The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has officially launched the countdown to its upcoming Annual Meetings . Scheduled for May 25-29, 2026 in Brazzaville , Congo, this major event will be marked by a strong financial focus.

The announcement was made this Thursday, April 23, in Abidjan by Chioma A. Onukogu, acting secretary general of the institution.

A central theme: Mass mobilization

This year's theme, "Mobilizing resources on a large scale for financing Africa's development in a fragmented world" , underlines the urgency of finding sustainable solutions despite a complex international context.

The stakes are enormous. Kevin Urama, chief economist of the AfDB, recalled the scale of the challenge: the continent needs approximately $13 trillion to finance its overall development.

Key points from the conference

Nearly 3,000 participants — including government leaders, private sector actors, academics and representatives of civil society — are expected to debate and decide on future economic directions.

The objectives of this meeting are multiple:

1. Review and evaluation: Taking stock of the Bank's activities and measuring the progress made since the 2025 edition in Abidjan.
2. Governance: Holding the 61st meeting of the Bank's Board of Governors as well as the 52nd Assembly of the African Development Fund (ADF).
3. Concrete action: Transforming reflections into operational strategies to accelerate the continent's growth.

"These assemblies constitute a unique forum for exchanges to define concrete guidelines for mobilizing funding." — Chioma A. Onukogu.

This Brazzaville summit marks a crucial step for the institution, which is seeking more than ever to strengthen Africa's economic resilience in the face of global shocks.