African Leaders Call for Investment Push to Drive Development at AfDB Annual Meetings

African leaders have called for stronger investment in energy, infrastructure, industrialisation and climate finance while urging greater mobilisation of private capital to accelerate the continent’s development agenda during a high-level presidential dialogue at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group.

The discussions took place Tuesday in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, under the theme: “Mobilising Africa’s Development Financing at Scale in a Fragmented World.”

The panel brought together:

• President Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon

• President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic

• President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo

• African Development Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah

The event was attended by senior government officials, finance ministers, development partners, private sector representatives, and civil society leaders at the Kintele Conference Centre.

Leaders Push for New Development Financing Models

Throughout the discussion, African leaders emphasised the urgent need for large-scale financing to support economic diversification, infrastructure development, climate resilience, and industrial transformation across the continent.

They also stressed the importance of attracting greater private investment and unlocking domestic African capital to close widening development financing gaps.

Gabon Promotes Biodiversity Finance and Eco-Tourism

Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema highlighted his country’s strategy to turn its vast forest resources and biodiversity into sustainable long-term economic growth.

He outlined Gabon’s efforts to monetise environmental conservation through a national carbon-credit framework and a dedicated agency responsible for marketing biodiversity and environmental credits internationally.

“We would like to develop our forests while preserving nature,” President Nguema said.

“By doing so, we can create ecological tourism without destroying our natural heritage.”

He also called on the international community to provide greater financial compensation to Congo Basin nations for protecting globally significant forest ecosystems that play a critical role in climate regulation.

Congo Focuses on Industrialisation and Energy Expansion

Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso stressed the importance of diversifying African economies beyond oil and gas while recognising that hydrocarbons remain central to many national economies.

He highlighted Congo’s plans to develop fertiliser production industries using its large reserves of:

• Potash

• Phosphate

• Natural gas

The Congolese leader said the country aims to position itself as a future supplier to African and international agricultural markets.

President Nguesso also underscored the critical role of electricity generation in Africa’s industrial development, pointing to the enormous hydropower potential of the Congo River basin.

“It is not possible to achieve development without energy,” he stated.

He added that environmental conservation efforts must also support rural livelihoods and food security.

“Without that, the people would be compelled to hunt wildlife for food,” President Nguesso said, linking conservation policies with livestock development initiatives.

Central African Republic Calls for Connectivity Investment

Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra appealed for increased support from the African Development Bank Group to help unlock the economic potential of landlocked African nations.

“We have huge potential,” he said.

“Today we have peace, and there are several sectors that can attract investors.”

President Touadéra called for greater investment in:

• Roads and transport infrastructure

• Electricity generation

• Regional connectivity projects

He also reaffirmed his country’s support for Mission 300, the joint initiative between the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group aimed at providing electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.

African Development Bank Highlights Untapped Capital

Responding to questions on Africa’s financing gap, African Development Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah said the continent possesses vast untapped financial resources that could be mobilised for development.

According to Dr Ould Tah, African-held financial resources are estimated at approximately $4 trillion.

“It is our role at the bank to work with states and financial institutions to design bankable projects and mobilise the necessary financing,” he said.

He stressed that improving investment conditions and strengthening investor protections would be essential to attracting greater levels of private and foreign direct investment.

“We need to create conditions for our partners to make gains also,” Dr Ould Tah said.

“This will help us crowd in more foreign direct investment.”

Youth and Human Capital Central to Africa’s Future

A recurring theme throughout the presidential dialogue was the importance of Africa’s youth population and human capital in driving future economic transformation.

President Nguema described young people as the continent’s greatest long-term asset.

“Africa’s greatest asset is not our mineral resources; it’s our youth, our human capital,” he said.

“We must invest in them - in education, engineering and technical training. We must believe in them.”

His comments drew strong applause from attendees and agreement from fellow panelists, reinforcing growing calls for greater investment in education, skills development, and workforce training across Africa.

Focus on Financing in a Fragmented Global Economy

The discussions reflected broader concerns about rising global economic fragmentation, tightening international financing conditions, and increasing competition for development capital.

African leaders used the forum to argue that sustainable growth on the continent will require:

• Greater mobilisation of domestic resources

• Expanded private sector participation

• Climate finance access

• Regional integration

• Large-scale infrastructure investment

The African Development Bank Annual Meetings continue this week with further discussions focused on financing solutions, economic resilience, climate adaptation, and industrial development across Africa.