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Africa Finance Corporation Maintains its Top-Tier AAA Ratings with Stable Outlook from China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. Ltd (CCXI) and from S&P Global (China) Ratings

Source: APO

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has received renewed top-tier credit ratings with stable outlooks from China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. Ltd (CCXI) and S&P Ratings (China) Co., Ltd. (S&P Global (China) Ratings), reaffirming the Corporation’s strong financial profile, prudent risk management framework, and growing strategic relevance within global capital markets.

CCXI affirmed AFC’s AAA domestic issuer credit rating with a stable outlook, while S&P Global (China) Ratings also affirmed AFC’s AAAspc issuer credit rating with a stable outlook. These renewals underscore continued confidence in AFC’s resilient balance sheet, disciplined capital management, robust liquidity position, and consistent execution of its mandate to accelerate infrastructure-led industrialisation across Africa.

The renewed credit ratings further strengthen AFC’s position within China’s domestic debt capital markets and support the Corporation’s strategy to diversify funding sources, broaden investor access, and mobilise long-term capital for transformative infrastructure projects across the continent.

“AFC has established sound risk management processes and governance mechanisms to proactively and systemically address asset deterioration and challenges arising from market and economic fluctuations. Its comprehensive risk management framework is supported by a professional management team, including the Board Risk and Investment Committee… These entities work in concert to monitor key risk areas, including credit risk, market risk, operational risk, asset and liability management risk, and environmental and social risk”, CCXI analysts concluded in their report. “AFC adopts a prudent risk appetite and enforces strict risk exposure limits to ensure portfolio diversification. Industry exposure is capped at 35% of the total investable funds.”

S&P Global (China) Ratings noted AFC’s strong liquidity profile, robust governance standards, resilient asset quality, and sufficient capital buffers, even under challenging market conditions. ”AFC’s issuer credit rating of AAAspc is mainly based on its stand-alone credit profile in terms of high policy importance, disciplined capital management and sufficient liquidity buffer,…” S&P Global (China) Ratings wrote. ”AFC adheres to a highly conservative approach to liquidity management. It employs the Minimum Liquidity Level (MLL) and the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR), among other critical indicators and triggers, to mitigate liquidity risks. Both the MLL and LCR are determined based on  an 18-month business-as-usual (BAU) scenario and a 12-month stressed scenario. As of the end of 2025, the LCR stood at 203% under BAU assumptions (year-end 2024, 194%) and 207% under a stressed scenario (year-end 2024, 191%),” they added.

Commenting on the affirmations, Banji Fehintola, Executive Board Member & Head, Financial Services at AFC, said, ”The dual reaffirmations build on AFC’s successful expansion into China’s financial markets and reflect growing international recognition of the Corporation’s role as a trusted infrastructure financier for Africa. It recognises our financial resilience, robust governance, and global reach, and will enable stronger ties with Asian markets to drive critical investment in economic development, high-value job creation, and Africa’s prosperity.”

AFC has continued to deepen its strategic partnership with China’s foremost financial institutions, advancing a relationship that has grown steadily in scale, sophistication and ambition. In 2025, AFC and the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) signed a landmark partnership agreement to promote Chinese-African trade through catalytic infrastructure projects in priority sectors across AFC’s member countries. The collaboration builds on a relationship of considerable standing. CEXIM had earlier extended AFC a five-year loan facility designed to enhance trade finance and bolster private -sector initiatives, an early engagement that established the foundation of trust on which subsequent transactions have been built.

In 2024, AFC finalised a US$1.16 billion syndicated loan facility co-led by Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), London Branch, in conjunction with other global banks. The momentum carried into 2025, when AFC secured a US$1.5 billion syndicated facility from a consortium of leading Asian and Middle Eastern banks, with Bank of China serving as Initial Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner. The transaction notably broadened AFC’s base of Chinese partners, attracting first-time lenders including Bank of Communications and Hua Nan Commercial Bank.

This trajectory culminated in AFC’s largest syndicated loan facility to date — a US$2 billion syndicated transaction with Bank of China and ICBC acting as Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners, and CEXIM, Hua Nan Commercial Bank and China Construction Bank, among others, participating as lenders. The facility stands as a powerful endorsement of AFC’s credit standing and the strength of its relationships across the Chinese banking sector.

Together, these strategic collaborations with China’s leading financial institutions exemplify AFC’s commitment to diversifying its funding sources, broadening its investor base and forging enduring global partnerships in the service of Africa’s economic development.

Read the full ratings report by CCXI here: CCXI 2026 Credit Rating Report (https://apo-opa.co/3StHp3b) and by S&P Global (China) Ratings here: S&P Global (China) 2026 Credit Rating Report (https://apo-opa.co/3ScXxGi).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile : +234 1 279 9654
Email : yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of energy, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 48 member countries and has invested over US$19 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.

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International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and The Gambia Sign US$250 Million Framework Agreement to Advance Trade, Energy Security and Private Sector Development

Source: APO

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, and the Republic of The Gambia have signed a new US$250 million Framework Agreement to support the country’s development priorities through enhanced trade finance, energy security, food security, and private sector growth.

The Agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 2026 IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan, by Hon. Seedy K.M. Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs and IsDB Governor for the Republic of The Gambia, and Eng. Adeeb Yousuf Al Aama, Chief Executive Officer of ITFC.

The new three-year Framework Agreement follows the successful implementation and full utilization of the previous five-year US$250 million Framework Agreement signed in January 2021. It reflects the remarkable scale of cooperation between ITFC and The Gambia and provides a strategic platform to expand trade finance interventions in support of energy security, food security, private sector growth, and sustainable economic development.

Since commencing operations in The Gambia, ITFC has approved more than US$870 million in financing and trade development interventions, supporting key sectors of the economy and reinforcing its position as a long-standing development partner of the country.

The partnership is already delivering tangible impact across strategic sectors of the Gambian economy. Current operations support the importation of petroleum products through financing facilities benefiting the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) and the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), helping to strengthen the country’s energy security and ensure the continuity of essential economic activities across the country. ITFC also supports food security through the financing of essential commodity imports and promotes private sector growth through trade finance partnerships with local financial institutions.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

For all media enquiries:
Email: ITFCGlobal@hudsonsandler.com
Phone number: +44 (0)20 7796 4133

Contact ITFC: 
Tel: +966 12 646 8337
Fax: +966 12 637 1064
E-mail: ITFC@itfc-idb.org

Social Media:
Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/4eaUUNP
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4osXoum
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/3Ssoq9c

About the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC):
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving socioeconomic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided more than US$96 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for these member countries’ needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market.

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Trois années placées sous le signe de l’espoir, de l’action et de la transformation : Mercy Ships célèbre son impact en Sierra Leone

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

De 2023 à 2026, le Global Mercy a tenu son engagement envers la population de la Sierra Leone en dispensant des milliers d’interventions chirurgicales gratuites et sûres et d’heures de formation, conformément aux objectifs convenus avec le ministère de la Santé du pays. Grâce aux compétences, aux convictions et au dévouement des professionnels bénévoles issus de plus de 70 pays  –  dont des centaines de citoyens sierra-léonais qui ont servi comme membres d’équipage à temps plein ou de jour –, de nombreuses vies ont été transformées à travers le pays.

Alors que le navire-hôpital met le cap sur les îles Canaries pour sa période de maintenance annuelle avant d’entamer en août une nouvelle mission en partenariat avec le Ghana, tous ceux qui ont pris part à ces trois années de transformation en Sierra Leone peuvent aujourd’hui se réjouir du chemin parcouru.

Ces trois missions consécutives ont permis de dispenser plus de 5 430 interventions chirurgicales, plus de 17 110 actes dentaires et plus de 106 780 heures de formation destinées à plus de 590 professionnels de la santé locaux. (1)

Un travail aussi monumental n’aurait pas été possible sans la collaboration essentielle des dirigeants gouvernementaux sierra-léonais.

Son Excellence le président Julius Maada Bio a rendu hommage aux plus de 450 citoyens de son pays qui se sont rendus chaque jour sur le navire-hôpital avec l’intention bienveillante d’améliorer la vie de leurs compatriotes. « À tous les bénévoles sierra-léonais et aux membres d’équipage qui ont servi… laissez-moi vous dire ceci : vous nous avez rendus fiers. Vous avez incarné le professionnalisme, la discipline, l’humilité et l’excellence de la Sierra Leone. Vous êtes montés à bord en tant que Sierra-Léonais talentueux et vous en êtes revenus en tant que professionnels internationaux. »

Mercy Ships demeure un partenaire engagé aux côtés du gouvernement du président Bio, qui fait de la santé un pilier de son Programme de développement du capital humain (https://apo-opa.co/4etdsrm) et investit dans des programmes d’enseignement et de formation spécialisés.

Parmi ces programmes figurent les formations du personnel infirmier en anesthésie, des techniciens biomédicaux, les mentorats en stérilisation et en kinésithérapie, la formation « Chirurgie plus sûre » de l’hôpital Connaught, ainsi que des parrainages de formation médicale, comme ceux accordés à de futurs dentistes sierra-léonais poursuivant leurs études à l’université Gamal Abdel Nasser en Guinée.

Le Dr Austin Demby, Ministre de la Santé de la Sierra Leone, a rappelé à tous qu’ « aujourd’hui n’est pas simplement un adieu. C’est une célébration de la générosité en action, de vies transformées et d’un partenariat qui a touché le cœur de milliers de Sierra-Léonais. »

Plusieurs programmes de partenariat ont été lancés pour contribuer à combler le déficit en personnel de santé et répondre aux besoins croissants du système de santé ; ils se poursuivront après le départ du Global Mercy afin de garantir l’amélioration continue des soins de santé dans le pays, tout en augmentant le nombre de professionnels de santé formés, selon Mercy Ships.

« Alors que le Global Mercy va entamer sa prochaine mission, une équipe de professionnels dévoués de Mercy Ships restera en Sierra Leone pour continuer à travailler avec nos partenaires pour renforcer les effectifs chirurgicaux », a assuré le Dr Sandra Lako, Directrice de Mercy Ships en Sierra Leone. « Des progrès significatifs ont été réalisés au cours des trois dernières années, et nous sommes ravis de poursuivre sur cette lancée pour mettre en place un système chirurgical plus solide et durable. »

Mercy Ships est arrivé pour la première fois à Freetown en 1992 avec son premier navire-hôpital, l’Anastasis, et a noué des liens solides avec la population de la Sierra Leone au cours de huit missions.

« Mercy Ships exprime sa profonde gratitude envers les nombreux partenaires qui ont contribué au succès de la mission du Global Mercy à Freetown, notamment les autorités gouvernementales sierra-léonaises, le ministère de la Santé, l’Autorité portuaire de Sierra Leone, l’Université de Sierra Leone, les acteurs des secteurs public et privé, les organisations non gouvernementales ainsi que les nombreux professionnels de santé du pays qui ont collaboré étroitement avec l’organisation tout au long de ses missions. », a déclaré le Dr Lako.

Qu’il s’agisse de soigner des milliers de personnes souffrant d’affections pouvant être traitées chirurgicalement ou d’aider à former de nombreux professionnels de santé sierra-léonais dans leurs domaines d’expertise, l’avenir des soins chirurgicaux en Sierra Leone s’annonce chaque jour plus prometteur.

(1) Données disponibles à la date de publication. Le rapport final pourra être fourni sur demande ultérieurement.

Distribué par APO Group pour Mercy Ships.

A propos de Mercy Ships :
Mercy Ships est une organisation humanitaire internationale qui déploie les deux plus grands navires-hôpitaux civils au monde, l’Africa Mercy® et le Global Mercy™, pour fournir des soins chirurgicaux gratuits et de première qualité aux plus démunis. L’ONG internationale fondée sur des valeurs chrétiennes soutient également le développement durable des systèmes de santé des pays hôtes par la formation des professionnels de la santé et la construction d’infrastructures médicales.

Créé en Suisse en 1978 par Don et Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships est intervenu dans 55 pays. A bord de ses navires, une moyenne de 2 500 bénévoles par an, issus de 70 pays, contribuent à l’œuvre de Mercy Ships. Des professionnels tels que chirurgiens, dentistes, personnel infirmier, formateurs dans le domaine de la santé, cuisiniers, marins, enseignants, ingénieurs… dédient leur temps et leurs compétences à cette cause.

Avec des bureaux dans 16 pays et un Centre opérationnel pour l’Afrique basé à Dakar, au Sénégal, Mercy Ships se met au service des nations en restaurant santé et dignité.

Pour de plus amples informations, visitez www.MercyShips.org et suivez @MercyShips sur les réseaux sociaux

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Mercy Ships Completes Three Years of Life-Transforming Impact in Sierra Leone

Source: APO – Report:

From 2023 to 2026, the Global Mercy ™ fulfilled its commitment to the people of Sierra Leone to deliver thousands of free, safe surgeries and training in support of goals agreed upon with the nation’s Ministry of Health. Through the faith, skill, and dedication of volunteer professionals from more than 70 nations – including hundreds of Sierra Leonean citizens who served as full-time crew and day crew – many lives were successfully changed for the better across the nation.

As the Mercy Ship sails to the Canary Islands for annual maintenance before commencing a refreshed partnership with Ghana in August, everyone involved in this three-year period of transformation in Sierra Leone has cause to celebrate. These three consecutive field services yielded over 5,430 surgeries, over 17,110 dental procedures, and more than 106,780 hours in training for more than 590 local healthcare professionals. (1)

Such monumental work would not have been possible without the key partnership of Sierra Leonean governmental leaders.

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio commended the more than 450 citizens of his country who came to the ship every day with the honorable and selfless intentions of improving the lives of their countrymen. “To all Sierra Leonean volunteers and crew members who served… let me say this: you made us proud. You represented Sierra Leonean professionality, discipline, humility, and excellence. You went aboard as talented Sierra Leoneans and returned as global professionals.”

With healthcare as a priority in President Bio’s human capital development agenda (https://apo-opa.co/4a2IZiy), Mercy Ships continues to work alongside his government as they invest in the health of citizens through education and training programs. Some of these programs include the nurse anesthesia and biomedical technician education programs, sterile processing and physiotherapy mentorship programs, the Connaught Hospital Safer Surgery program, and medical education sponsorships such as those of Sierra Leonean dental students studying at Gamal Abdel Nasser University in Guinea. 

Dr. Austin Demby, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, reminded everyone that “Today is not merely a farewell. It is a celebration of compassion in action, of lives transformed, and of a partnership that has touched the hearts of thousands of Sierra Leoneans.”

A number of collaborative programs were established to help bridge the gap and narrow the shortage of healthcare workers and will continue after the Global Mercy departs to ensure ongoing improvements to the nation’s healthcare, while also increasing the number of trained medical professionals, according to Mercy Ships.

“While the Global Mercy embarks on her next mission, a dedicated Mercy Ships team will remain in Sierra Leone to continue working with our partners to strengthen the surgical workforce,” reassured Mercy Ships’ Country Director for Sierra Leone, Dr Sandra Lako. “Significant progress has been made over the past three years, and we’re excited to build on this momentum towards a stronger, sustainable surgical system.”

Mercy Ships first came to Freetown in 1992 with their first hospital ship, the Anastasis, and has built a strong relationship with the people of Sierra Leone over a period of eight field services.

“Mercy Ships is eternally grateful for the partnerships with Sierra Leonean government leaders, the Ministry of Health, the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority, the University of Sierra Leone, public and private entities, non-governmental organizations, and the many national healthcare professionals who collaborated with Mercy Ships during the entirety of the Global Mercy’s stay in Freetown,” stated Dr Lako.

From healing thousands of people with surgically treatable ailments to helping educate and train many Sierra Leonean healthcare professionals in their areas of expertise, the future of surgical care in Sierra Leone looks brighter every day.

  1. From data available at the time of publication. The final report can be provided upon request at a later date.

– on behalf of Mercy Ships.

About Mercy Ships: 
Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with African nations for the past three decades. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact.  

Each year, 2,500+ volunteer professionals from more than 70 countries serve on board the world’s two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy® and the Global Mercy™. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, visit www.MercyShips.org and follow @MercyShips on social media. 

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Afreximbank Trade and Development Finance Brief highlights urgent need to strengthen Africa’s trade and investment resilience

Source: APO – Report:

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African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has released Volume 10, Issue 1 of its Trade and Development Finance Brief, titled “Africa’s Trade and Investment Landscape”, which examines the structural challenges shaping Africa’s trade performance and investment outlook in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

The current edition highlights that Africa’s trade landscape remains heavily dominated by export of raw materials, including agricultural products, oil, gas and minerals, while imports continue to be heavily skewed towards manufactured goods and machinery. The Brief notes that the existing export-import configuration leaves many African economies overly exposed to unfavourable terms of trade shock on account of external headwinds, including commodity price volatility, geopolitical tensions and associated global supply chain disruptions.

According to the brief, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) remains central to efforts aimed at diversifying the continent’s trade base, strengthening regional value chains and increasing intra-African trade. The publication notes that, alongside the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the AfCFTA provides a practical framework for integrating fragmented markets, expanding industrial production and boosting productivity, with intra-African exports projected to increase by more than 20 percent within a decade as implementation advances.

Additionally, the brief further highlights the importance of scaling investment in trade-enabling infrastructure, including energy, transport, communications networks, ports and logistics systems, to reduce the cost of doing business and improve cross-border trade flows. It notes that targeted infrastructure investment can support industrialisation, strengthen regional specialisation, and improve Africa’s competitiveness as an investment destination.

The edition also points to a broader set of priorities for strengthening Africa’s trade and investment ecosystem, including regulatory coherence, institutional strengthening, economic diversification, improved access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, and greater use of digital financial technologies. The Brief notes that domestic and foreign investment are increasing across many African economies, while fintech is contributing to growth in domestic investment, underscoring the opportunity to build a more resilient, diversified and investment-ready trade landscape.

It also notes that domestic and foreign investment are increasing across many African economies, notwithstanding the observed dominance of foreign investment. It further highlights that the direction of investment flows remains uneven across sub-regions, with Eastern and Southern Africa receiving a larger share of foreign direct investment compared to Western and Central Africa.

Afreximbank said the findings reinforce the need for coordinated action to expand trade finance, improve trade-enabling infrastructure, deepen regional integration and accelerate value addition across the continent.

Dr. Yemi Kale, Group Chief Economist and Managing Director, Research says “Regional development finance institutions, including the African Export-Import Bank, are playing an increasing role in supporting intra-African trade through trade finance and related initiatives. The Brief points to Afreximbank initiatives such as the Intra-African Trade Fair, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, the Border Markets Initiative and the Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme as part of the wider effort to strengthen Africa’s trade and investment ecosystem.

The report concludes that while progress is being made, significant gaps remain. Addressing these gaps will be essential to increasing financing, strengthening competitiveness and unlocking Africa’s full trade and investment potential.”

Read more about the Afreximbank Trade and Development Finance Brief Highlights here: https://apo-opa.co/3QGrGgN

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

Additional Link: 
https://apo-opa.co/3QGrGgN

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), Moody’s (Baa2) and S&P Global Ratings (BBB+). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

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Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa and AU Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, to the High-Level Meeting of African Heads of State, Governments and Partners on the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak

Source: President of South Africa –

Your Excellency, Chair of the African Union, President Évariste Ndayishimiye,
Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government,
Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr António Guterres,
Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mr Mahamoud Ali Youssouf,
Your Excellencies Prime Ministers and Ministers,
Director-General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,
Director General of the Africa CDC, Dr Jean Kaseya,
Developmental partners, 
Philanthropists, 
Global health institutions, 
Friends,

I thank the Chairperson of the African Union for convening this important meeting at a critical moment for our continent. 

We also welcome and convey our sincere appreciation to the leaders from across the world that have joined us in solidarity.

It has been a month since we last met, where we demonstrated political will and mobilised just under 500 million US dollars in pledges from various countries, global health institutions, banks and philanthropic organisations. 

This is a critical opportunity to take stock and renew our commitments.

Our collective resolve remains vested in the health and livelihoods of our people and the brave health workers who fight this terrible threat on the frontlines. 

We mourn the lives that have been lost to this disease, and convey our condolences to the families and communities that have been affected by the spread of Ebola. 

We support the recently launched Continental Preparedness and Response Plan and are determined to ensure it is adequately financed. 

In this regard, I am pleased to announce that South Africa is increasing its pledge to 13.5 million US dollars as our commitment to solidarity and sovereignty for the people of this continent. 

I call upon all leaders to maintain or increase their pledges, and all those who made pledges at the last meeting to convert them in full into cash, medical countermeasures or technical assistance.

With no vaccine or antiviral, every day that transmission continues unchecked, the human cost rises. 

The West Africa Ebola epidemic demonstrated that delayed action can transform a localised outbreak into a regional and global crisis. 

This is why our response must focus on breaking the transmission and stopping Ebola at its source.

However, our public health measures are being thwarted by the volatile environment in which the response is being undertaken. 

As political leaders, we can help by creating safe corridors for the passage of goods and services. 

We must seek a ceasefire to allow the Ebola response to proceed unhindered.

We must continue to strengthen cross-border collaboration.

We must expand rapid diagnostic testing, contact tracing and community awareness. 

We should be concerned that we have no biotechnology in our arsenal against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

While we welcome and unreservedly support the efforts of GAVI, CEPI and others, Africa cannot depend indefinitely on external markets and production systems during health emergencies.

The response to Ebola therefore cannot end when this outbreak ends.

This moment must become a turning point. 

As African leaders, we must accelerate investment in local manufacturing, strengthen the African Medicines Agency and operationalise the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism.

African manufacturers must have predictable markets and African countries must have reliable access to lifesaving products in emergencies.

We must all take heed of Africa CDC’s stance against imposing blanket and unsubstantiated travel bans.

I call upon African financial institutions, development banks, philanthropies and the African private sector to join governments in this effort.

I call upon our international partners to continue to stand with Africa in a spirit of solidarity and mutual responsibility. 

We welcome the bold actions being undertaken by the World Bank to free up capital for the response. 

We call on all financing institutions to be as flexible and understanding in this hour of need.

As countries, as a continent and as a global community, our actions must be evidence-based, scientifically sound and mutually accountable. 

The world will not be safe from Ebola until we have eliminated it everywhere.

And when we do eliminate this threat – which we surely will – we must intensify our efforts to build a resilient global health architecture that will safeguard our people now and into the future.

I thank you.
 

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La Note d’information d’Afreximbank sur le Financement du Commerce et du Développement souligne l’urgence de renforcer la résilience du commerce et de l’investissement en Afrique

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


La Banque Africaine d’Import-Export (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) a publié le volume 10, numéro 1 de sa Note d’analyse « Trade and Development Finance Brief », intitulée « Le paysage du commerce et de l’investissement en Afrique », qui analyse les défis structurels qui façonnent les performances commerciales et les perspectives d’investissement de l’Afrique dans un contexte mondial de plus en plus incertain.

Le présent numéro met notamment l’accent sur le fait que le paysage commercial africain reste largement dominé par les exportations de matières premières, y compris les produits agricoles, le pétrole, le gaz et les minerais, tandis que les importations continuent d’être fortement orientées vers les produits manufacturés et les machines. La note d’information indique que la configuration actuelle des exportations et des importations rend de nombreuses économies africaines particulièrement vulnérables aux chocs défavorables affectant les termes de l’échange. Cette vulnérabilité s’explique par plusieurs facteurs externes, y compris la volatilité des prix des matières premières, les tensions géopolitiques et les perturbations de la chaîne d’approvisionnement mondiale qui en découlent.   

Selon la note de synthèse, la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf) demeure essentielle aux efforts visant à diversifier la base commerciale du continent, à renforcer les chaînes de valeur régionales et à accroître le commerce intra-africain. La publication souligne que, parallèlement à l’Agenda 2063 de l’Union africaine, la ZLECAf offre un cadre pratique pour intégrer des marchés fragmentés, développer la production industrielle et stimuler la productivité. Les exportations intra-africaines devraient ainsi augmenter de plus de 20 % d’ici une décennie, à mesure que sa mise en œuvre progresse.

Par ailleurs, la note de synthèse met en lumière l’importance d’accroître les investissements dans les infrastructures facilitant le commerce, y compris l’énergie, les transports, les réseaux de communication, les ports et les systèmes logistiques, afin de réduire le coût des activités commerciales et d’améliorer les flux commerciaux transfrontaliers. Elle indique que des investissements ciblés dans les infrastructures peuvent soutenir l’industrialisation, renforcer la spécialisation régionale et améliorer la compétitivité de l’Afrique en tant que destination d’investissement.

Cette publication souligne également un ensemble plus large de priorités pour renforcer l’écosystème commercial et d’investissement de l’Afrique, notamment la cohérence réglementaire, le renforcement institutionnel, la diversification économique, un meilleur accès au financement pour les petites et moyennes entreprises et un recours accru aux technologies financières numériques.

La note souligne en outre que les investissements nationaux et étrangers augmentent dans de nombreuses économies africaines, tandis que la fintech contribue à la croissance des investissements nationaux, mettant ainsi en évidence l’opportunité de construire un paysage commercial plus résilient, diversifié et prêt pour l’investissement.

La Note d’analyse relève également que les investissements nationaux et étrangers sont en hausse dans de nombreuses économies africaines, malgré la prédominance observée des investissements étrangers. Elle souligne, par ailleurs, que la répartition des flux d’investissement demeure inégale selon les sous-régions, l’Afrique de l’Est et l’Afrique australe bénéficiant d’une part d’investissements directs étrangers plus importante que l’Afrique de l’Ouest et l’Afrique centrale.

Selon Afreximbank, ces conclusions soulignent la nécessité d’une action concertée pour renforcer le financement du commerce, améliorer les infrastructures d’appui aux échanges, approfondir l’intégration régionale et accélérer la transformation locale des produits afin de créer davantage de valeur ajoutée sur le continent.

Selon le Dr Yemi Kale, Économiste en chef du Groupe et Directeur Général chargé de la Recherche, « les institutions régionales de financement du développement, dont Afreximbank, jouent un rôle de plus en plus important dans le soutien au commerce intra-africain à travers le financement du commerce et d’autres initiatives connexes. La Note d’information met également en lumière les initiatives déployées par Afreximbank telles que la Foire commerciale intra-africaine, le Système panafricain de paiement et de règlement, le Fonds d’ajustement de la ZLECAf, l’Initiative des marchés frontaliers et le Mécanisme collaboratif de garantie du transit, dans le cadre des efforts visant à renforcer l’écosystème africain du commerce et de l’investissement ».

La Note conclut que, malgré les progrès enregistrés, des défis majeurs restent à relever. La résorption de ces insuffisances sera essentielle pour accroître le financement, améliorer la compétitivité et libérer l’ensemble du potentiel commercial et d’investissement de l’Afrique.

Distribué par APO Group pour Afreximbank.

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Contact presse :
Vincent Musumba
Responsable de la communication et des événements (relations avec les médias)
Courriel : press@afreximbank.com

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À propos d’Afreximbank :
La Banque Africaine d’Import-Export (Afreximbank) est une institution financière multilatérale panafricaine dédiée au financement et à la promotion du commerce intra et extra-africain. Depuis 30 ans, Afreximbank déploie des structures innovantes pour fournir des solutions de financement qui facilitent la transformation de la structure du commerce africain et accélèrent l’industrialisation et le commerce intrarégional, soutenant ainsi l’expansion économique en Afrique. Fervente défenseur de l’Accord sur la Zone de Libre-Échange Continentale Africaine (ZLECAf), Afreximbank a lancé les le Système panafricain de paiement et de règlement (PAPSS) qui a été adopté par l’Union africaine (UA) comme la plateforme de paiement et de règlement devant appuyer la mise en œuvre de la ZLECAf. En collaboration avec le Secrétariat de la ZLECAf et l’UA, la Banque a mis en place un Fonds d’ajustement de 10 milliards de dollars US pour aider les pays à participer de manière effective à la ZLECAf. À la fin de décembre 2025, le total des actifs et des garanties de la Banque s’élevait à environ 48,5 milliards de dollars US et les fonds de ses actionnaires s’établissaient à 8,4 milliards de dollars US. Afreximbank est notée AAA par China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI), A par GCR, A- par Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) et Baa2 par Moody’s. Moody’s (Baa2) et S&P Global Ratings (BBB+). La Banque a son siège social au Caire, en Égypte. 

Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez visiter www.Afreximbank.com

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Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, French Embassy Organize "Inside Gaza" Documentary Screening

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, June 16, 2026
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the French Embassy in Doha, hosted a special screening of the documentary Inside Gaza at the Museum of Islamic Art on Tuesday, drawing attention to the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the challenges faced by journalists covering the conflict.
The event was attended by HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah Al Khater, alongside diplomats, officials and members of the media.
Opening the screening, Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, Director of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the film as more than a documentary, calling it a visual and human testimony that brings audiences closer to the realities of life in Gaza.
He said the documentary sheds light on the daily suffering of Palestinians and highlights the risks faced by journalists working in the territory. Al Hashmi also argued that attacks on media workers were part of a broader pattern, noting that more than 230 journalists had been killed during the conflict.
HE Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the State of Qatar Fayez Majed Abu Al Rab praised the State of Qatar and the French Republic for organizing the event, saying the documentary offers a powerful account of both the hardships endured by Palestinians and the determination of journalists seeking to document events on the ground.
He called for independent international investigations into Israeli occupation crimes against journalists and media workers, urging support for international judicial mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court, to ensure accountability. He also appealed for greater protection for journalists working in the occupied Palestinian territories and unrestricted access for international media organizations.
HE Ambassador of the French Republic to the State of Qatar Arnaud Pescheux said growing attacks on press freedom worldwide were a cause for concern, with journalists increasingly becoming targets while misinformation spreads and pressure on independent media intensifies.
He paid tribute to reporters working in conflict zones and stressed that targeting journalists is contrary to international law. The French envoy called for investigations into crimes committed against media workers and for those responsible to be held accountable.
The screening formed part of ongoing efforts by Qatar and France to promote awareness of the importance of press freedom and the protection of journalists in conflict areas. 

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SA increases pledge in response to Ebola outbreak

Source: Government of South Africa

SA increases pledge in response to Ebola outbreak

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa will increase its financial contribution to the Ebola response effort to US$13.5 million, reaffirming the country’s commitment to supporting African nations affected by the outbreak. 

President Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response, made the announcement on Tuesday during a High-Level Virtual Meeting of Heads of State, Government and Partners on the Ebola outbreak.

The meeting was convened by the President of the Republic of Burundi and Chairperson of the African Union, Evariste Ndayishimiye.

It aims to mobilise African and international solidarity to contain the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, while strengthening preparedness in countries at risk of regional transmission.

The President called on leaders to maintain or increase their pledges and urged those who made commitments at the previous meeting to convert them in full into cash, medical countermeasures or technical assistance.

“With no vaccine or antiviral, every day that transmission continues unchecked, the human cost rises. The West Africa Ebola epidemic demonstrated that delayed action can transform a localised outbreak into a regional and global crisis. This is why our response must focus on breaking the transmission and stopping Ebola at its source,” he said.

However, President Ramaphosa cautioned that public health measures are being undermined by the volatile environment in which the response is being carried out.

“As political leaders, we can help by creating safe corridors for the passage of goods and services. We must seek a ceasefire to allow the Ebola response to proceed unhindered.

“We must continue to strengthen cross-border collaboration. We must expand rapid diagnostic testing, contact tracing and community awareness.

“We should be concerned that we have no biotechnology in our arsenal against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola,” the President said.

While welcoming and fully supporting the efforts of GAVI, CEPI and others, President Ramaphosa stressed that Africa cannot depend indefinitely on external markets and production systems during health emergencies.

“The response to Ebola therefore cannot end when this outbreak ends. This moment must become a turning point.

“As African leaders, we must accelerate investment in local manufacturing, strengthen the African Medicines Agency and operationalise the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism,” Ramaphosa said.

He added that African manufacturers need predictable markets, while African countries must have reliable access to lifesaving products during emergencies.

“We must all take heed of Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) stance against imposing blanket and unsubstantiated travel bans.

“I call upon African financial institutions, development banks, philanthropies and the African private sector to join governments in this effort.

“I call upon our international partners to continue to stand with Africa in a spirit of solidarity and mutual responsibility,” the President concluded. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Institute and Labuan Financial Services Authority Sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to Explore Awqaf Free Zones Concept Implementation

Source: APO

The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org) and Labuan Financial Services Authority of Malaysia (Labuan FSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration on the potential implementation of the Awqaf Free Zones concept within the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC).

Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDB Institute, and Mr. Affendi Rashdi, Director General of Labuan FSA, signed the MoU on 16 June 2026 on the side lines of the IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The MoU marks an important milestone in advancing innovative, Shari’ah-compliant development solutions that leverage the potential of Awqaf (Islamic endowments) to support sustainable economic growth and social development across IsDB Member Countries.

The Awqaf Free Zones is an innovative concept developed by the IsDB Institute to integrate the principles of Waqf with the legal, regulatory, and economic framework of free zones. The concept aims to establish dedicated jurisdictions that facilitate the mobilization of Awqaf assets through modern governance structures, innovative financial mechanisms, and enabling regulatory environments while preserving the perpetual and charitable nature of waqf.

Through this collaboration, IsDB Institute and Labuan FSA will explore the feasibility of adapting the AFZ concept to the Labuan IBFC ecosystem. The cooperation will include the exchange of knowledge and technical expertise, assessment of legal and regulatory requirements, identification of potential implementation models, and the exploration of future pilot initiatives.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDB Institute, stated: “The Awqaf Free Zone represents a new paradigm for unlocking the developmental potential of Waqf by combining centuries-old Islamic philanthropic principles with contemporary financial and regulatory innovation. Our collaboration with Labuan FSA reflects our shared commitment to developing practical and scalable solutions that contribute to sustainable development of Member Countries and strengthen Islamic finance globally.”

Mr. Affendi Rashdi, Director General of Labuan FSA, said: “Labuan IBFC is uniquely positioned to support the exploration of the Awqaf Free Zones through its existing ecosystem, which brings together international waqf structures, Islamic finance capabilities, digital asset infrastructure and cross-border financial services within a single jurisdiction. We look forward to working closely with the IsDB Institute to assess how these strengths can be leveraged to develop innovative and sustainable waqf-based models that unlock productive assets, enhance socioeconomic impact and support the development priorities of IsDB Member Countries.”

The signing of the MoU builds on the substantial progress achieved by the IsDB Institute in developing the Awqaf Free Zones concept. The Institute has completed comprehensive studies on the legal and regulatory framework, including a Legal Report, a Model Law, and a Model Regulation, laying the foundation for future implementation in interested jurisdictions. These studies are further complemented by governance, operational, and financial feasibility studies designed to support the practical establishment of Awqaf Free Zones.

The collaboration with Labuan FSA represents the first institutional step toward assessing the implementation of the Awqaf Free Zones concept within an established international financial centre. Subject to the outcome of the feasibility assessment and subsequent technical discussions, the initiative has the potential to demonstrate how Waqf can be integrated into modern financial ecosystems while supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhancing the contribution of Islamic finance to inclusive economic development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

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About IsDB Institute:
The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) is the knowledge beacon of the Islamic Development Bank Group. Guided by the principles of Islamic economics and finance, the IsDB Institute leads the development of innovative knowledge-based solutions to support the sustainable economic advancement of IsDB Member Countries and various Muslim communities worldwide. The IsDB Institute enables economic development through pioneering research, human capital development, and knowledge creation, dissemination, and management. The Institute leads initiatives to enable Islamic finance ecosystems, ultimately helping Member Countries achieve their development objectives. More information about the IsDB Institute is available on https://IsDBInstitute.org 

About Labuan Financial Services Authority:
Labuan Financial Services Authority is the statutory body responsible for the development and administration of the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC). Labuan FSA regulates and supervises financial services conducted within Labuan IBFC while promoting innovation, international best practices, and sustainable growth in the financial sector.

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