The African Development Bank Group and the Government of Eritrea have reaffirmed their development partnership following a high-level mission held from April 15 to 17, 2026. The delegation was led by Alex Mubiru, the Bank’s Director General for East Africa, and focused on reviewing progress in key sectors while strengthening cooperation aligned with Eritrea’s long-term development priorities.
During the visit, the delegation met with senior Eritrean officials including Hagos Gebrehiwet, Senior Advisor to the President, and Giorgis Teklemariam, Minister of Finance and National Development. Discussions focused on practical and sustainable solutions for inclusive economic growth, covering areas such as renewable energy, transport infrastructure, financial sector modernization, skills development, and national data systems.
A major focus of the discussions was Eritrea’s energy sector, particularly the expansion of reliable and affordable electricity through renewable energy projects. The two sides explored the development of new solar power plants in Tesseney, Berantu, and Kerkebet in the Gash Barka region. These projects are expected to improve energy access and support economic activity across the country.
The delegation also reviewed progress on the Massawa to Tesseney Road and Coastal Infrastructure Development Project, which aims to improve transport connectivity and support trade and mobility. In addition, talks continued regarding a possible financial sector modernization initiative designed to strengthen banking and economic systems in Eritrea.
As part of the mission, Bank officials conducted field visits to several ongoing projects, including technical and vocational education and training institutions, agricultural micro dams, and the 30MW Dekemhare solar power plant. The solar facility is already contributing electricity to Eritrea’s national grid and represents a significant step toward cleaner energy generation.
The mission was coordinated with support from the Bank Group’s liaison office in Asmara and involved collaboration with several United Nations agencies including United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, and International Fund for Agricultural Development. Both the African Development Bank and the Eritrean government concluded the visit by reaffirming their commitment to advancing priority reforms and investments that promote sustainable development and resilience.
