Akouj Elijah is a dedicated mother, wife and full-time official at a civil society organization which promotes reconciliation among feuding local communities.

She, and her sickly two-year-old son, are attending a Political Parties’ Forum for youth representatives in South Sudan’s capital, Juba. As soon as she can get a break, she will dash out and take him to hospital, and then return.

In the meantime, young Thon Ater is on his best behaviour. He is silent and hangs onto his mother’s every move.

“I wouldn’t have missed this for anything”, says Ms. Elijah.

But why go to the bother of attending a three-day political event with a sick child in tow?

“The forum is important because youth are the majority in this country, and it is difficult to get opportunities such as this one to participate and express your thoughts on how to progress one’s country peacefully,” she explains.

Akouj Elijah could have added a few other facts of South Sudanese political life that add to the challenges faced by youth eager to be a part of decision-making and her country’s way forward.

 Some would be excessive bureaucracy, a lack of funding and capacity building opportunities, insufficient political space and a culture of what many in the west would call reversed ageism – the tradition of those who are a bit older not always paying full attention and respect to what young men and, particularly, women have to say.

Being aware of opportunities being few and far between, James Adhal Kot, representing the South Sudan People’s Liberal Party, attended the forum believing that it will allow him to “strengthen my role, rights, and voice, while paving a way towards a prosperous future of South Sudan.”

He wants to be among the pioneering youth who will help his country achieve its first ever democratic election, thus changing the narrative of South Sudan’s politics.

James and Akouj are among 60 youth with divergent political views who have come together as part of a country-wide collaborative effort to hear what role youth can play in what is hoped to be a peaceful political transition of the world’s youngest nation.

Since 2019, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in partnership with the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, the Intergovernmental Authority for Development and the African Union (AU), have been enabling a series of dialogues to foster an understanding on how political parties can contribute to the development of their country.

This time, the scene has been set for youth to articulate their thoughts and perspectives on crucial issues such as the constitution-making process and electoral reforms.

Jemima Luka, representing the Sudan African National Union-National, enjoyed the occasion.

“It has been a great opportunity to socialize with youth from other political parties, share thoughts and ideas, and find the common ground that unites us,” she commented.

Guy Bennett, Head of the peacekeeping mission’s Political Affairs Division, would have liked her remarks, aligned as they were with a key purpose of the purpose.

“Perhaps there is somebody in this room who will one day represent South Sudan on the global stage,” he said.

“The UN has a Youth Strategy 2030, about the inclusion of youth, about hearing their voices, about how to get youth more and better involved in the political discourse. This is the type of forum that will contribute to achieving these goals,” he added.

David Kwaje, Head of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development’s Mission to South Sudan, couldn’t possibly have agreed more.

“Your voices, your ideas, your energy, and your actions have the power to transform the country, to propel your society towards a brighter and more prosperous future,” he said, adding that “the youth of any country are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the change of today.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Network International (www.Network.ae), a leading enabler of digital commerce in the Middle East and Africa, officially announces its establishment in Morocco, furthering its strategic expansion in Francophone Africa. With over 30 years of industry leadership, Network International is committed to accelerating the digitalization of payments in the Kingdom through cutting-edge technology tailored to the needs of Moroccan financial institutions and businesses.

Nandan Mer, Group CEO, Network International, said : “Morocco represents a major strategic opportunity for us, not only due to its robust financial ecosystem but also because of its key role as a gateway to Francophone Africa. We firmly believe that our expertise, combined with our innovative technology, will significantly contribute to the country’s digital transformation. Our mission is to simplify commerce and make payments more accessible and inclusive for everyone.”

“Casablanca is the latest addition to the hubs we have in Africa to support local digital payments transformation. We aim to enhance the adoption of digital payments by leveraging local talent and innovative solutions. Our comprehensive range of solutions and value-added services enable banks, fintechs, telecom operators, and payment institutions to meet the evolving needs of their clients and pursue new growth opportunities while adhering to local regulations,” added Dr. Reda Helal, Group Managing Director – Processing, Africa and Co-Head Group Processing, Network International.

Network’s presence in Morocco further strengthens its position in Francophone Africa, capitalizing on shared cultural and linguistic ties. The Moroccan market, with its rapidly expanding payments sector, is expected to experience notable growth, especially with major events such as the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 and the FIFA World Cup 2030 on the horizon.

With expertise in over 50 markets, Network has gained significant knowledge in adapting to various regulatory environments and consumer needs. It is now ready to bring this expertise to the Moroccan market, assisting local financial institutions in providing more efficient payment solutions and enhancing the user experience for consumers and merchants alike.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Network International.

About Network International:
Network International is the Middle East and Africa’s largest and leading digital payments company. Our purpose is to help businesses and economies grow by simplifying payments and commerce. We operate in 50+ countries serving governments, banks, fintechs, merchants and public sector companies. We have 2,000+ employees based in our markets serving over 250 financial institutions and 130,000+ merchants. 

For more information, visit www.Network.global.

Itana (http://apo-opa.co/4dnuip1), Nigeria’s first licensed digital economic zone management company, and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, have agreed to jointly develop the first digital economic zone in Africa designed for global and Pan-African technology, finance and service-based businesses to operate and scale with ease across Africa, unlocking the continent’s digital economy. The formalisation of this partnership took place yesterday in front of global government and business leaders, at the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI), on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The Itana Digital Economic Zone in Lagos, Nigeria is intended as an online jurisdiction and to serve as a gateway to build a global business in Nigeria. Through Itana, companies can remotely incorporate and operate their businesses in the Itana zone, with laws, business incentives (tax, immigration&banking), and services optimized for the digital economy. This will be coupled with eco-friendly live-work districts and a live-in accelerator program, showcasing the future of African cities and providing the ideal infrastructure and support for businesses in Africa to scale and compete globally.

AFC will support Itana with project development funding and intends to lead in the financing of phase 1 of the Itana project which is budgeted at around $100m. This will include an eco-friendly tech campus in Lagos, Nigeria, and funding of startups in Accelerate Africa, the accelerator program of Itana in partnership with Future Africa. AFC will also support the roll-out of the Itana Digital Economic Zone for global and Pan-African tech, finance, and service-based businesses seeking to operate across Africa.

Itana and AFC are already collaborating alongside Future Africa, PwC Nigeria, and Charter Cities Institute as technical advisers to the Initiative for the Promotion of Digital Free Zones in Nigeria (DiFZIN) (http://apo-opa.co/3BuB4Mm), a non-profit advocacy and policy research organization representing the private sector in the recently announced Nigerian Federal Government steering committee for the establishment of Digital Economic Zones in Nigeria. The committee is chaired by President Bola Tinubu and includes relevant Government Ministers and Agency Heads.

Itana (http://apo-opa.co/47FY7jz) will be a conducive environment tailored to the 21st-century digital trade and technological age. The organization recently launched the Itana Application (http://apo-opa.co/4dnSUOB) where individuals can join the community and have access to events and services such as business visa facilitation, local bank accounts, and a curated marketplace of trusted vendors and consultants for doing business in Africa. Businesses that meet the criteria can register as a Free Zone Enterprise (FZE) with ease and will receive a Business Operating license that enables them to do business in Nigeria like numerous digital companies including Reliance Info and Future Africa.

Post business incorporation, businesses can operate in the zone with tax and capital repatriation incentives, get access to the Itana business community, apply for business banking in the Digital Economic Zone, and special work and residency permits without limitations imposed by expatriate quotas.

“Itana intends to be to Nigeria and Africa what Delaware&Silicon Valley is to the U.S., the DIFC is to Dubai, and e-Estonia is to the European Union,” said Luqman Edu, CEO of Itana. “Itana is poised as the gateway to doing business in Africa. Local and International businesses looking to expand their operations across Africa will naturally look to Itana as their point of entry”.

“Africa’s digital economy is poised for significant expansion and innovation following the rapid adoption of mobile technology, a burgeoning youth population, and the growing importance of digital commerce and services,” said Samaila Zubairu, President&CEO, Africa Finance Corporation. “In support of this, AFC is proud to be a pioneer alongside Itana, in building Africa’s first digital economic zone. This unprecedented initiative marks a pivotal step towards creating a thriving hub for the African digital economy, cementing the Corporation’s commitment to driving innovation, job creation, and sustainable economic development across the continent,” he added.

Last year, Itana announced (http://apo-opa.co/4eIELg1) a funding round backed by leading technology venture capitals and highly influential tech industry leaders including LocalGlobe, Amplo, Pronomos Capital (backed by Peter Thiel), Balaji, and Future Africa (led by Nigerian entrepreneur Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of Andela and Flutterwave).

As the first Digital Economic Zone, Itana remains committed to making Nigeria a powerhouse in the global digital economy. It will be hosted in Alaro City, an integrated, mixed-use city planned on over 2,000 hectares in the Lekki Free Zone.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

About Itana:
Itana is a novel digital economic zone enabling global and pan-African technology, finance and service-oriented businesses to operate seamlessly across Africa. Offering a one-stop platform for setting up operations in Nigeria, Itana provides business services such as visa facilitation, local bank accounts and competitive incentives in taxation, immigration, banking, and regulation. It also features a Digital Residency community, a curated marketplace for trusted vendors, and the upcoming Itana District—a tech campus in Lagos, set to also become a model for the future of African cities

www.ITANA.africa

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.

Seventeen 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 43 member countries and has invested US$13 billion across Africa since inception.

www.AfricaFC.org

The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a €6 million concessional financing package from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), a special multi-donor fund managed by the Bank, to accelerate the completion of Burkina Faso’s Dédougou photovoltaic solar project in support of the Bank’s Desert-to-Power initiative (https://apo-opa.co/3XKXpwG).

The project involves designing, constructing and operating an 18-megawatt solar power plant in Dédougou, located 250 kilometres west of the capital, Ouagadougou. Burkina Faso is one of five priority countries under the Desert-to-Power initiative, which aims to generate 10 gigawatts of solar power across 11 Sahelian countries by 2030, promoting socio-economic development.

This project stands as one of the first independent power producers (IPPs) in Burkina Faso and has secured both senior and subordinated loans, along with a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Société Nationale d’électricité du Burkina Faso (SONABEL). However, the project encountered challenges in reaching financial close due to cost escalations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The SEFA Covid-19 IPP Relief Programme (SEFA Programme) played a pivotal role in overcoming these hurdles. Through concessional financing, SEFA helped restructure the financial arrangements to absorb the pandemic-related cost increases, ensuring the project’s viability and preserving the originally agreed structure with the Government of Burkina Faso, thereby contributing to the country’s energy security.

Under the SEFA Programme, a €2.5 million senior concessional loan and a €3.5 million reimbursable grant have been provided through its concessional finance facility. SEFA’s involvement has been instrumental in unlocking additional financing from the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, FMO (www.FMO.nl), including subordinated and senior loans. These funds will be disbursed to Dédougou Solaire SARL, the project company jointly developed by QAIR (www.Qair.Energy), which is responsible for managing the project.

As part of the Desert-to-Power initiative, the project is expected to contribute to energy security, diversification of the energy mix, reduced electricity costs, and increased national electrification rates.

“The Dédougou Solar PV project increases Burkina Faso’s renewable energy generation capacity in line with the objectives of the Desert-to-Power Initiative. By backing projects like this, we are making tangible strides toward electrifying the Sahel, bolstering energy security, and improving the lives of millions,” said Dr. Daniel SCHROTH, Director of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Department at the African Development Bank.

“Abdoulaye Toure, CFO at Qair Africa, acknowledged SEFA’s support and the project’s advancement: “We are pleased with this approval by SEFA and thank the African Development Bank for their support of the project. This allows us to move forward with our commitment to supporting Burkina Faso’s energy goals by developing a second solar plant, just a year after the successful commissioning of Zano. This achievement aligns with the country’s ambitions for energy supply and reinforces Qair’s vision of becoming a leading player in Africa’s renewable energy sector in the coming years.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact:
Communication and External Relations
media@afdb.org

About SEFA:
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 Fund’s overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the New Deal on Energy for Africa and Sustainable Development Goal 7.

About Qair:
Qair is an independent renewable energy company developing, financing, building, and operating solar, onshore and offshore wind, hydroelectric, tidal energy, waste-to-energy, battery storage and green hydrogen production.

With 1.1 GW of capacity in operation, the group’s 640 employees are developing a portfolio pipeline of 30 GW in 20 countries across Europe, Latin America and Africa. Our ambition is to become an independent leader in responsible energy.

In Africa, Qair’s portfolio of wind, PV and BESS assets includes 65 MW operational projects, 174 MW/262 MWh under construction or financing and a robust pipeline under development of 2GW+. With over 15 years of presence in Africa and teams established in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritius, Morocco, Seychelles, and Tunisia, Qair continually expands its geographical footprint across North, Central and West Africa and the Indian Ocean. Qair has already completed another 24MW solar PV project (Zano) in Burkina Faso, which was awarded under a public-private partnership (PPP) with GoBF along with a PPA with the National Electricity Company (SONABEL).

About FMO:
FMO is the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank. As a leading impact investor, FMO supports sustainable private sector growth in developing countries and emerging markets by investing in ambitious projects and entrepreneurs. FMO believes that a strong private sector leads to economic and social development and has a 50+ year proven track record in empowering entrepreneurs to make local economies more inclusive, productive, resilient and sustainable. FMO focuses on three sectors with a high development impact: Agribusiness, Food&Water, Energy, and Financial Institutions. With a total committed portfolio of EUR ~13 billion spanning over 85 countries, FMO is one of the larger bilateral private sector development banks globally.

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group 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 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org