Sudan Boosts Pledge to AfDF, Joining Push for Historic $25 Billion Replenishment

President Adesina lauded Sudan’s increased pledge as a testament to its solidarity and ongoing commitment despite economic hurdles.

In a significant show of commitment, Sudan has increased its pledged contribution to the African Development Fund (ADF) replenishment to $3 million, as announced by Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Gebreil Ibrahim Mohamed Fediel. The announcement was made during a meeting in Washington, D.C., with ministers from Sierra Leone, the Gambia, Liberia, and African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina. The gathering took place on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings.

The ministers discussed their collective support for the AfDB Group’s goal of achieving a $25 billion replenishment for the ADF, which provides concessional financing for Africa’s lower-income countries. This ambitious target for the Fund’s 17th replenishment, scheduled for 2025, reflects a bold shift toward enhancing financial stability and infrastructure development across the continent.

President Adesina lauded Sudan’s increased pledge as a testament to its solidarity and ongoing commitment despite economic hurdles. Sudan’s decision follows Benin’s recent $2 million pledge, underscoring a growing momentum among African nations to back the fund’s expansion. “The ADF’s concessional financing has helped construct vital transport corridors and power infrastructure, fostering connectivity in our 37 beneficiary nations,” said Adesina. “Raising the ADF’s resources to $25 billion is essential, which is why I pushed for the ADF to access capital markets, unlocking an additional $27 billion from the upcoming ADF-17.”

Executive Director Rufus Darkortey, representing Sudan, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, praised Sudan’s increased contribution as a demonstration of the continent’s dedication to advancing regional development. Darkortey commended President Adesina for advocating robust financial mobilization to fund Africa’s infrastructure projects, sustainable energy solutions, and other essential programs. In addition to Sudan, Kenya’s President William Ruto pledged $20 million to the ADF earlier this year.

The ADF’s current three-year financing cycle, valued at $8.9 billion, is the largest in the fund’s history. As ADF-17 approaches, the AfDB Group anticipates that increased access to capital markets will help African nations meet the escalating demands of infrastructure, healthcare, and education, propelling the continent toward long-term growth.