NEW YORK, United States of America, September 26, 2025 — Seventeen African governments today announced reforms and concrete plans to expand electricity access under Mission 300 — a partnership led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) that aims to connect 300 million Africans to reliable power by 2030.
The commitments were unveiled at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum, where national Energy Compactswere endorsed by Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
“Electricity is the bedrock of jobs, opportunity, and economic growth. That’s why Mission 300 is more than a target — it is forging enduring reforms that slash costs, strengthen utilities, and draw in private investment.”
— Ajay Banga, President, World Bank Group
Since the launch of Mission 300, 30 million people have already been connected, with more than 100 million additional connections in the pipeline.
“Reliable, affordable power is the fastest multiplier for small and medium enterprises, agro-processing, digital work, and industrial value-addition. Give a young entrepreneur power, and you’ve given them a paycheck.”
— Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President, African Development Bank Group
National Energy Compacts
At the heart of Mission 300 are country-specific Energy Compacts — practical blueprints that guide public spending, trigger policy reforms, and attract private capital. Each Compact integrates three tracks: infrastructure, financing, and policy.
Earlier this year, similar commitments were endorsed by Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia. Together, these countries have pledged more than 400 policy actions to strengthen utilities, reduce investor risk, and remove bottlenecks.
Voices from African Leaders
“This National Compact is our shared pledge to ensure accessible, reliable, and affordable energy as a basic human need, to transform our economy and create jobs, and to electrify our journey to an inclusive high-income country.”
— Duma Boko, President of Botswana
“The government of the Republic of Cameroon is committed, through its Energy Compact, to a determined transition towards renewable energies, promoting inclusive universal access and sustainable development based on partnerships and ambitious reforms to build a low-carbon future.”
— Paul Biya, President of Cameroon
“The Comoros Energy Compact is a call for collective action to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030, in order to ensure the country’s emergence in dignity, equity, and shared progress.”
— Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros
“In addition to abundant sunlight and gas resources capable of generating more electricity, the Republic of Congo has a certified hydroelectric potential of nearly 27,000 MW and more than 100,000 MW currently under study. The Energy Compact will enable Congo to achieve universal access to electricity, supply industries in special economic and mining zones, and export surplus energy to other countries.”
— Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo
“Our National Energy Compact exemplifies Ethiopia’s unwavering dedication to ensuring universal, affordable, and sustainable energy access for all. By unlocking our vast renewable resources and strengthening regional interconnections, we aim to foster inclusive growth domestically and propel Africa’s collective momentum toward ending energy poverty.”
— Taye Atske Selassie, President of Ethiopia
“The Gambia’s Energy Compact reaffirms our commitment to universal electricity access by 2030, scaling renewables, strengthening infrastructure, integrating the private sector and improving sector governance.”
— Adama Barrow, President of The Gambia
“Ghana believes universal energy access is key to empowering businesses, reducing poverty, and creating equal opportunities. This goal can only be achieved through strong government–private sector partnerships, supported by an enabling environment for sustainable investment.”
— John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana
“The Republic of Guinea reaffirms its commitment to guaranteeing, by 2030, universal access to reliable, clean, and affordable electricity, while providing sufficient capacity to support national industrialization, particularly in the mining sector, through a transparent and constructive partnership with the private sector.”
— Mamadi Doumbouya, President of the Republic of Guinea
“Energy is a key enabler under the infrastructure component of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. The Energy Compact anchors our commitment to achieve universal access to electricity and clean cooking and transition our grid to full reliance on clean energy by 2030.”
— William Ruto, President of Kenya
“Mountain winds blow, waters flow, the sun shines brightest — Lesotho, the kingdom in the sky. Universal access to renewable energy is our proud imperative. Experience elevation with agility and scale. Be part of our journey and pride. Invest in Lesotho.”
— Sam Matekane, Prime Minister of Lesotho
“Mozambique is on track to achieve Mission 300 targets and consolidate our role as a regional powerhouse through export of our abundant, affordable and clean energy. We welcome support from partners to achieve universal access, promote economic growth and green industrialization, and increase regional trade and integration.”
— Daniel Chapo, President of Mozambique
“Our M300 Compact is the most ambitious and comprehensive energy infrastructure initiative ever developed for Sierra Leone. Powered by evidence-based solutions and data, this single plan for Sierra Leone’s energy transformation holds the greatest promise for unlocking sustainable and inclusive development for our people.”
— Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone
“We guarantee reliable, affordable and clean electricity for all, and access to clean cooking. This Compact massively mobilizes the private sector to accelerate our industrialization and make Togo a competitive energy hub.”
— Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of Togo
“Our Compact provides a forward-thinking framework to fuel a sustainable and inclusive model of economic growth for Saotomeans. We are enacting strong reforms and developing innovative business models to raise US$190 million from the private sector to finance this objective.”
— Américo d’Oliveira dos Ramos, Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe
“The Republic of Burundi has set ambitious targets for access to electricity and clean cooking to improve the economic and social development of its population. Private sector participation is crucial to achieving these goals.”
— Edouard Bizimana, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Burundi
About Mission 300
Mission 300 was launched in 2023 as a joint initiative of the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group, with the goal of connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. It emphasizes national ownership through Energy Compacts, backed by global partnerships and private sector investment.
Sources & Media Contacts
- Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
- Distributed by: APO Group on behalf of the AfDB
- World Bank Group Media Relations: press@worldbank.org
- African Development Bank Group Media: media@afdb.org
- Websites: www.worldbank.org | www.afdb.org
