Thirty African leaders have pledged major reforms to improve electricity access across the continent, backed by over $50 billion in funding. The commitment was made at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where leaders signed the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, aiming to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
The initiative unites governments, development banks, philanthropies, and private investors to address Africa’s energy gap, where 600 million people lack access to power. Twelve countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, and Senegal, presented detailed National Energy Compacts to scale up electricity, expand renewables, and attract private investment.
Major financial commitments include:
- African Development Bank & World Bank: $48 billion
- Islamic Development Bank: $2.65 billion
- OPEC Fund: $1 billion
- Agence Française de Développement & AIIB: Over $2 billion combined
World Bank President Ajay Banga emphasized that “electricity is a fundamental human right,” calling for collective action. The initiative will be submitted to the African Union Summit in February for formal adoption, marking a significant step in Africa’s energy transformation.
