Category: MIL-OSI

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SARB study rules out launch of digital currency

Source: Government of South Africa

The South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) position paper on a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) in South Africa has concluded that it there is no compelling immediate need for its implementation.

A retail CBDC is defined as a purely digital banknote, denominated in the national unit of account, which could be used by individuals to pay businesses, shops or each other (a retail CBDC), or between financial institutions to settle trades in financial markets (a wholesale CBDC). 

At its core then, retail CBDC aims to mirror traditional currency, but in digital form.

“The SARB’s research and experimentation found that a retail CBDC is technically feasible and could be implemented in a way that aligns with regulatory and policy objectives. 

“However, the analysis does not reveal a strong immediate need for such an instrument. Instead, the SARB concluded that ongoing initiatives such as the Payment Ecosystem Modernisation Programme and expanding non-bank participation in the national payment system should remain the priority in the short-to-medium-term,” the Reserve Bank said. 

The SARB position paper on the necessity of a retail CBDC in South Africa and background note  was published on the bank’s website on Thursday.

The study focused on the potential role of a retail CBDC as a digital complement to cash, particularly in the context of South Africa’s evolving payment landscape and persistent financial inclusion challenge.

The SARB noted that in the longer term there may be a need for a retail CBDC to safeguard public access to central bank money − a public good that remains essential in a digital economy; and unlock opportunities to complement and enhance the existing payments landscape while supporting broader financial innovation in South Africa.

While the SARB does not currently advocate for the implementation of a retail CBDC, it will continue to monitor developments and will remain prepared to act should the need arise. 

“As the SARB continues its CBDC journey, the next phase will pivot toward further exploration of wholesale CBDC. This strategic shift reflects the growing global momentum around wholesale applications and their potential to enhance financial market innovation, cross-border payment efficiency and systemic resilience. The SARB will outline its plans for this next phase in due course.”

Central bank money plays a crucial role in the financial system for two primary reasons: it represents the highest quality of money, reducing risk and enhancing payment system efficiency and its accessibility through convertibility with commercial bank money fosters trade efficiency and mitigates financial instability in a dual money system.

Growth and cash

“From the research and analysis conducted as part of this study, there is evidence of significant growth in the adoption and use of digital payments in South Africa. 

“This has been driven by innovative solutions introduced by commercial banks, fintechs and the efforts of the SARB and other public sector agencies and partners,” it said.

These are anticipated to continue having a positive impact on financial inclusion, and it is expected that a growing number of South Africans will adopt and use digital payments on a regular basis.

“Notwithstanding the progress made, evidence also shows that physical cash continues to play a significant role in South Africa, particularly for certain segments of the population. This prevailing cash reliance is due to barriers such as infrastructure availability, costs of digital payments and network and power issues.

Balancing act

“More importantly, the continued ability to redeem private money into safe and liquid public money (i.e. banknotes and coin) provides a safety net in times of economic stress and maintains confidence in the financial system. Further, balancing access to both central bank and commercial bank money is essential for maximising trade efficiency,” SARB said.

This balance requires careful consideration of the unique benefits each type of money provides.

“In the SARB’s view, continued commitment and resources should be dedicated to realising the opportunities of existing payment modernisation initiatives, such as expanding the PayShap value proposition, enabling interoperability of different stores of value, allowing non-banks to issue electronic money and participating directly in the NPS [national payment system], QR code standardisation, introducing an open banking/open finance framework, among others,” the bank said.

SARB emphasised that the conclusion of the study should not be interpreted as a view that South Africa should not implement a retail CBDC in future. 

The study can be accessed on: https://www.resbank.co.za/en/home/publications/publication-detail-pages/Fintech/sarb-position-paper-on-the-necessity-of-a-retail-cbdc-in-south-africa

–SAnews.gov.za

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Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets US Congress Delegation

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, November 27, 2025

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met Thursday with a delegation of Their Excellencies members of the Congress of the United States of America, including Laurel Lee, Marlin Stutzman, Abraham Hamadeh, Ryan Zinke and Lance Gooden, on the occasion of their visit to the country.

The meeting discussed the close strategic relations between the State of Qatar and the United States of America and ways to support and strengthen them. It also discussed regional developments, in addition to a number of topics of common interest.

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World Future Energy Summit 2026 to spotlight potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Middle East’s clean energy sector

Source: APO – Report:

  • AI will be key enabler for countries to achieve national clean energy goals
  • AI technologies help companies reduce energy consumption by as much as 60%
  • Artificial Intelligence Conference to explore ways to tackle AI’s energy footprint

As artificial intelligence emerges as a transformative force in the clean energy sector, the World Future Energy Summit 2026 (www.WorldFutureEnergySummit.com) will spotlight its vast potential to reshape energy production, transmission, and efficient, data-driven distribution. Running from January 13-15 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the three-day show is an integral part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026.

With the theme of AI running across all seven conference tracks at this year’s show, the 2026 edition will build on that momentum, raising the bar with the launch of the FUSE AI Zone, a dedicated platform where more than 40 companies will showcase cutting-edge AI solutions to drive clean energy, smart infrastructure, and climate resilience. The event will also incorporate the inaugural Artificial Intelligence Conference, a forum exploring how AI can be responsibly harnessed to accelerate progress across the energy, infrastructure, and smart cities sectors.

Gathering thought leaders, innovators, and policy influencers, the Summit will laser in on AI’s predictive power and its ability to optimise the management of clean energy flows, providing a vital technical boost to help low-carbon systems scale effectively.

Using AI to Accelerate Technical Breakthroughs

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), AI adoption is accelerating across multiple areas, from grid and demand-response management to sector coupling and system maintenance. Advances in forecasting and energy storage are also enhancing performance, enabling companies to deliver renewable energy with greater efficiency and reliability. Yet important questions remain about how best to unlock AI’s full potential to power the sustainable energy systems of the future.

For example, can AI make up for shortcomings in energy policy that hold back the transition to carbon-free energy? Can it accelerate innovation to enable researchers and entrepreneurs to more rapidly test and prove technologies that make a direct impact on decarbonisation? These pressing issues, plus the potential of AI to advance the exploration of mineralisation for carbon capture, will be addressed by leading experts at January’s World Future Energy Summit, now globally recognised as the world’s premier business event focused on future energy and sustainability.

The UAE’s clean energy goals, driven by its Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, involve increasing clean energy to 50 per cent of the total energy mix by 2050, reducing carbon emissions by 70 per cent, and tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. AI will be a key enabler for achieving these clean energy targets across the region.

The World Future Energy Summit and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week’s Advisory Committee’s 2025 AI and Technology Insights Report supports this, stating that AI can significantly enhance the efficiency and reliability of clean energy and infrastructure networks both regionally and globally.

According to the report, smart grid algorithms can accurately predict and then balance electricity supply and demand in real time, integrate renewables, and reduce the need for constructing new power plants. Investment in digital infrastructure and skills is key, however, so that utilities can harness data for grid optimisation and predictive maintenance.

Driving Energy Efficiency in Homes and Businesses

The 2026 edition will also highlight the growing role of AI in enhancing energy efficiency within buildings. According to the World Economic Forum, AI technologies are already helping companies reduce energy consumption by up to 60 per cent in some cases.

While the industry has only just begun to tap into AI’s full potential in this field, the opportunities for progress are vast. Through panel discussions and keynote sessions, a powerhouse of industry experts will explore the key challenges and opportunities surrounding energy efficiency in homes and businesses across the MENA region and beyond.

Speakers will discuss how new AI- and automation-powered design tools can help create spaces that are energy-, water- and people-efficient, all while staying within budget. They will also examine how smart software can rapidly test design options to identify solutions that cut costs and reduce environmental impact. Additional sessions will address how innovation, collaboration, and resilient supply chains can help build sustainable urban futures.

Shyam Parmar, the Summit’s Event Director, added: “By bringing together some of the brightest minds from across the global energy landscape, the World Future Energy Summit plays a pivotal role in unlocking the vast potential of artificial intelligence, not only to drive greater energy efficiency in homes and businesses, but to accelerate progress across the entire clean energy and sustainability ecosystem.

“The new FUSE AI Zone and Artificial Intelligence Conference provide an unparalleled platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and lively debate on how AI can be deployed responsibly and effectively. These conversations are vital to advancing the AI agenda and ensuring companies can fully harness their capabilities to meet clean energy ambitions. By facilitating this dialogue, we’re helping to translate innovation into action, and turning bold ideas into tangible outcomes that move the world closer to a sustainable energy future.”

Understanding AI’s Energy Consumption

AI’s transformative potential is undeniable, yet credible estimates project AI-related electricity consumption could grow by as much as 50 per cent each year from 2023 to 2030. The electricity demand of data centres is also projected to grow, from one per cent of global energy demand in 2022 to more than three per cent by 2030.

In January 2025, Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company announced the launch of the world’s first large-scale round-the-clock giga-scale project, combining solar power and battery storage in Abu Dhabi. Delivering up to one gigawatt of baseload power every day generated from renewable energy, it will be the largest combined solar and battery energy storage system in the world.

According to the 2025 AI and Technology Insights Report, such projects could redefine how critical AI systems are powered, eliminating the need for fossil fuel-backup. By connecting to clean energy sources, AI data centres could operate with near-zero carbon emissions, marking a major step towards a more sustainable digital future.

The Summit will explore ways to tackle AI’s energy footprint with a dedicated panel session on actionable strategies to realign AI growth with climate goals, balance energy consumption, and drive sustainable innovation without sacrificing usability.

“AI’s role in climate and environmental systems is expanding rapidly and understanding how to guide that growth is becoming just as important as advancing the technology itself,” said Mehdi Ajana, Head of Strategy at Nabat. “At the World Future Energy Summit, we’ll look at practical, data-driven approaches, from improving habitat classification and health assessment model accuracy, to monitoring carbon and biodiversity metrics  that help align AI innovation with measurable climate outcomes”.

“It’s a great opportunity for like-minded organisations to come together, listen, learn, and explore what’s possible and to understand how AI can be deployed responsibly to accelerate real progress towards global sustainability goals.”

Paving the Way to a Sustainable Future

The 2026 edition of the World Future Energy Summit will also explore the role of AI in healthcare, food security, and weather modelling, with a keynote presentation on Earth Two Climate, G42, and NVIDIA’s new AI-powered weather forecasting solution that accurately gauges weather conditions down to a single square-metre. This is invaluable to farmers and smart agriculture planners, who can make more informed decisions on crop choices, yield expectations, maintenance procedures, and more.

From cutting energy waste to improving health outcomes and driving farming efficiencies, AI is a powerful means to accelerate sustainability solutions. According to the 2025 AI and Technology Insights Report, however, it must be guided by clear human-defined goals: “Technology deployments should focus on solving real problems rather than adopting AI for AI’s sake”. That means human oversight, strategic vision, and multidisciplinary collaboration should be seen as essential in order to convert AI’s promise into tangible progress, paving the way to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.

The World Future Energy Summit 2026, hosted by Masdar and part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, will take place from January 13–15 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.

– on behalf of World Future Energy Summit.

For media inquiries, please contact:
press@masdar.ae 

Connect:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4anqfLs
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World Future Energy Summit:
As the largest event during ADSW, the World Future Energy Summit continues to be a driving force for innovation, collaboration, and thought leadership in renewable energy and sustainability. Now entering its 18th edition, the Summit has established itself as a vital platform bridging policy with real-world action and business growth.

The 2026 edition, taking place from 13–15 January, will feature more than 800 global brands, the dynamic Greenhouse start-up zone, the Fuse AI cleantech pavilion, and the debut of the Greenpeace Cinema. Over three days, attendees will have the opportunity to join conferences led by 300+ industry experts, explore nine exhibition halls showcasing breakthrough products and solutions, and connect with more than 50,000 participants from across the globe.

About Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week:
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) is a global platform supported by the UAE and its clean energy leader, Masdar, to address the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges through crucial conversations accelerating responsible development and fostering inclusive economic, social and environmental progress.

For more than 15 years, ADSW has convened decision-makers from governments, the private sector and civil society to advance the global sustainability agenda through dialogue, cross-sector collaboration and impactful solutions. Throughout the year, ADSW conversations and initiatives facilitate knowledge sharing and collective action that will ensure a sustainable world for future generations.

About Masdar:
Established in 2006, Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) is a global clean energy leader, transforming how the world produces and consumes energy through bold innovation and commercial excellence.

Masdar is a clean energy investor, developer and operator, advancing renewable energy projects across key markets and technologies, with a global project portfolio capacity to date of over 51 gigawatts (GW).

Jointly owned by TAQA, ADNOC and Mubadala, Masdar is driving the scale-up of renewables worldwide, targeting a portfolio capacity of 100GW by 2030.

For more information, please visit: https://Masdar.ae/

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Three additional sluice gates opened at Vaal Dam

Source: Government of South Africa

A total of 10 sluice gates are now in operation at the Vaal Dam, after three additional sluice gates opened on Thursday, to manage rising water levels.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) intensified flood management operations at the Vaal Dam by opening three additional sluice gates in response to rising inflows and persistent rainfall across the Vaal River System.

In a statement, the department announced that the gates were being opened in controlled intervals, with two gates opened at 10am and 12pm, and another scheduled to open in the afternoon at 2pm, to safely increase outflows throughout the day and stabilise dam levels.

These latest adjustments follow reopening of four sluice gates on Wednesday, between 10am and 1pm, which increased releases from 325 cubic metres per second (m³/s) to 950 m³/s.

‘With today’s measured operations, the Vaal Dam will operate with 10 open sluice gates, enabling the department to regulate the rising upstream inflows while ensuring the integrity of key water infrastructure,” department spokesperson Wisane Mavasa said.

The department also confirmed that there are no changes to operations at Bloemhof Dam, with outflows remaining steady at approximately 1000 m³/s – consistent with last week’s adjustments and aligned with current dam safety protocols.

According to the department, both the Vaal and Bloemhof dams remain above 100% due to sustained rainfall this week, necessitating continuous monitoring and proactive intervention.

Mavasa noted that the opening of sluice gates is a standard operating procedure and a critical dam safety measure implemented when water levels rise sharply.

“Controlled releases help prevent overtopping, safeguard the structural integrity of dam infrastructure and protect communities downstream from potential disaster. With increased releases from the Vaal Dam, downstream areas may experience overflowing riverbanks, which could affect infrastructure located in low-lying zones of the floodplain,” Mavasa explained.

The department appealed to communities along the Vaal River, particularly those in the Vaal Triangle, Parys, and other riparian settlements, to remain vigilant and monitor rising river levels closely.

“Farmers and residents with pumps, movable equipment, or infrastructure situated close to the water’s edge are advised to take immediate steps to secure their assets. Livestock and valuable property should be moved to higher ground.”

The Department of Water and Sanitation remains on high alert and will continue to conduct real-time monitoring of inflows at both Vaal and Bloemhof Dams. Further updates will be issued as conditions change. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Visa s’associe à Aquanow pour accélérer les règlements grâce aux stablecoins

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Visa (NYSE : V) (https://www.Visa.co.in/), leader mondial des paiements numériques, annonce aujourd’hui l’expansion de ses capacités de règlement en stablecoins dans la région Europe centrale et orientale, Moyen-Orient et Afrique (CEMEA), grâce à un partenariat avec Aquanow, plateforme mondiale d’actifs numériques spécialisée dans la liquidité et les solutions d’infrastructure.

L’intégration de l’infrastructure d’actifs numériques d’Aquanow à la technologie de pointe de Visa permettra au réseau d’émetteurs et d’acquéreurs de Visa de régler des transactions en utilisant des stablecoins approuvés tels que l’USDC, réduisant ainsi les coûts, les frictions opérationnelles et les délais de règlement.

Face à une forte demande des institutions financières pour des transactions transfrontalières plus rapides et moins coûteuses, Visa mise sur les stablecoins pour digitaliser l’arrière-plan des flux monétaires, permettant un règlement 365 jours par an. En 2023, Visa est devenu l’un des premiers grands réseaux de paiement à régler des transactions en stablecoin, en permettant à ses clients de remplir leurs obligations de règlement en USDC lors d’un projet pilote. À ce jour, le volume mensuel a dépassé un taux annualisé de 2,5 milliards de dollars.

« En exploitant la puissance des stablecoins et en les associant à notre technologie mondiale de confiance, nous permettons aux institutions financières de la région CEMEA de bénéficier de règlements plus rapides et plus simples », déclare Godfrey Sullivan, Responsable Produits et Solutions pour la région CEMEA chez Visa. « Notre partenariat avec Aquanow est une étape clé dans la modernisation des infrastructures de paiement, en réduisant la dépendance aux systèmes traditionnels avec de multiples intermédiaires, et en préparant les institutions à l’avenir des flux monétaires. »

Phil Sham, CEO d’Aquanow, ajoute : « Le réseau mondial fiable de Visa a toujours permis de transférer de l’argent de manière sécurisée et efficace. Ensemble, Visa et Aquanow ouvrent de nouvelles voies pour permettre aux institutions de participer à l’économie numérique, en s’appuyant sur la technologie des stablecoins pour régler avec la rapidité et la transparence d’Internet. »

Distribué par APO Group pour Visa Inc..

Contact : 
yguehi@visa.com

À propos de Visa :
Visa (NYSE : V) est un leader mondial des paiements numériques, facilitant les transactions entre consommateurs, commerçants, institutions financières et entités gouvernementales dans plus de 200 pays et territoires. Notre mission est de connecter le monde grâce au réseau de paiement le plus innovant, pratique, fiable et sécurisé, permettant aux individus, entreprises et économies de prospérer. Nous croyons que des économies inclusives profitent à tous, partout, et que l’accès est fondamental pour l’avenir des flux monétaires. Pour en savoir plus, rendezvous sur www.Visa.com.

À propos d’Aquanow :
Aquanow est une plateforme institutionnelle mondiale d’actifs numériques, experte en liquidité et infrastructure, au service de banques, néobanques, courtiers et sociétés de paiement en forte croissance. L’entreprise opère une infrastructure technologique et souscrit des milliards de dollars de transactions mensuelles en courtage crypto et paiements. Fondée en 2018, Aquanow compte plus de 170 collaborateurs dans le monde. En 2024, pour la deuxième année consécutive, Aquanow a été reconnue dans le classement Deloitte Technology Fast 500, avec une croissance de chiffre d’affaires de 3 022 % sur quatre ans. Pour plus d’informations, consultez www.Aquanow.com.

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L’Africa Investment Forum organise la première journée « Mission 300 », accélérant ainsi les efforts visant à assurer l’accès universel à l’électricité

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Le Groupe de la Banque mondiale et le Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement (https://www.AfDB.org), avec le soutien de la Fondation Rockefeller, de l’Alliance mondiale pour l’énergie au service des populations et de la planète, et de l’initiative Énergie durable pour tous (SEforALL), ont organisé la première « Journée Mission 300 » en marge des Market Days 2025 de l’Africa Investment Forum (AIF) (http://apo-opa.co/44vgjfa), à Rabat, au Maroc.

L’événement a mis en exergue les Pactes nationaux pour l’énergie des pays, a présenté des opportunités prêtes pour l’investissement et a galvanisé l’action vers l’objectif commun de fournir un accès à l’électricité à 300 millions de personnes supplémentaires dans toute l’Afrique d’ici 2030.

Cette Journée Mission 300 spéciale a réuni des ministres africains, des investisseurs et des financiers du développement pour mettre en lumière les engagements nationaux, présenter des feuilles de route pour leur mise en œuvre et discuter des progrès réalisés dans les réformes réglementaires nécessaires pour débloquer les investissements du secteur privé. En outre, l’événement a servi de plateforme pour renforcer le dialogue entre les investisseurs et les gouvernements, promouvoir le leadership du secteur privé africain et faciliter le transfert de connaissances sur les meilleures pratiques pour parvenir à un accès élargi à l’électricité.

Mission 300 (https://apo-opa.co/4psuZUp) est une initiative du Groupe de la Banque mondiale et de la Banque africaine de développement qui réunit les gouvernements africains, le secteur privé et les partenaires au développement afin de fournir un accès à l’électricité à 300 millions d’Africains supplémentaires d’ici 2030. Vingt-neuf pays africains ont déjà élaboré des Pactes nationaux pour l’énergie (http://apo-opa.co/4pCdq4G) avec des objectifs assortis de délais pour élargir l’accès à l’électricité, renforcer les services publics et attirer des capitaux privés.

Lors de la « Journée Mission 300 », les ministres des Comores, de la Guinée, de la Gambie et du Lesotho ont présenté des feuilles de route de mise en œuvre assorties d’échéances précises pour parvenir à l’accès universel à l’électricité d’ici 2030, en s’engageant directement avec les dirigeants du secteur privé et les partenaires au développement sur les réformes réglementaires nécessaires pour débloquer les investissements.

Depuis sa création en 2018, l’Africa Investment Forum a attiré plus de 225 milliards de dollars américains d’intérêts d’investissement dans des secteurs critiques alignés sur les Objectifs de développement durable, l’Agenda 2063 de l’Union africaine (http://apo-opa.co/43MCVI0) et la vision des 4 points cardinaux de (http://apo-opa.co/3Mp6hpJ) la Banque africaine de développement.

Erik Fernstrom, directeur régional des infrastructures pour l’Afrique de l’Est et australe du Groupe de la Banque mondiale, a déclaré : « La Mission 300 prouve que l’Afrique est ouverte aux affaires. Grâce aux réformes énergétiques en cours, au leadership fort des pays et aux projets bancables prêts à être lancés, nous avons créé de réelles opportunités pour les capitaux privés de déployer à grande échelle des solutions qui alimenteront la transformation de l’Afrique. L’accès à l’énergie n’est pas qu’un objectif : il s’agit de créer des emplois, de stimuler la croissance économique et d’offrir à des millions de personnes la possibilité de bâtir une vie meilleure. »

Kevin Kariuki, vice-président du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement chargé de l’Électricité, de l’Énergie, du Climat et de la Croissance verte a déclaré : « La Mission 300 sera soutenue par des investissements massifs et rapides dans les infrastructures de production, de transmission, de distribution et de connectivité du dernier kilomètre, qui, lorsqu’ils seront conjugués aux réformes nécessaires, garantiront des tarifs abordables, la viabilité financière des services publics et des secteurs de l’énergie, et susciteront des investissements accrus du secteur privé. À la Banque africaine de développement, nous nous engageons à dérisquer les investissements, à mobiliser des capitaux institutionnels et à veiller à ce que la Mission 300 fournisse non seulement de l’électricité, mais aussi des millions d’emplois, des industries dynamiques et des moyens de subsistance dignes pour nos populations »,

Carol Koech, vice-présidente pour l’Afrique de l’Alliance mondiale pour l’énergie au service des populations et de la planète, a indiqué : « La Mission 300 exige de l’innovation : nous ne pouvons pas construire le réseau électrique de demain avec les outils du passé. C’est pourquoi l’Alliance mondiale pour l’énergie fournit un accompagnement technique, élabore des projets bancables et déploie des capitaux catalyseurs pour attirer les investissements privés. En décloisonnant les secteurs, nous mobilisons les financements mixtes nécessaires au déploiement à grande échelle des énergies renouvelables distribuées (ERD) et d’autres solutions innovantes permettant d’atteindre rapidement les communautés mal desservies. Les Pactes nationaux pour l’énergie illustrent le leadership africain en action, et nous sommes fiers de contribuer à fournir une énergie fiable, abordable et propre à 300 millions de personnes d’ici 2030. »

« L’accès à l’énergie est un puissant moteur de développement. Grâce à Mission 300, nous favorisons une transition énergétique attractive pour les investisseurs en Afrique. L’initiative « Énergie durable pour tous » collabore avec des partenaires afin de concevoir des instruments de financement innovants qui élargissent la participation du secteur privé aux plateformes en monnaie locale, ouvrant ainsi la voie à un mécanisme panafricain permettant de débloquer de nouveaux capitaux pour les développeurs à travers le continent », a souligné, Damilola Ogunbiyi, directeur général et représentante spéciale du secrétaire général des Nations unies pour l’énergie durable pour tous.

Pour William Asiko, vice-président principal de la Fondation Rockefeller, la « Mission 300 représente l’un des projets les plus ambitieux de notre époque en matière d’énergie et d’accès à l’énergie vitale, et ce que nous avons constaté aujourd’hui à l’AIF confirme que cette dynamique est bien réelle. Les gouvernements sont à l’avant-garde, les partenaires s’alignent stratégiquement, et un pipeline crédible émerge, capable de fournir une énergie propre et fiable à des centaines de millions d’Africains. La philanthropie contribue à impulser le progrès, mais c’est la force collective des partenariats qui permettra d’obtenir les résultats finaux. »

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

Contacts média :
Roxanne Bauer,
Banque mondiale
rbauer1@workldbankgroup.org

Gertrude Kitongo,
Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement

Robert Magori,
Énergie durable pour tous (SEforALL)
robert.magori@seforall.org

Benson Kibiti,
Alliance mondiale de l’énergie au service des populations et de la planète
benson.kibiti@energyalliance.org

Ashley Chang, 
Fondation Rockefeller :
media@rockfound.org

À propos de la mission 300 :
Mission 300 est un partenariat entre le Groupe de la Banque mondiale et le Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement, avec le soutien de la Fondation Rockefeller, de l’Alliance mondiale de l’énergie au service des populations et de la planète, et d’Énergie durable pour tous (SEforAll), visant à connecter 300 millions de personnes à l’électricité en Afrique d’ici 2030. La plateforme réunit les gouvernements africains, le secteur privé, les organisations philanthropiques et les partenaires au développement pour fournir une énergie abordable et fiable, élargir l’accès, attirer les investissements privés et stimuler la transformation économique.

Pour plus d’informations sur la Mission 300, visitez le site https://apo-opa.co/4psuZUp

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Visa Partners with Aquanow to Enable Faster Settlement Using Stablecoins

Source: APO

Visa (NYSE: V) (https://www.Visa.co.in/), a global leader in digital payments, today announced the expansion of its stablecoin settlement capabilities across the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region (CEMEA) through a partnership with Aquanow, a global digital assets platform expert in liquidity and infrastructure solutions.

The integration of Aquanow’s digital asset infrastructure with Visa’s world-class technology stack will enable Visa’s network of issuers and acquirers to settle transactions using approved stablecoins such as USDC, reducing costs, operational friction, and settlement times. 

With strong demand among financial institutions for faster and more cost-effective cross-border transactions, Visa is leveraging stablecoins to digitize the backend of money movement, supporting 365-day settlement. In 2023, Visa became one of the first major payments networks to settle transactions in stablecoin when it piloted enabling clients to fulfill their settlement obligations in USDC. To date, monthly volume has passed a $2.5 billion annualized run rate.

“By harnessing the power of stablecoins and pairing them with our trusted global technology, we are enabling financial institutions in CEMEA to experience faster and simpler settlements” said Godfrey Sullivan, Head of Product and Solutions for CEMEA at Visa. “Our partnership with Aquanow is another key step in modernizing the back-end rails of payments, reducing reliance on traditional systems with multiple intermediaries, and preparing institutions for the future of money movement.”

Phil Sham, CEO of Aquanow, said “Visa’s reliable global network has long moved money securely and efficiently. Together, Visa and Aquanow are unlocking new ways for institutions to participate in the digital economy, leveraging stablecoin technology to settle with the speed and transparency of the internet”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Visa Inc..

Contact: 
yguehi@visa.com

About Visa:
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at www.Visa.com.

About Aquanow:
Aquanow is a global institutional digital asset platform with deep expertise in liquidity and infrastructure, powering fast-growing banks, neobanks, brokerages, and payment companies. The company operates technology infrastructure and underwrites billions of dollars in monthly crypto brokerage and payment transactions. Established in 2018, Aquanow employs over 170 team members across offices worldwide. In 2024, for the second consecutive year, Aquanow was recognized on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list, achieving a four-year revenue growth rate of 3,022%. For further information on Aquanow, please visit www.Aquanow.com.

In the UAE, Aquanow operates via Aquanow ME FZE, which is incorporated in Dubai World Trade Centre, under license number L-2795 and regulated by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority with license (VL/24/01/001) activities including Broker-Dealer Services, Lending and Borrowing Services and Management and Investment Services. Virtual assets come with risks, including price fluctuations and the chance of losing your investment. They aren’t covered by financial protection, so it’s important to understand these risks fully.

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Africa Investment Forum Hosts First ‘Mission 300’ Day, Accelerating Push for Universal Electricity Access

Source: APO


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The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group (https://www.AfDB.org), with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), hosted the inaugural “Mission 300 Day” on the sidelines of the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) 2025 Market Days (http://apo-opa.co/4oeFycH) in Rabat, Morocco.

The event highlighted countries’ National Energy Compacts showcased investment-ready opportunities, and galvanised action toward the shared goal of delivering electricity access to 300 million people across Africa by 2030.

The special Mission 300 Day convened African government ministers, investors, and development financiers to spotlight national commitments, present implementation roadmaps, and discuss progress on regulatory reforms essential for unlocking private-sector investment. Furthermore, the event served as a platform to strengthen investor-government dialogue, champion African private-sector leadership, and facilitate knowledge transfer on best practices for achieving expanded electricity access.

Mission 300 (https://apo-opa.co/4psuZUp) is a World Bank Group and African Development Bank-led initiative that brings together African governments, the private sector, and development partners to provide electricity to an additional 300 million Africans by 2030. Twenty-nine African countries have already developed National Energy Compacts (http://apo-opa.co/3KqI8yz) with time-bound targets to increase access, strengthen utilities, and attract private capital.

During the Mission 300 Day, ministers from Comoros, Guinea, Gambia, and Lesotho presented implementation roadmaps with specific deadlines for achieving universal electricity access by 2030, engaging directly with private-sector leaders and development partners on the regulatory reforms needed to unlock investment.

Since its inception in 2018, the Africa Investment Forum has attracted more than $225 billion in investment interest across critical sectors aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 (http://apo-opa.co/43MCVI0), and the African Development Bank’s Four Cardinal Points (http://apo-opa.co/3Mp6hpJ) vision.

Erik Fernstrom, Regional Director for Infrastructure, East and Southern Africa, World Bank Group “Mission 300 is proving that Africa is open for business. With energy reforms underway, strong country leadership, and bankable projects ready to go, we’ve created real opportunities for private capital to scale solutions that will power Africa’s transformation. Energy access is not just a target—it’s about creating jobs, igniting economic growth, and giving millions the chance to build better lives.”    

Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate & Green Growth, African Development Bank Group

“Mission 300 will be underpinned by massive and speedy investments in generation, transmission, distribution, as well as last-mile connectivity infrastructure, which, when complemented by necessary reforms, will ensure affordability of tariffs, financial sustainability of utilities and energy sectors, and engender enhanced private-sector investments. At the African Development Bank, we are committed to de-risking investments, mobilising institutional capital, and ensuring that Mission 300 delivers not just electricity, but millions of jobs, vibrant industries, and dignified livelihoods for our people.”

Carol Koech, VP Africa, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet

“Mission 300 requires innovation—we cannot build the grid of the future using the tools of the past. That’s why the Global Energy Alliance provides technical guidance, prepares bankable projects, and deploys catalytic capital to attract private investment. By breaking down siloes, we mobilise the blended finance needed to scale Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) and other innovative solutions that reach underserved communities fast. The National Energy Compacts demonstrate African leadership in action, and we are proud to partner in delivering reliable, affordable, and clean energy to 300 million people by 2030.”

Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All:     

“Energy access is a powerful driver of development. Through Mission 300, we’re advancing an investor-ready energy transition for Africa. Sustainable Energy for All is working with partners to design innovative financing instruments that expand private sector participation in local-currency platforms, paving the way for a pan-African mechanism to unlock new capital for developers across the continent.”

 William Asiko, Senior Vice President for The Rockefeller Foundation

“Mission 300 represents one of the most ambitious energy and vital energy access endeavours of our time – and what we saw at AIF today confirms this momentum is real. Governments are leading; partners are strategically aligning; and a credible pipeline is emerging that can bring clean, reliable power to hundreds of millions of Africans. Philanthropy helps spark progress, but it is the collective strength of partnerships that will deliver the final results.”

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

Media Contacts:
Roxanne Bauer,
World Bank
rbauer1@workldbankgroup.org

Gertrude Kitongo,
African Development Bank Group
media@afdb.org

Robert Magori,
Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)  
robert.magori@seforall.org

Benson Kibiti,
Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet
benson.kibiti@energyalliance.org

Ashley Chang,
The Rockefeller Foundation  
media@rockfound.org

About Mission 300:
Mission 300 is a partnership between the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030. The platform brings together African governments, the private sector, philanthropy, and development partners to deliver affordable, reliable power, expand access, attract private investment, and drive economic transformation.

For more information on Mission 300, visit https://apo-opa.co/4psuZUp

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DWS to release report into Jagersfontein dam collapse

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Water and Sanitation Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlhlolo will on Friday, 28 November 2025, release the findings of the independent investigation into the collapse of the Jagersfontein mine dam in the Free State.

The Jagersfontein community suffered one of the worst disasters in its history when the mine’s tailings dam wall collapsed on 11 September 2022, unleashing a destructive flood across areas under the Kopanong Local Municipality.

The department said the release of the report marks a significant step in reinforcing government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and ensuring the protection of communities living near high-risk infrastructure.

“Both Deputy Ministers will brief the community and the media on the findings, the actions taken since the disaster, and the measures government continues to implement to prevent similar incidents and safeguard residents across the country,” the department said on Thursday.

The department reaffirmed government steadfast in its obligation to protect communities, uphold their dignity, and ensure that all responsible parties are held fully accountable.

The report will be released at Diamante Hospital, Jagersfontein.

SAHRC report on racial discrimination in Hartbeespoort noted

Meanwhile, the Department of Water and Sanitation has acknowledged the report released on Wednesday by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) into allegations of racial discrimination against Black people in areas around the Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West Province.

“The DWS is studying the report and will provide a response in due course. However, it should be noted that the DWS has acted on some of the directives and there is an ongoing process to finalise the remaining ones,” the department said.

The department added that the process of addressing some of the directives is running in parallel with a multi-stakeholder steering committee led by Deputy Minister Mahlobo.

The committee is looking into different issues affecting businesses operating on state-owned land around the dam, as well as residents living near the water resource.

The department reiterated its commitment to resolving lease management challenges and ensuring that “all actions uphold constitutional principles of equality and fair administrative justice.” – SAnews.gov.za

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SA commemorates UN International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian people

Source: Government of South Africa

The South African Government joins the international community in commemorating the 48th United Nations (UN) International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. 

According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa reaffirms its commitment to achieving a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine.

This year, the department noted that the International Day of Solidarity coincides with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Africa and Palestine.

South Africa and Palestine continue to maintain strong ties of solidarity and cooperation, grounded in the principles of international law. 

Together, they are working towards creating a better future for their people, their regions, and the world.

According to the department, on Friday, 28 November 2025, Deputy President Paul Mashatile will participate in the commemorative event, alongside Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka.

“The quest for Palestinian self-determination and statehood remains unresolved after 75 years and remains at the core of ensuring lasting peace and prosperity in the Middle East.

“In this regard, this occasion provides us with a crucial opportunity to reflect and take stock of the plight of the Palestinian people and to chart a way forward.” 

Government has once again urged Israel to recognise that the only path to achieving peace is through ending its illegal occupation of Palestine. 

This includes adhering to its obligations under international law and complying with various UN resolutions related to this issue over the decades.

“South Africa remains resolute in its commitment to continue strengthening the bonds of long-standing solidarity, friendship, and cooperation with Palestine, and calls upon the international community to tirelessly work for the attainment of peace and to provide strong humanitarian, economic and political support to the Palestinians.”

In keeping with South Africa’s long-term and principled support for the Palestinian people, government said it remains committed to supporting initiatives aimed at refocusing the international agenda on Palestine and reviving a genuine Middle East peace process that places Palestinian agency at its core. 

In light of the ongoing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly in Gaza, South Africa has renewed its call for the urgent implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan. 

This includes Israel’s full compliance with a permanent ceasefire, the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance through the United Nations and other reputable relief agencies, and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces to the Egyptian border. 

South Africa further urges inclusive consultations with the Palestinian authorities on reconstruction efforts and the long-term governance of Palestine.

“South Africa calls on all UN member states, as third-party states, to ensure that they adhere to their international obligations not to engage in any actions that would sustain the illegal occupation or the current genocide in Palestine. 

“It is the duty of the international community to work tirelessly in assisting the Palestinian people to achieve their aspirations of freedom, justice and statehood,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za