During the African Development Bank's (AfDB) 2026 Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, African leaders participated in a presidential dialogue on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, urging greater investment in energy, infrastructure, industrialization, and climate finance. The leaders emphasized the need to mobilize more private capital to drive the continent's development agenda.
According to the AfDB, the dialogue focused on accelerating green growth and energy transition across Africa. Speakers included heads of state and government officials who highlighted the potential of renewable energy projects and sustainable infrastructure to create jobs and reduce poverty.
The AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, reiterated the bank's commitment to financing climate-resilient projects, noting that the bank has allocated significant resources to energy and green initiatives. The leaders also discussed the importance of partnerships with the private sector to bridge the financing gap for development projects.
No specific investment figures or new commitments were announced during the session. The dialogue is part of the broader AfDB Annual Meetings, which run from May 25 to 29, 2026, under the theme 'Building a Resilient and Sustainable Africa.'
