African leaders have called for greater investment in energy, infrastructure, industrialisation and climate finance to accelerate the continent’s development and economic transformation.
Speaking during the presidential dialogue at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group in Brazzaville, Congo, the leaders emphasised the need for Africa to mobilise more private capital and strengthen partnerships to finance large-scale development projects.
The high-level panel discussion, featured the Presidents of Garbon, Brice Nguema, Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra and host, President Denis Nguesso of the Republic of Congo and the AfDB president Dr Sidi Ould Tah.
The President of the Republic of Garbon said that his country was working to transform its natural resources and biodiversity assets into long-term economic growth through eco-tourism and carbon-credit initiatives.
“We would like to develop our forests while preserving nature,” Nguema said.
The Gabonese President also called for greater international compensation for Congo Basin countries preserving global forest ecosystems.
President Nguesso of Congo emphasised the importance of economic diversification beyond oil and gas, highlighting Congo’s plans to expand fertiliser production using its reserves of potash, phosphate and natural gas.
He also underscored the importance of energy generation to Africa’s industrial growth, citing the hydropower potential of the Congo River basin.
“It is not possible to achieve development without energy,” he said.
Responding to concerns over Africa’s financing gap, the AfDB President said that the continent possessed an estimated $4 trillion in African-held financial resources that could be leveraged for development.
“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.
Local media reports on Friday stated that African leaders also stressed the importance of investing in Africa’s youth through education, engineering and technical training to drive long-term economic transformation.
GIK/APA