Brazzaville, Tuesday 26 May 2026
Editorial
Africa Day: Investing in Youth, Water, and Energy to Transform the Continent
The celebration of Africa Day, held on May 25 on the sidelines of the African Development Bank Group’s Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, saw a strong plea for accelerated investments in youth, women, as well as water and energy infrastructure.
Speaking on this occasion, Sidi Ould Tah emphasized that sustainable transformation of the continent cannot be achieved without a massive mobilization in support of its youth and essential infrastructure.
The leader stressed that no country can succeed in isolation, and no continent can fully transform without the active participation of women and youth. He particularly highlighted the persistent inequalities that still hinder the economic empowerment of many young African women, often constrained by domestic responsibilities limiting their access to education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
He also warned against the consequences of underinvestment in agricultural systems, livelihoods, and basic infrastructure. For him, sustainable economic stability is not possible without water and energy security.
Beyond technical imperatives, access to water and energy, he argued, is a matter of dignity, freedom, sovereignty, food security, and climate resilience.
Rejecting a strictly deficit-based view of the continent, he called for recognition of the progress made since independence and the new African ambition driven by a more assertive integration and an increasing desire to control its economic destiny.
This Africa Day, celebrated every May 25 in memory of the establishment of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, served as a platform for an optimistic yet demanding vision: that of a continent called to invest more in its own transformation levers.
Dominique Mabika, special envoy to Brazzaville
In Brief
The Blue Fund mobilizes donors
The first round table dedicated to financing the Investment Plan of the Blue Fund for the Congo Basin is one of the highlights of the day.
Regional health alert
The resurgence of the Ebola virus (Bundibugyo) in the DRC and Uganda is the subject of consultations between health and financial partners.
The Brazzaville-Kinshasa bridge project revived
The road-rail link project between the two capitals returns to the center of discussions on sub-regional integration.
Sovereign funds under debate
Experts and donors examine their role as accelerators of development in African capital markets.
Mission 300 at the heart of priorities
African financing institutions consult on universal access to energy.
Financial Afrik reporting live from Brazzaville
Exclusive interviews, breaking news, and analyses punctuate the coverage of the Assemblies.
Today’s Agenda
12:30 – 2:00 PM
First round table of donors for financing the Investment Plan of the Blue Fund for the Congo Basin
Presidential Hall
3:00 – 4:00 PM
Round table on the Ebola virus (Bundibugyo) epidemic in the DRC and Uganda
(WHO / AfDB / UK)
Djoué-Léfini Tent
3:00 – 4:00 PM
Building sustainable infrastructure: integrating skills development and job creation into the portfolios of multilateral development banks
3:00 – 4:00 PM
Construction project of the road-rail bridge Brazzaville-Kinshasa
Nkieni-Alima Tent
3:00 – 4:00 PM
Strengthening African sovereign funds as catalysts for the development of capital markets
Cuvette Ouest Tent
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Africa’s climate leadership: financing transformation and paving the way to COP32
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Science at the heart of sustainable development – Evaluation report of the Congo Basin 2025: resilience and sustainability
Nkieni-Alima Tent
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Mobilizing African development financing institutions and capital in support of Mission 300
To Follow Continuously
All these events can be followed on the platform Financial Afrik, as well as on its various digital channels, with live coverage, interviews, breaking news, exclusive analyses, and insights from Brazzaville.
