By William Madouk
African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has made a substantial investment of $500 million in South Sudan, according to Themba Bhebhe, the AfDB’s Country Manager for South Sudan.
This underscores the bank’s commitment to supporting the country’s development and economic growth.
“Yes, in South Sudan, like I indicated, we have invested up to date, about 500 million,” he said.
“This is for South Sudan only. But obviously, the bank has supported significant infrastructure projects throughout Africa, which goes into billions of dollars a year,” he added.
Mr. Bhebhe made this remark yesterday during the media briefing to mark the 60th anniversary of the African Development Bank Group (AFDB) slated for February 25, 2025.
Bhebhe cited that the bank together with the Ministry of Finance would organize an upcoming event that would be attended by key government officials, stakeholders and organizations.
He disclosed that AfDB has managed to connect about 8,300 favelas to clean drinking water in South Sudan.
He added that AfDB is supporting smallholder farmers in Kapoeta through the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
“We are supporting also in partnership with other financers that probably North Kapoeta is now probably almost self-sufficient in food production,” the AfDB boss noted.
Besides, the African Development Bank boss noted that they had rehabilitated the irrigation system in Aweil Rice Scheme – and that led to a successful and massive harvest this year.
“I was announcing the initiative which we are doing in collaboration with the World Bank, which was announced by our president last week, and you are aware that we are going to mobilize about $50 billion for supporting clean energy projects in Africa.