Speaking at the opening of the 61st Annual Meetings of the AfDB Group on Tuesday, Sassou Nguesso said Africa’s development financing needs had become more urgent as geopolitical tensions, economic shocks, and structural vulnerabilities continued to weigh on the continent.
“The financing of Africa’s development now requires more ambitious approaches grounded in a sustainable and coherent dynamic,” the Congolese president said, stressing that the continent’s needs span infrastructure, energy, agriculture, industry, digital transformation, healthcare, education, and job creation.
Sassou Nguesso urged African countries to deepen domestic financial markets and strengthen regional financial institutions to unlock both African savings and international capital for transformative projects.
“To mobilise more African savings and international capital in support of structuring projects, we must deepen our financial markets, strengthen our regional institutions, and develop guarantee instruments, risk-sharing mechanisms, and blended finance tools,” he said.
The Congolese leader noted that the challenge was not only securing more funding but also improving how resources are allocated and invested to deliver long-term economic transformation and better living standards.
He described the AfDB as “far more than a financial institution,” calling it “an instrument of African solidarity” and a key driver of the continent’s transformation.
He also urged the bank to continue supporting African countries in strengthening resilience, accelerating industrialization, supporting youth employment, and advocating for a fairer international financial architecture that better reflects African realities.
The remarks come as African policymakers increasingly push for reforms to the global financial system, including fairer access to climate finance, concessional funding, and development capital.
The Congolese president highlighted his country’s cooperation with the AfDB in agriculture, infrastructure, energy, governance, and regional integration projects, while outlining Brazzaville’s long-term economic strategy under the “Congo Vision 2063” initiative.
According to Sassou Nguesso, the strategy focuses on diversifying the economy, modernizing infrastructure, promoting private sector growth, and investing in human capital to reduce dependency and strengthen economic sovereignty.
“Africa aspires to balanced partnerships, adapted financing, and greater recognition of its role in the global economy,” he said.
The 2026 AfDB Annual Meetings are being held till 29 May under the theme: “Mobilising resources at scale for Africa’s development financing in a fragmented world.”
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