28 October 2026 – Daily Review of Infrastructure Financing and Investment in Africa
28 October 2026
The selected reports cover progress on projects and financing arrangements linked to regional integration: the selection of preferred contractors for a new railway between Zambia and Angola, a parliamentary step supporting West African electricity trade, the preparation of transport programmes in Nigeria, and trade finance risk sharing. They concern upcoming contract negotiations, a ratification bill considered in committee, and investment proposals, rather than completed works or funds already disbursed.
Zambia and Angola AFC selects preferred bidders for 830 km of new railway towards Lobito
On 27 October, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) announced the selection of preferred bidders for the engineering, procurement and construction contracts for the 830 km greenfield Zambia Lobito Railway. The consortium of Webuild, Mota-Engil and IC İçtaş Construction was selected for the Zambian section, while the consortium of Mota-Engil and Odebrecht Engineering and Construction was selected for the Angolan section. Negotiations are due to begin in November, with the aim of concluding contracts within eight to twelve weeks, subject to agreement on technical, commercial and legal terms.
Sources: Africa Finance Corporation · Agenzia Nova · Mining Discovery
Côte d’Ivoire Parliamentary committee approves ratification bill for USD 322.5 million energy compact
According to Agence ivoirienne de presse and KOACI, the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a bill on 27 October authorising ratification of the agreements governing the Regional Energy Compact. The planned five-year package combines a USD 300 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US development funding institution, with a USD 22.5 million contribution from Côte d’Ivoire. The programme aims to modernise the grid, improve its reliability and support electricity trade within the Economic Community of West African States; the committee vote represents a step in the parliamentary process.
Sources: Agence ivoirienne de presse · KOACI
Nigeria Seventeen indicative programmes presented to connect transport and productive activities with financing
In its 27 October report on the Investment Partnership Lab held alongside the Nigerian Economic Summit, The Guardian described the presentation of seventeen indicative programmes linking productive activities, transport infrastructure and financing. Discussions included Sealink, a proposed network integrating inland waterways, coastal shipping, river ports and land connections. Further work is envisaged on navigability, maritime security and freight demand; these proposals do not represent concluded financing arrangements.
Sources: The Guardian Nigeria
Africa AFC and Munich Re establish USD 1 billion trade finance risk sharing programme
In an announcement reported on 27 October, AFC outlined a programme with reinsurer Munich Re providing USD 1 billion in committed risk-sharing capacity for its trade finance transactions with African banks. The first phase covers 38 financial institutions in eleven countries and includes letters of credit, trade loans and guarantees. AFC retains part of the risk on each transaction, and capacity can be reused as transactions are repaid; the amount does not represent an immediate disbursement for a particular infrastructure project.
Sources: Africa Finance Corporation · Reinsurance News · JBizNews — Bloomberg
Information notice
This press review is prepared for information purposes using publicly available sources. The information and opinions reported are those of the cited sources and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of the Secretariat of the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (ICA) or its members. The selection of content and references to institutions, companies or projects do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. This review does not claim to be exhaustive; readers are encouraged to consult the original sources before making decisions or using the information.