The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Message on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Chad
This significant occasion offers an opportunity to reflect on Chad's enduring journey as a sovereign nation and its steadfast contributions to the advancement of peace, stability, and regional cooperation across the continent.
As a valued Member State of the African Union, Chad has played a pivotal role in the promotion of collective security, counterterrorism, and continental integration - efforts that remain crucial to the realization of the African Union's vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa.
The African Union reaffirms its unwavering support to the Government and people of Chad as they pursue their national development priorities and democratic aspirations. We remain committed to working closely with Chad in fostering sustainable peace, resilience, and inclusive growth.
Happy Independence Day!
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
African Development Bank backs Artificial Intelligence (AI) training to boost Agenda 2063 implementation across Africa
The African Development Bank ( is supporting a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) training initiative to advance the implementation of Africa's continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want ( Through its Joint Secretariat Support Office (JSSO), the Bank provided technical and financial backing for the 5th Annual Training Workshop for African Union Member States on harnessing AI for effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on the Second Ten-Year Plan (2024–2033) of Agenda 2063. The five-day workshop, held in Lusaka, Zambia, was jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). The event brought together representatives from African Union Member States to strengthen their technical capacity in using AI tools and digital innovations to monitor, track, and report on the implementation of Agenda 2063. The training is part of broader efforts to enhance institutional and human capacity across the continent. Participants engaged in practical sessions on emerging AI platforms, including Ailyse, ChatGPT, Google AI Studio, Google Gemini, and Perplexity, exploring how these tools can improve data analysis, enhance decision-making, and promote evidence-based policy development in line with Agenda 2063 ( priorities. The Bank's support to the workshop reflects its broader commitment to strengthening results-based planning, monitoring, and accountability within the African Union framework, while promoting innovation and digital transformation as key enablers of Africa's development agenda. Speaking at the workshop, Abibu Tamu, Lead Programme Co-ordinator at African Development Bank Group, reaffirmed the Bank's dedication to working closely with the African Union Commission and strategic partners to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063, particularly its Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan. 'These tools are not only revolutionizing how data is collected, analysed, and reported, they are also enabling more targeted policy interventions and efficient resource allocation,' said Tamu. The workshop also served as a platform for peer learning and knowledge exchange, with participating countries sharing innovative approaches and best practices in national development planning and results-based reporting. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Zawya
4 hours ago
- Zawya
The Central African Republic and the African Development Bank Group launch an ambitious programme to develop water resources in the Ubangui River basin
The government of the Central African Republic and the African Development Bank Group ( launched the Regional Support Programme for the Development of Cross-Border Water Infrastructure and Resources between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo (PREDIRE) ( in Bangui on Tuesday 5 August 2025. Bertrand Arthur Piri, Minister of Energy and Water Resource Development, and Mamady Souaré, head of the African Development Bank Group's Country Office for the Central African Republic, chaired the launch ceremony, which was attended by other members of the government, including Éric Mathieu Rokosset Kamo (Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works), Ernest Mada (Government Minister and Secretary-General), Nicaise Nassin (Public Safety&Security), Bruno Yapandé (Territorial Administration and Decentralization), Marcel Dimasse (Civil Service and Administrative Reform) and Obed Namsio (representing the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Cooperation). Local officials, technical and financial partners of the Central African Republic, representatives of civil society and numerous guests attended the event. The Regional Support Programme for the Development of Cross-Border Water Infrastructure and Resources between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo ( aims to develop the immense water resources of the Ubangui Basin by sustainably transforming the socioeconomic living conditions of people living alongside the river, while consolidating regional integration. It is financed by the African Development Bank in the amount of $121 million. The project will be implemented over five years from November 2024 to November 2029. "PREDIRE is in line with the vision of the President of the Central African Republic, Faustin Archange Touadera, for sustainable and inclusive development based on equitable access to drinking water, sanitation, food security and environmental protection," said Minister Piri. "It also demonstrates the strength of the partnership between the Central African Republic and the African Development Bank, a privileged partner in the country's development," he added. Built around the water–food security–climate nexus, the programme ( comprises two complementary sub-programmes. The first, launched on Tuesday, focuses on improving the hydrological information system in the Ubangui Basin, preparing for future investments, and building climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. The second sub-programme, currently in preparation, will focus on financing water collection infrastructure for the Agricultural Transformation Programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), improving river navigation throughout the Ubangui Basin in the Central African Republic, the DRC and the Congo River, and protecting and building the resilience of vulnerable communities to the effects of climate change. "By taking an integrated and inclusive approach, PREDIRE will help strengthen the climate resilience of communities while boosting economic growth through water, navigation and sustainable agriculture services," said Mr. Souaré. He emphasized that "100% of the financing is dedicated to combating the effects of climate change, making it a flagship project in the Bank's climate portfolio." The programme aims to improve the sustainable management of shared water resources in the cross-border Ubangui Basin, while promoting the development of infrastructure essential to ensuring a secure water supply for people, agriculture, and agricultural processing industries. It also provides for strengthening the institutional capacities of national and regional actors, in particular the International Commission of the Congo-Ubangi-Sangha Basin (CICOS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), in the areas of water resource governance and integrated basin management. The Central African Republic component of the programme includes the construction of a new raw water pumping station with a capacity of 6,500 m³/hour, a water treatment plant with the same capacity, a 50,000 m³ storage facility, the extension of 208 kilometres of distribution network, the installation of 15,000 social connections and the construction of new headquarters for the Central African Water Distribution Company (SODECA). The programme covers the provinces of Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi and Mongala in the DRC, as well as Greater Bangui in the Central African Republic. More than 2.4 million people (51 percent of whom are women) will benefit directly from the project. Sixty-nine percent of these beneficiaries live in absolute poverty, while 71 percent are young people, at least 50 percent of whom are girls. The project will generate 3,400 jobs, including 1,200 permanent positions, through infrastructure works, entrepreneurship training, the provision of water and sanitation services, and improvements to river navigation. In addition, a specific resilience and social cohesion programme will be implemented to benefit 25,000 people, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In terms of governance, the project plans to strengthen the capacities of more than 1,300 stakeholders. One hundred percent of the women targeted will benefit from skills development within national, regional and community institutions involved in the preservation of shared resources. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Contact: Pascale ESSAMA Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank media@ About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's leading development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Represented in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, the Bank is committed to the economic development and social advancement of its 54 regional member countries. For more information, visit
Zawya
5 hours ago
- Zawya
Remarks by Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina President and Chairman, Boards of Directors, African Development Bank Group at the Signing Ceremony for Mandated Lead Arranger New Bishoftu Airport of Ethiopia
Protocols Honorable Minister of Finance and Governor of Ethiopia to the African Development Bank Group, Ahmed Shide. Honorable Ministers and senior officials of the Government of Ethiopia. Honorable Ministers, including the Honorable Minister of Finance for Malawi, Simplex Banda. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ethiopian Airlines Group, H.E. Lieutenant General Yilma Merdassa. Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines Group, Mesfin Tasew Bekele. The Chief Commercial Officer and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ethiopian Airline Group. The Management and staff of the Ethiopian Airlines Group. Vice Presidents Nnnena Mwabufo and Vice President Solomon Quaynor of the African Development Bank Group. The Country Manager for Ethiopia and Deputy Director General for Eastern Africa of the African Development Bank Group, Leandre Basole, who is now the Director General of the Bank for Central Africa. The Country-Manager Designate for Ethiopia and Deputy Director General for Eastern Africa, Olajide Oyewusi. All staff of the African Development Bank. All staff of the Ethiopian Airlines Group. Members of the Media. Ladies and gentlemen. Good morning! I am delighted to be back in Addis Ababa, a city that is witnessing incredible transformation under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. If the transformation is happening in years, I can understand, but it is happening every hour, every day, every week, at scale. Speed and scale are now the hallmarks of Ethiopia. And scale is what we are signing onto today: the start of the pathway for the construction of the mega Bishoftu international airport. It is a testament to the power of vision, determination and resolve to put Africa at the top. Ethiopia airlines has put Africa at the top in global aviation. I am writing these remarks onboard the ET flight from Abidjan to Addis Ababa. In the air, on top, across 130 destinations, across 5 continents, Ethiopia Airlines makes Africa proud. With its 75 years of operational history, Ethiopian Airlines is Africa's oldest and best airline. It is critical for regional economic integration, connecting capitals, people and markets, with its globally rated cargo facilities. This was remarkable during the Covid19 pandemic. When many global airlines stopped flying., Ethiopian Airlines was in the air. It innovated by turning passenger cabins in its fleets to cargo facilities, moving goods, vaccines, medicines and equipment, across the world. Ethiopian Airlines have won the Skytrax 'Best Airline in Africa' award for seven consecutive years. I applaud the CEO of Ethiopian airlines, Mr. Mesfin Bekele, who is doing an outstanding job, and the Board of Directors, Management and staff of the airline for their incredible top-notch performance and for making Africa proud. I understand that Mr. Mesfin Bekele had wanted to retire twice and twice he has been encouraged to stay on a little longer. That is not surprising, for as the saying goes, the price for great work is more work. I understand that he will be retiring in another year, and you already have a clear succession plan. There will be no surprises. That is the mark of a great institution. I wish to commend you, the Board of Directors, Management and staff for making Ethiopian Airlines such a profitable company, with $7.2 billion in revenues in 2024, an increase of 14% from 2023. I learnt that you also increased your passenger numbers by 24%, to 19 million passengers. What a performance! The African Development Bank is proud to partner with Ethiopia in its vision to expand the operational and fleet capacity of the Ethiopian Airlines. That's why in 2016, one year after my election as President of the African Development Bank, we provided a $160-million corporate loan to Ethiopian Airlines for its expansion and fleet modernization. I was delighted on one of my trips from Addis to Abidjan, when suddenly the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines showed up and said they had changed the aircraft we would use to the new Airbus which was purchased with the financing from the African Development Bank. What a flight it was, for me and all my accompanying staff! I can still recall my photographer, Roland (who is here today), sitting comfortably and enjoying the flight, in the brand-new aircraft. From then, Ethiopian Airlines has not looked back. Today, its fleet expansion program will acquire an additional 114 aircrafts, to bring its fleet capacity to 240 aircrafts. To stay dominant, the government of Ethiopia is also expanding its airport facilities, especially for international flights. The Bole International airport, which currently is at 19 million out of its 25 million passenger capacity per year is no longer enough for the ambition of Ethiopia to be on top. The Prime Minister looks forward again! The new Bishoftu international airport will be a game changer for air transport in Africa and globally. The phase one of the Bishoftu airport will handle 60 million passengers per annum, which will rise to 110 million passengers per annum, in phase 2. The Bishoftu airport will enable Ethiopian Airlines to reduce its fuel consumption by 15%. It will also accommodate 3.7 million tons of cargo and provide parking for 270 aircrafts. The construction of the new Bishoftu airport will cost a total of $10 billion. The African Development Bank is delighted to have been selected as the Mandated Leader Arranger, Global Coordinator and Book Runner to mobilize $8 billion of debt financing towards the construction of the new airport, including up to $500 million of debt from the Bank. You can understand why. The African Development Bank is the largest financier of infrastructure in Africa. In the past ten years under my Presidency, the Bank has financed over $55 billion in infrastructure. We will do all we can to support Ethiopia to achieve its dream. I wish to highly commend the Honorable Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, for his strong leadership, for believing in the African Development Bank and for working closely with my staff to make this day a reality. You were with me in Abidjan on March 24, 2025, along with the the CEO of Ethiopian airlines, when you signed the Letter of Intent for the project with Vice President Nnenna Mwabufo. I am proud that the team of the Bank moved with speed and deployed a project preparation mission to Addis Ababa from 5th-9th May, 2025. And here we are today, signing the Mandate letter for the African Development Bank to mobilize the $8 billion for the construction of the new airport. I wish to commend the Government of Ethiopia for moving rapidly to relocate and financially settle all the 2,800 households that will be affected by the project, with transparency and accountability. I wish to assure you that the African Development Bank will deliver, so that this project can be delivered by Ethiopia for its people. As this will be my last official visit to Ethiopia, as President of the African Development Bank, I wish to use the opportunity to express my deep appreciation to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, as well as the Government of Ethiopia for all your support for the African Development Bank, my staff and I, over the past ten years. I wish to commend the Minister of Finance for his excellent support. I also wish to commend all my staff, especially my senior Vice President, Vice Presidents, General Counsel and our exemplary legal staff, Directors of the Bank, as well as the country manager and deputy director general and his team at the Bank's office in Addis Ababa. I wish to use this time to specially commend Leandre Bassole, the Country Manager for Ethiopia and the Deputy Director General, who is now taking on a new role as the Director General of the Central Africa region for the African Development Bank. Under you, Leandre, and with your leadership and strategic partnership, the Bank was able to secure this mandate. Well done! I have no doubt that you will excel in your new role. I am equally pleased that Olajide Oyewusi, the new Country Manager designate for Ethiopia and the Deputy Director General is here at the event. Given his extensive experience as a commercial banker, he will be able to put this to use to accelerate the Bank's delivery on the project. This will ensure a smooth leadership transition and stability in the operations of the African Development Bank in Ethiopia. I look forward to flying Ethiopian Airlines to come back here in few years and land at the Bishoftu International Airport. What a great day that will be! I will always have Ethiopia in my heart. Thank you very much. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
