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Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Deepens Central African Presence as Equatorial Guinea Becomes 47th Member State
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Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent's leading infrastructure solutions provider, today announced that the Republic of Equatorial Guinea has officially acceded to membership, becoming the Corporation's 47th Member State. The decision, which closely follows the Central African Republic's recent accession, marks a significant step in AFC's deepening presence in Central Africa and Africa as a whole.
Equatorial Guinea, one of Africa's most resource-rich nations, has outlined a long-term national vision focused on industrialisation, economic diversification beyond hydrocarbons, and the expansion of world-class transport, logistics, energy, and digital infrastructure. The country's Horizon 2035 strategy prioritises investments that can accelerate value addition, boost regional integration, enhance human capital, and strengthen resilience against global market volatility.
Membership of AFC aligns directly with these priorities. It enables the government to leverage AFC's technical expertise, project development capacity, and robust balance sheet to accelerate the delivery of high-impact infrastructure projects. AFC will work alongside public and private sector stakeholders to unlock opportunities across key sectors including renewable energy, logistics and transport corridors, and natural resources beneficiation.
H.E. Ivan Bacale Ebe Molina, Honourable Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, commented saying: “Joining Africa Finance Corporation represents an important milestone in our national development journey. As we advance the goals of our Horizon 2035 strategy, Equatorial Guinea is prioritising investments that diversify our economy, strengthen our infrastructure base, and create sustainable opportunities for our people. AFC's proven track record, deep expertise, and commitment to African-led development make it an ideal partner for delivering bankable projects that support long-term growth. We look forward to working closely with the Corporation to unlock the full potential of our economy.”
Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, added: “We are delighted to welcome Equatorial Guinea as our 47th Member State. The country has set a bold and forward-looking agenda to drive economic diversification, enhance resilience, and build world-class infrastructure to support long-term prosperity. AFC stands ready to deploy our unique approach to project development, de-risking and financing to catalyse transformational projects, working closely with the government and key partners in the private sector. Together, we will work on critical infrastructure projects that will accelerate sustainable growth for Equatorial Guinea and the wider Central African region.”
Equatorial Guinea's membership also enhances AFC's ability to mobilise global capital to strategic sectors across Central Africa, strengthening the region's integration into global trade routes and value chains. The country now joins other Central African nations such Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Príncipe in partnering with AFC to accelerate sustainable growth through infrastructure development.
As a Member State, Equatorial Guinea gains access to AFC's suite of products including project preparation, equity investments, debt financing, and risk mitigation instruments designed to mobilise financing into bankable, transformational projects. Membership also reinforces AFC's mandate to foster African-led solutions to the continent's infrastructure deficit, an indispensable foundation for job creation, industrial competitiveness, and long-term prosperity.
With Equatorial Guinea's accession, AFC caps a remarkable year in which three new countries joined the Corporation, expanding our membership to 47 African nations and significantly deepening our continental footprint. This momentum underscores AFC's role as Africa's leading infrastructure solutions provider, accelerating industrialisation and strengthening regional value chains.
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 power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 47 member countries and has invested over US$17 billion in 36 African countries since its inception. www.AfricaFC.org
Emirates ends the year on high scooping 5 more global awards
Emirates (www.Emirates.com) is ending 2025 on a sky-high note with another 5 global accolades won, this time at the 32nd annual World Travel Awards, held in Bahrain. Adding to its impressive portfolio of more than 20 accolades received in 2025, the latest titles celebrate Emirates as a leading airline brand, as well as recognising its multi award-winning inflight entertainment system ice, more honours for Emirates First Class onboard experience and First Class Lounges, and another nod to Emirates Skywards – as the World's Leading Airline Rewards Programme 2025.
Emirates 5 latest gongs from the World Travel Awards
- World's Leading Airline Brand 2025: Emirates
- World's Leading Airline Inflight Entertainment 2025: Emirates
- World's Leading Airline Rewards Programme 2025: Emirates – Skywards
- World's Leading Airline - First Class 2025: Emirates
- World's Leading Airline Lounge - First Class 2025: Emirates First Class Lounge @ Emirates Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport
Emirates scores big with array of industry awards throughout 2025
In November, Emirates was voted ‘Best Airline in the World' for the 8th consecutive year, at the esteemed ULTRAs travel awards. Based on votes from Ultratravel's global network of 1.2 million travellers, Emirates also scooped the ‘Airline with the Best Premium Economy Class' award, as well as a prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Global Aviation' presented to Sir Tim Clark. Aviation Business Middle East also awarded Emirates ‘Best First Class of the Year' and the prestigious ‘Airline of the Year' award.
Emirates also won ‘Best International Airline,' ‘Best International First Class,' and ‘Best International Airline Lounge' from the Forbes Travel Guide Verified Air Travel Awards 2025, as well as ‘Best Long-Haul Airline' at The Times and The Sunday Times Travel Awards 2025. Sir Tim Clark was also recently recognised by the Wings Club Foundation with the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award.
In September, Emirates received global recognition at the APEX/IFSA Global EXPO in Long Beach, California, winning 2 notable awards – the 2026 APEX Best™ Global Entertainment Award for its inflight entertainment system - ice, and a 2026 APEX WORLD CLASS™ award for all aspects of the airline's customer experience and brand.
Earlier in 2025, Emirates was honoured with several awards including ‘Best Long-Haul Airline' at The Telegraph Travel Awards, ‘2025's Most Recommended Global Brand' by YouGov, and multiple categories at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards, such as ‘Best Airline Worldwide' for the 12th consecutive year, ‘Best First Class', ‘Best Premium Economy Class', and ‘Best Airport Lounge in the Middle East.'
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Emirates Group.Senegal to Launch Pipeline Network Construction Before End of 2025
Senegal's state-owned midstream company Reseau Gazier du Sénegal is set to begin construction of a domestic gas pipeline network before the end of 2025, according to Birame Soulèye Diop, Minister of Energy, Petroleum & Mines of Senegal.
Minister Diop made the announcement during the ministerial panel at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 on Tuesday, which brought together energy ministers and senior officials from Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry and The Gambia to discuss regional cooperation and sustainable energy development.
“We are leveraging domestic gas as a transitional energy source, providing access to energy and clean cooking. RGS is leading this initiative and we hope to lay the first stone of the pipeline network before the end of 2025,” Minister Diop stated. Minister Diop outlined the country's integrated strategy for gas, emphasizing multiple uses beyond export. “The integrated strategy sees the sector as a whole, from gas-to-power to gas-to-industry, but also applications in transport and agriculture,” Minister Diop explained.
Lamin Camara, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, The Gambia echoed Minister Diop's comments on regional integration and collaboration. “Regional cooperation is at the heart of our policy. We are in discussions with Mauritania and Senegal to be part of the gas pipeline network and benefit from its resources,” Camara said. On developing The Gambia's hydrocarbon potential, he noted, “We have completed three negotiations and hope to sign agreements with major and mid-size companies before year-end.”
Mohamed Ould Khaled, Minister of Petroleum and Energy of Mauritania, emphasized cross-border collaboration. “The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim gas project shared with Senegal is a successful example of regional cooperation, providing gas to multiple partners. We aim to develop our countries and industries together, working closely with neighboring states to maximize opportunities,” noted Minister Khaled.
Bachir Camara, Deputy Minister of Guinea-Conakry, highlighted collaboration with other West African national oil companies. “We are upgrading governance and cooperating with Senegal's Petrosen and Ivory Coast's Petroci to strengthen regional collaboration and improve exploration outcomes,” Minister Camara stressed.
Meanwhile, Celedónio Plácido Vieira, Minister of Natural Resources of Guinea-Bissau, also spoke on leveraging regional potential. “We started reforming our petroleum code in 2014 to attract investment, and now we want to engage with the NOCs of neighboring countries. Cooperation is key to making the MSGBC basin more attractive,” Vieira said. Minister Diop concluded, “Senegal shares oil resources with Guinea-Bissau at the border and it is crucial to work together considering the potential of their blocks.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.African Development Bank Approves $10 Million to catalyse Namibia’s Large Green Hydrogen Project
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The African Development Bank's Board of Directors (www.AfDB.org) has approved a $10 million loan to Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, a Namibian green hydrogen development company, to support a green ammonia project valued at more than $10 billion and with the potential to position Namibia as a pioneer in the global green hydrogen economy.
The loan, sourced from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), will support front-end engineering design studies for solar and wind generation, battery energy storage systems, and electrolyser capacity and desalination infrastructure, thereby de-risking the project and attracting the financing required for its realisation.
SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a more robust pipeline of projects, and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments.
The project is poised to leverage the country's world-class solar and wind energy resources, The first phase includes 3.75 GW of renewable energy generation, battery storage, 1.5 GW of electrolyser capacity, and supporting infrastructure such as desalination facilities, pipelines, transmission lines, and enhanced port facilities—all developed to the highest environmental and social standards.
Once completed, the project is projected to produce 2 million tons of green ammonia annually for export to key markets, while contributing to local economic development under a comprehensive socio economic development plan embedded in the project's 40-year concession agreement.
It will additionally avert annual emissions of 5 million tons of Co2—the equivalent of removing over one million cars from the road—while deploying 7.5 gigawatts of renewable energy generation capacity, more than 10 times Namibia's current installed capacity. Additionally, the project will supply 3 million liters of clean water through desalination daily to the water-scarce region of Lüderitz in Southern Namibia.
Moono Mupotola, African Development Bank Country Manager for Namibia and Deputy Director General for Southern Africa, said: "This is about far more than energy infrastructure," said. "This is about demonstrating Africa's capacity to lead the global energy transition, create quality jobs for our youth, and build prosperity while protecting our planet. Namibia is showing the world that Africa is not just participating in the green economy —we are defining it."
“The African Development Bank's approval of this pre-investment facility represents a strong vote of confidence in Hyphen's project and in the broad ambitions of Namibia to develop one of the world's most transformative green hydrogen projects,” said Marco Raffinetti, CEO, Hyphen Hydrogen Energy. “We are deeply appreciative of the African Development Bank for partnering with us in the development of this transformative project. This facility, which will be utilised to partially fund the technical design phase of the project on our journey to the final investment decision.”
"SEFA's intervention is catalytic," said Daniel Schroth, Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank. "By supporting these essential pre-investment activities, we are unlocking billions in project financing. This is a strategic, high-impact development project."
The project is expected to generate 15,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent positions, 90% of these reserved for Namibian nationals and 20% specifically targeting youth in a country where youth unemployment exceeds 38%.
The Hyphen project is viewed as a flagship of the government's Southern Corridor Development Initiative. It is expected to have a demonstration effect across Africa, particularly in countries that have abundant renewable energy resources.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).Media Contact:
Emeka Anuforo
Communication and External Relations Department
email: media@afdb.org
About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 34 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its fifty-four regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org
Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) Chiefs Honored at MSGBC 2025 for Driving Regional, Global Energy Cooperation
The Secretary Generals of intergovernmental organizations the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and the African Petroleum Producers' Organization (APPO) were awarded the Gas Market Development and & Innovation Award and Regional Energy Collaborator Award, respectively, at this year's MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference and exhibition.
The awards were given to Eng. Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General, GECF and Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Secretary General, APPO during the opening ceremony of the event on December 9.
Eng. Hamel was bestowed the award in recognition of his efforts to enhance global gas cooperation during a key turning point for the MSGBC basin. Through his guidance, the GECF has promoted policy alignment, market transparency and data-drive analysis, enabling new LNG-producing nations such as Senegal and Mauritania to integrate more effectively into global markets.
“As global energy systems evolve, natural gas will remain essential for industrialization, economic growth and stability. The GECF is committed to supporting emerging producers with data-driven insights, dialogue and collaboration. Together, we can ensure that the region's gas resources become a catalyst for long-term, inclusive prosperity,” stated Eng. Hamel.
Meanwhile, in recognition for his pivotal role in advancing African-led energy development at a time of accelerated industry growth across the continent, Dr. Ibrahim's leadership at APPO has served to bolster policy harmonization, nurture joint initiatives among member states and champion the establishment of the African Energy Bank – an emerging financial instrument expected to unlock significant capital for oil, gas and associated infrastructure.
“For too long, our industry has relied heavily on external financing, technology and markets,” Dr. Ibrahim stated, adding, “That model is no longer sustainable. We are working to build African capacity, strengthen regional centers of excellence and ensure our resources drive development at home. The path forward is one of cooperation, self-reliance and strategic unity across the continent.”
Together, these awards underscore the strategic importance of regional and international collaboration as West Africa enters a new phase of energy expansion.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.Dongfeng Motor Successfully Completes Official Transportation Support Mission for G20 Summit in South Africa, Green Fleet Earns International Acclaim
Recently, as the official designated vehicle partner for the 2025 G20 Summit in South Africa, Dongfeng Motor (https://Dongfeng-Global.com/) delivered an outstanding performance, successfully completing all transportation support tasks for the summit held in Johannesburg. The specialized green fleet, comprising multiple new energy vehicle models such as the Dongfeng BOX, Dongfeng 007, provided efficient, safe, and reliable high-quality transportation services for national delegations and working staff during the conference. Its excellent operational coordination and stable product performance earned high praise and recognition from all participating parties. This not only demonstrated Dongfeng Motor's capabilities on the international stage of premier political and economic events but also successfully tested its comprehensive ability to deliver systematic transportation solutions in complex and demanding scenarios.
This collaboration stemmed from the joint efforts of Dongfeng and South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, aiming to provide a high-standard green mobility solution for the summit. The fleet's zero-failure stable operation during the event visually showcased Dongfeng Motor's latest achievements in electrification technology, intelligent manufacturing, and high-end quality control to the world. It represents a significant practice of Dongfeng's long-term commitment to innovation and sustainable development. Through its successful debut on the international stage, Dongfeng Motor has demonstrated with concrete actions that its new energy vehicles are fully capable of meeting the high-end and rigorous transportation demands globally, both in terms of capability and reliability.
The success of serving as an official partner for the G20 Summit has significantly enhanced Dongfeng's brand reputation and influence in South Africa and across the broader African region, laying a solid foundation of trust for future market expansion. This collaboration epitomizes and highlights Dongfeng's deep cultivation of the African market in recent years through localized production, technological exchanges, and other initiatives.
Looking ahead, Dongfeng Motor will seize this opportunity to translate the experience refined during this service support mission into momentum for continuously improving its products and services. The company will continue to uphold an open and cooperative global approach
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of China Dongfeng Motor Industry Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd.Company: China Dongfeng Motor Industry Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd
Contact: Liao Qingli
E-Mail: liaoqingli@dfmc.com.cn
Website: https://Dongfeng-Global.com/
Uganda to host the first ever African Dragon Boat Cup 2026
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Sports Diplomacy: Uganda set to host the first ever Africa Dragon Boat Cup from 1st – 4th October, 2026. Mr. Solomon Muwonge, president of the Uganda Dragon Boat Federation, revealed this in a meeting with Ambassador Richard Kabonero, Head of Regional Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was attended by a visiting delegation from the Africa Dragon Boat Federation led by Mr. Ehab Gouda and Ms. Mary Lai, General Secretary of the continental body. The officials are in the country to assess the country's preparedness to host the event, train certify local officials and inspect venues for the event.
Amb. Kabonero thanked the federation for the efforts to promote Dragon Boat sport in Uganda as it provides opportunities for Ugandans to explore their talent, market the country and improve people-to-people relations. Mr. Gouda said next year's event will bring together over 500 professional athletes from 16 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and South America. In addition, participants will be physically followed by hundreds of their fans, besides the millions of online viewers.
Dragon Boat has been an important traditional sport in China for over 2,500 years. It has over 50 million players, with over 40 million in China alone. Ms. Mary Lai said by hosting the Africa Dragon Boat Cup in 2026, Uganda has an opportunity to showcase opportunities in tourism, investment and trade using sports as a door opener. The meeting was attended by Head of Public Diplomacy Margaret Kafeero and Mr. Stilson Muhwezi, First Secretary in charge of Sports Diplomacy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Republic of Uganda - Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
