrastructure-led growth strategy, Reinvent for Growth.

Through this public-private partnership, TNPA continues to leverage strategic collaboration and expertise to modernise port infrastructure while advancing national development priorities.

“This milestone represents a profound shift in how South Africa uses its commercial seaports to support national energy security.

“By formalising this terminal operator agreement, TNPA is not only executing its landlord mandate, but also building the foundational infrastructure needed to support industrial growth and deliver reliable, lower-carbon energy to the national grid,” said Transnet Group Chief Executive Michelle Phillips.

The project is expected to create more than 500 jobs during the approximately 36-month construction period, as well as 50 permanent jobs once construction is complete.

These opportunities are expected to further drive investment, skills development and industrial growth in the Eastern Cape.

Speaking on behalf of Ukwanda LNG, Professor Anna Mokgokong, Chairperson of Tamasa Energy Group, said the signing of the agreement was more than a procedural step; it reflected long-term conviction, disciplined effort and a shared belief in the strategic value of the project for South Africa’s energy future, logistics capability and economic development.

“For the Eastern Cape, this project represents infrastructure that can unlock jobs, skills development, local participation and renewed economic momentum, while supporting energy security and South Africa’s broader transition to a more diversified, lower-carbon energy mix,” Mokgokong said. SAnews.gov.za

 

 

 

 

 

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Officials who intercepted truck carrying R1 billion worth of methaqualone commended

Source: Government of South Africa

Officials who intercepted truck carrying R1 billion worth of methaqualone commended

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has commended the officials at the Beitbridge port of entry who successfully intercepted a truck carrying drugs with a street value of almost R1 billion earlier this week.

Addressing a media briefing in Pretoria on Friday, Schreiber said the interception was a product of sustained reforms that are steadily rebuilding the country’s capabilities to secure the borders and restore the rule of law.

“The singular breakthrough vividly demonstrates that our investments into intelligence – driven work, modern technology, digital transformation and building a new organisational culture exemplified by Border Management Authority (BMA) personnel is improving in the security environment at our ports of entry,” Schreiber said.

He said for too long organised criminal syndicates treated South Africa’s border posts as a weak point that could be exploited for the trafficking of drugs and illicit goods and undocumented persons and other forms of transnational crimes.

“The interception of the truck is not by accident, it is because of meticulous reform that government is driving every day across BMA and Home Affairs ecosystem,” he said.  

BMA Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato, explained that the truck was subjected to a non-intrusive inspection using advanced cargo scanning technology.

“Through the vigilance, commitment, and professionalism of our officials and partner law enforcement agencies, a drug substance identified as ABBA, also known as methaqualone and commonly used in the manufacturing of mandrax, was discovered concealed within the truck,” Masiapato said.

He said after a thorough search, authorities confirmed that the consignment weighed approximately 713 000 grams, with an estimated street value of R998.2 million. 

“The consignment was packed in individual packages, each weighing just over 25kg. This represents one of South Africa’s largest drug busts executed to date since the BMA was established in 2023,” Masiapato said.

Three suspects – two Malawi nationals, one male and a female, as well as one Zambian male – have been arrested and are currently detained at the Musina Police Station.

“Investigations are ongoing to determine the intended destination of the drugs and whether this operation forms part of a broader regional or global criminal syndicate. 

“Authorities are also pursuing all available leads to identify the origin of the consignment, the individuals involved in its transportation and coordination and any possible links to transnational organised crime networks,” he said.

This interception represents a decisive intervention against “criminal networks that seek to exploit our ports of entry to undermine the safety, stability and future of our country and the region”.

Masiapato said the authority will not stop until these syndicates are disrupted, dismantled and deprived of every opportunity to operate within the country’s borders.

“Our resolve remains firm, to strengthen border law enforcement, enhance intelligence-led operations, and ensure that every port of entry becomes a point of control, not a point of compromise. 

“Drug trafficking destroys communities, fuels violence, enables corruption, and threatens the wellbeing of our young people. It also undermines economic growth,” he said.

Masiapato said complex transnational organised crime requires a unified front that brings together border law enforcement, customs authorities, policing structures and security and intelligence services working as one system of national defence.

“This level of collaboration where we are able to conduct massive interceptions ensures that gaps are closed, duplication is minimised and enforcement efforts are strengthened through shared capability and expertise.” – SAnews.gov.za

 

Edwin

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Public warned not to eat wild shellfish from Saldanha Bay

Source: Government of South Africa

Public warned not to eat wild shellfish from Saldanha Bay

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has warned the public not to collect or eat any wild shellfish from Saldanha Bay and nearby coastal areas until further notice.

According to a recent monitoring report, mussels and oysters from Saldanha Bay farms contained very high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST) — more than 15 times the legal safety limit.

Officials also detected high levels of the toxin-producing phytoplankton Alexandrium catenella, a sign of a serious harmful algal bloom.

As a result, harvesting areas in Saldanha Bay have been closed for shellfish meant for human consumption.

It is not yet clear how far the risk extends along the West Coast, and toxin levels may differ from one area to another.

Eating contaminated shellfish, such as mussels, can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning — a serious illness that can be life-threatening.

The public is strongly advised not to harvest or eat any wild shellfish from Saldanha Bay and surrounding coastal areas until further notice. –SAnews.gov.za

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Over 80% Western Cape storm-affected communities reconnected

Source: Government of South Africa

Over 80% Western Cape storm-affected communities reconnected

Electricity has been restored to 84% of communities affected by severe weather that damaged parts of the Western Cape earlier this month.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde concluded a four-day assessment of some of the province’s hardest-hit areas this week.

The assessment covered extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges and farming communities across the West Coast, Cape Winelands, Overberg, and Garden Route Districts.

“The scale of the devastation is immense. Despite this, our officials are hard at work repairing damaged infrastructure as quickly as possible,” Winde reported on Thursday.

The Premier noted that steady progress has been made, highlighting the reopening of the Vredendal Bridge to one-way traffic ahead of schedule.

He commended those involved in this project, and the many others currently underway across the province, for their commitment and hard work.

During the assessment visits, Winde was joined by several provincial MECs, including disaster management officials, mayors, municipal managers, and representatives from NGOs.

The delegation visited Malmesbury, Klawer Bridge, Vredendal Bridge, Clanwilliam Dam, Citrusdal, Algeria, Piketberg, Gouda, Op-Die-Berg, Ceres, Rawsonville, Worcester, McGregor Bridge and Red Bridge.

The Premier said electricity restoration remains a key focus for the provincial government, noting that he chairs daily meetings with Eskom Western Cape leadership to monitor progress.

He reported that Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham-Maré has also attended the daily briefings and assured the province of regular public updates.

According to Eskom’s latest estimates released on 28 May 2026, several affected areas are expected to be reconnected over the coming weeks.

In the Cape Winelands, power restoration is expected by 29 May for Hexrivier and Villiersdorp, while Chavonnes farms and Badsberg farms are expected to be restored by 5 June. 

Boskloof and Romansrivier are expected to be restored by 26 June.

In the Garden Route, Gouna is expected to be restored by 31 May, while Herbertsdale and Jakkeslvlei are scheduled for 10 June. 

Areas including Askop, Buffelsnek, Brackenhill, Fisanthoek, Harkerville and Klein Bavaria are expected to be restored by 25 June, while Garden of Eden is expected to be restored by 25 July.

In the Overberg, the utility estimated that Hemel-en-Aarde, Riviersonderend farms, Papiesvlei and Stanford farms will be restored by 29 May, while Buffelsjagsrivier is expected by 5 June.

On the West Coast, Algeria, Citrusdal farms and Du Pont are expected to be restored by 5 June, while Noordhoek farms are estimated for 12 June.

“We fully appreciate and understand the frustrations of residents who have had to endure extended periods of power outages. We apologise for any inconvenience and will always endeavour to keep affected communities abreast of developments as we receive updates from Eskom and other stakeholders. We know that this is a frustrating and unbearable situation,” Winde said.

While the devastation is vast, Winde said stories of hope and collaboration keep the provincial government moving forward.

“I met with several of our healthcare workers in the Op-Die-Berg area who were left stranded by the heavy rain and flooding. 

“Officials at a local school, Skurweberg Senior Secondary, thought nothing of giving them shelter and food, as they waited for the worst of the weather to pass.

“I am also blown away by how residents, business owners and farmers have stepped in to help. Whether it is offering equipment to assist Eskom teams or feeding disaster management officials and those most in need, this is what makes the Western Cape the extraordinary region that it is,” the Premier said.

Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers said recovery teams are working around the clock to meet critical targets.

“Our absolute priority remains safely reconnecting communities, and we are pushing hard to meet critical targets. The McGregor Bridge will be repaired by early June as rock fill and asphalt layers wrap up,” Simmers said.

He added that structural assessments are underway at the Klawer Bridge to confirm a temporary pedestrian access date by 29 May, while slope stabilisation work on the Cango Caves Road is progressing well, with debris clearance targeted for 5 June, before final safety checks. – SAnews.gov.za

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CORRECTION : Assemblées annuelles 2026 : le rapport 2025 de la Banque africaine de développement sur le financement du commerce souligne la résilience post-Covid des institutions financières africaines

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


La cinquième édition du Rapport sur le financement du commerce de la Banque africaine de développement (www.AfDB.org) brosse le portrait d’institutions financières africaines résilientes dans les années qui ont suivi la pandémie de Covid-19, en dépit d’un contexte mondial difficile.

Le rapport 2025, qui fournit une évaluation actualisée du paysage du financement du commerce en Afrique sur la période 2020-2024 à la suite de la pandémie de Covid-19, a été publié mercredi durant les Assemblées annuelles du Groupe de la Banque, à Brazzaville, en République du Congo.

Ce rapport examine le financement du commerce sous l’angle de l’intermédiation bancaire, comblant d’importantes lacunes en matière de connaissances et introduisant de nouvelles dimensions, telles que la numérisation et la durabilité environnementale. Il quantifie également, pour la première fois, la contribution des institutions de financement du développement (IFD) au financement du commerce sur le continent.

Lors de la présentation du rapport, Anthony Simpasa, directeur du Département de la politique macroéconomique, des prévisions et de la recherche du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement, a déclaré que la demande non satisfaite en matière de financement du commerce avait diminué de près de 10 % entre 2019 et 2024, grâce aux fortes interventions des banques multilatérales de développement, des gouvernements, des agences de crédit à l’exportation et des banques internationales. Ces interventions ont été essentielles au maintien des flux commerciaux, les estimations suggérant qu’en l’absence de soutien des IFD, le déficit annuel de financement du commerce aurait pu dépasser 100 milliards de dollars entre 2020 et 2024.

« La résurgence des tensions géopolitiques et les perturbations des chaînes d’approvisionnement et des flux commerciaux mondiaux pourraient anéantir les progrès réalisés depuis la pandémie en matière de réduction du déficit de financement du commerce, a averti M. Simpasa. Par exemple, une baisse de l’appétit pour le risque des correspondants bancaires pourrait creuser ce déficit pour le porter entre 86,6 et 102,6 milliards de dollars d’ici à 2027, dans un scénario allant de modéré à sévère. Cela représente une hausse d’au moins 17,7 % par rapport au niveau de 2024, ce qui pourrait effacer une décennie de progrès. »

Le lancement officiel du rapport a réuni des responsables politiques, des dirigeants du secteur privé, des institutions de financement du développement (IFD), des institutions financières et des experts en financement du commerce de tout le continent.

Quelques points saillants du rapport :

  • En 2024, la demande non satisfaite en matière de financement du commerce en Afrique se situait entre 74 et 92 milliards de dollars. Le déficit estimé à 74 milliards de dollars représente 5,4 % de la valeur totale des échanges de marchandises de la région en 2024.
  • Le commerce africain reste insuffisamment desservi par les banques commerciales. Au cours des cinq années couvertes par l’étude, les banques commerciales ont financé en moyenne 23 % du commerce total de l’Afrique, contre 40 % entre 2011 et 2019.
  • Entre 2020 et 2024, le commerce intra-africain a représenté 34 % du commerce total financé par les banques, soit une hausse de 89 % par rapport aux niveaux d’avant la pandémie (2011-2019).
  • La pénurie de liquidités en devises étrangères est devenue le principal obstacle limitant la croissance des banques dans le domaine du financement du commerce. Environ 36 % des banques ont cité la liquidité limitée en devises étrangères comme principal frein à la croissance de leurs activités de financement du commerce entre 2020 et 2024, contre 18 % sur la période 2015-2019.
  • L’adoption de solutions numériques de financement du commerce par les banques reste faible, principalement en raison des coûts de mise en œuvre élevés et d’une infrastructure technologique inadéquate. Seules 28 % des banques interrogées ont déclaré avoir adopté des outils ou des plateformes numériques pour leurs opérations de financement du commerce.

Lors d’une brève table ronde qui a suivi le lancement du  rapport, Didier Acouetey, conseiller principal pour le secteur privé du président de la Banque africaine de développement, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, commissaire au développement économique, au commerce, au tourisme, à l’industrie et aux minéraux de la Commission de l’Union africaine, Admassu Tadesse, président et directeur général du groupe Trade and Development Bank, et Mehdi Tanani, directeur régional pour l’Afrique centrale de Proparco, ont échangé sur les conclusions du rapport, notant les opportunités et défis liés au développement d’un financement du commerce durable par l’intermédiaire des banques en Afrique.

Bien que le financement du commerce reste un obstacle majeur pour la plupart des pays africains, des innovations prometteuses gagnent du terrain, telles que la numérisation, les garanties et les initiatives de gestion d’actifs visant à élargir la classe d’actifs du financement du commerce et les offres connexes sur le marché, a souligné M. Tadesse. « Il convient de poursuivre sur cette voie par le biais de nouvelles initiatives systémiques, comme la Nouvelle architecture financière africaine pour le développement (NAFAD) et des mesures connexes, comme la réduction des risques et des partenariats judicieux, qui devraient multiplier l’impact des capitaux africains et débloquer davantage de capitaux mondiaux », a-t-il déclaré.

« La NAFAD nous offre, pour la première fois, un cadre continental cohérent pour combler le déficit de financement du commerce, non pas projet par projet, mais de manière systémique. C’est ce changement qui va tout transformer pour les PME africaines », a soutenu M. Acouetey.

Mme Belobe a appelé à éliminer le maillon manquant (« missing middle ») dans le secteur bancaire africain. « Les PME sont trop grandes pour la microfinance, trop petites pour la banque d’affaires, mais bien trop importantes sur le plan commercial pour être exclues du système de financement du commerce. Il est temps que les banques commerciales traitent le financement du commerce des PME comme un secteur d’activité à part entière et central, et non comme une activité secondaire », a-t-elle appelé.

« L’Afrique ne comblera pas son déficit de financement du commerce en ajoutant des contraintes, mais en construisant un écosystème de financement du commerce plus résilient, plus numérique et plus durable, un écosystème qui protège les PME contre les chocs mondiaux tout en accélérant l’intégration économique du continent », a affirmé M. Tanani.

La Banque africaine de développement et d’autres institutions de financement du développement (IFD) ont joué un rôle significatif dans la réduction du déficit de financement du commerce en Afrique. Ces IFD ont facilité environ 32 milliards de dollars de financement du commerce par an entre 2020 et 2024, ce qui représente en moyenne environ 3 % du commerce total de marchandises de l’Afrique sur la même période.

Le programme de financement du commerce de la Banque africaine de développement a été créé en 2013, avec une première enquête menée en 2014. Depuis 2014, la Banque a produit quatre enquêtes périodiques, dont deux rapports spécifiques au Kenya et à la Tanzanie.

Cliquez sur ce lien (http://apo-opa.co/3S9kjP9) pour lire l’intégralité du rapport.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Note de l’éditeur :
Une version antérieure de ce communiqué de presse, publiée le 27 mai 2026, indiquait par erreur « une hausse de 89 points de pourcentage » dans le sous-titre, au lieu de 89 pour cent.

Contact médias :
Amba Mpoke-Bigg
Département de la communication et des relations extérieures
Courriel : media@afdb.org

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CORRECTION: Annual Meetings 2026 (AM2026): African Development Bank (AfDB) 2025 Trade Finance Report Highlights Resilience of African Financial Institutions After Covid-19

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.

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Deputy President Mashatile arrives in India for a Working Visit

Source: President of South Africa –

His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, has on Friday, 29 May 2026, arrived in the Capital of India, New Delhi, on a Working Visit.

The Working Visit is scheduled for 29 May to 03 June 2026.

South Africa and India have a longstanding relationship grounded in shared history, cultural relations, and a mutual vision rooted in non-alignment, aiming to advance the Global South through South-South partnerships.

Both South Africa and India are represented in many multilateral formations that promote this commitment to the development of the Global South, including membership to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), BRICS, IBSA, G20 and IORA.

The visit aims to reaffirm the South African Government’s commitment to its relationship with India, emphasising historical and cultural ties. The visit will highlight the importance of India’s role in global affairs and its contributions to the African Agenda, advocating for India as a key investment partner. 

Additionally, the visit seeks to strengthen cooperation in multilateral forums such as the UN, BRICS, and G20, enhancing collaboration in trade, investment, research, technology transfer, and support for small enterprises.

Deputy President Mashatile, the second Deputy President to visit India, is expected to engage with Indian business leaders and investors through a high-level Roundtable Discussion aimed at encouraging greater investment flows and economic collaboration between the two countries. 

The visit will advance bilateral cooperation in key sectors including trade, investment, healthcare, science and technology, digital innovation, and small business development.

Deputy President expressed his confidence that these high-level deliberations will further cultivate the strategic synergy between the two countries.

“The visit to India aims to strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and India, building on a foundation of solidarity and shared developmental priorities. The focus is on promoting South Africa as a competitive investment destination to encourage Indian investments in key sectors, enhancing trade partnerships and supporting job creation and inclusive economic growth through investment-led partnership.”
 
As part of his Working Visit, Deputy President Mashatile will engage on a Bilateral Meeting with Vice President C.P Radhakrishnan, and pay a courtesy call on Her Excellency Mrs Smt. Droupadi Murmu, President of the Republic of India. 

Deputy President Mashatile is accompanied by Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi; Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni; Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka; Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Nomalungelo Gina; and Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele.

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 066 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Posted on

Pourquoi les géants de la tech pourraient devenir les nouveaux partenaires gaziers du Nigeria

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


La course mondiale à l’intelligence artificielle se transforme rapidement en une course à l’énergie. Alors que des entreprises comme Microsoft, Amazon, Google et Oracle développent des centres de données hyperscale pour prendre en charge les charges de travail liées à l’IA, l’électricité est devenue l’un des principaux freins du secteur. Aux États-Unis et en Europe, les entreprises technologiques signent désormais des contrats d’approvisionnement en électricité à long terme, financent des actifs de production dédiés et s’associent directement avec des entreprises énergétiques pour garantir un approvisionnement fiable.

Ce même modèle pourrait bientôt redessiner l’industrie gazière nigériane. Les centres de données d’IA nécessitent des charges électriques énormes et continues. Contrairement aux infrastructures cloud traditionnelles, les installations axées sur l’IA fonctionnent avec des densités de racks nettement plus élevées et consomment beaucoup plus d’électricité en raison d’un calcul intensif sur GPU. En mars 2026, Google a annoncé son intention de consacrer 2,7 GW de capacité électrique à un grand projet de centre de données lié à l’IA aux États-Unis – ce qui équivaut à peu près à la demande en électricité de deux millions de foyers.

Cette évolution oblige les entreprises technologiques à penser comme des entreprises énergétiques. Le mois dernier, Microsoft, Chevron et Engine No. 1 ont signé un accord d’exclusivité pour construire une centrale au gaz de 2,5 GW dans l’ouest du Texas afin de soutenir l’expansion de l’IA de Microsoft. La logique économique est simple : sans électricité fiable, l’infrastructure d’IA ne peut pas se développer.

Le Nigeria offre une solution convaincante. Le pays détient plus de 200 000 milliards de pieds cubes de réserves prouvées de gaz naturel – les plus importantes d’Afrique – mais reste sous-alimenté en électricité et sous-équipé sur le plan numérique. Dans le même temps, l’économie numérique du Nigeria connaît une expansion rapide, alimentée par une population qui devrait dépasser les 400 millions d’habitants d’ici 2050, une pénétration croissante d’Internet et une adoption accélérée du cloud.

« Personne ne remet en cause le bilan financier de Microsoft. Cela change la donne en matière de financement pour le gaz nigérian », a déclaré NJ Ayuk, président exécutif de la Chambre africaine de l’énergie. « Pour la première fois, les projets gaziers africains peuvent potentiellement être financés par des entreprises dont la demande en énergie est aussi importante et stratégique que celle de secteurs industriels entiers. »

La pièce manquante, c’est l’infrastructure. L’Afrique ne représente actuellement que 0,6 % de la capacité mondiale des centres de données, alors qu’elle compte près de 20 % de la population mondiale. Le Nigeria tente aujourd’hui de combler ce fossé. Selon les estimations du secteur, le pays comptait 21 centres de données opérationnels début 2026, avec près d’un milliard de dollars de nouvelles installations prêtes pour l’IA en cours de développement.

Il est essentiel de noter que bon nombre de ces projets s’orientent déjà vers des infrastructures alimentées au gaz.

En mars 2026, Tetracore Energy Group a annoncé son projet de construction d’un centre de données alimenté au gaz de 20 MW, d’une valeur de 400 millions de dollars, dans l’État d’Ogun, en partenariat avec Huawei et Inspirive Technologies. L’installation sera alimentée par une centrale électrique au gaz dédiée de 100 MW sur site – un modèle de plus en plus considéré comme indispensable sur les marchés où la fiabilité du réseau reste inégale.

Historiquement, le financement des infrastructures gazières nationales au Nigeria s’est avéré difficile en raison des inquiétudes liées à la sécurité des paiements, au risque de prise en charge et à l’irrégularité de la demande industrielle. Les entreprises technologiques hyperscale changent la donne. Des accords d’approvisionnement en gaz à long terme soutenus par des sociétés mondiales notées « investment grade » pourraient fournir les flux de revenus prévisibles nécessaires pour débloquer des financements destinés aux gazoducs, aux installations de traitement et aux projets de production intégrée.

Au lieu d’attendre une réforme nationale du réseau électrique, le Nigeria pourrait voir émerger des corridors gaz-électricité financés par le secteur privé, ancrés autour de centres de données, de parcs industriels et de campus d’infrastructures cloud.

Au-delà de l’énergie, des investissements hyperscale à grande échelle accéléreraient le déploiement de la fibre optique, renforceraient la souveraineté cloud, soutiendraient l’expansion des fintechs et réduiraient la dépendance vis-à-vis de l’hébergement de données à l’étranger. Cela pourrait également positionner le Nigeria comme le principal pôle d’IA et d’infrastructures numériques d’Afrique de l’Ouest, à un moment où les entreprises technologiques mondiales recherchent de nouveaux marchés de croissance.

Il est important de noter que le gaz offre quelque chose que les énergies renouvelables seules ne peuvent actuellement garantir pour les infrastructures d’IA sur les marchés émergents : une alimentation de base stable. Alors que les systèmes solaires et les batteries joueront un rôle croissant, les opérateurs à très grande échelle, qui privilégient la disponibilité et la latence, continuent de privilégier les solutions énergétiques dispatchables pour les installations critiques.

Alors que les discussions s’intensifient autour du prochain volet consacré à l’IA et aux centres de données lors de l’African Energy Week 2026, un message apparaît de plus en plus clairement : l’avenir du gaz africain ne se limitera peut-être pas à l’industrialisation ou aux exportations de GNL. Il pourrait également alimenter l’économie mondiale de l’IA. Et dans cet avenir, les géants de la technologie pourraient devenir l’un des partenaires énergétiques les plus importants du Nigeria à ce jour.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Energy Chamber.