The President of the African Development Bank Group Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (www.AfDB.org) has appointed career diplomat Ambassador Jalel Trabelsi as his Special Envoy for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Region.

Ambassador Trabelsi brings to the role over 30 years of experience as a highly accomplished and distinguished diplomat.

As Special Envoy for MENA and the Gulf Region, Ambassador Trabelsi will help to foster diplomatic and strategic engagements within the MENA and Gulf Region, focusing on the Bank’s strategic priorities, strengthening partnerships and mobilizing public and private sector resources at scale to deliver transformational projects in Africa.

A Tunisian citizen, Ambassador Trabelsi’s diplomatic career is marked by significant roles and contributions. He served as Minister Plenipotentiary for African Affairs, and was the Ambassador of Tunisia to Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Sierra Leone, and the Economic Community of West Africa (Ecowas). He also served as the Dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors and in other roles as an Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head of the National Commission for Tunisia’s candidacy to the Presidency of the African Development Bank.

He is also a specialist in international law and taught Diplomatic International Law at university level.

Ambassador Trabelsi holds an Advanced Master in Maritime and Aviation Law from Belgium’s Université Libre de Bruxelles, where he undertook his undergraduate degree in political science and international relations and passed with the highest honors. He also holds a Master’s degree in political science from the University of Tunis. He is multilingual with fluency in English, French, and Arabic.

Commenting on his appointment, Ambassador Trabelsi said: “I am extremely honoured to be appointed by Dr. Adesina to this role. As an African, I am motivated to continue to serve our continent and to contribute to the African Development Bank’s transformational work under the visionary leadership of Dr. Adesina. I will work to ensure the Bank maintains and further strengthens its excellent and fruitful cooperation and partnership with Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Region.”

Dr. Adesina said: “I am delighted to have Ambassador Trabelsi as my Special Envoy for a region that holds a lot of promise for the Bank’s and Africa’s economic transformation. He has a strong track record and expertise in international relations and cooperation as well as international negotiation. He brings extensive knowledge in African, Arab, and European affairs and a deep understanding of the activities of the Bank, as well as other regional and international financial banking institutions.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 34 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org  

European partners have been vocal about plans to boost clean, smart and secure investments in Africa’s energy sector, with the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative aiming to mobilize €150 billion across the continent through 2027. Motivations for this range from securing the bloc’s own energy supplies, to strengthening energy diplomacy on the continent, to generating high returns on critical infrastructure investments. Given Europe’s focus on sustainable energy development, the upcoming Invest in African Energy (IAE) forum (https://Invest-Africa-Energy.com) – taking place in Paris on May 14-15 – will showcase opportunities for the European and global private sector to develop and advance natural gas, renewable energy, green hydrogen and decarbonization technologies across the continent, with a view to supporting Africa’s role in the global energy transition.

LNG

As Africa looks to develop its gas for domestic and export markets, LNG (https://apo-opa.co/3UD3ivS) represents a critical investment avenue for European partners and investors. Representing a relatively clean-burning fossil fuel that can deliver energy reliably and to scale, LNG has been positioned as the fuel of the future and the key to meeting rising energy demand in Africa and globally. European majors and independents are already at the helm of developing world-class LNG facilities across the continent, from bp’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG in Senegal and Mauritania, to Perenco’s Cap Lopez LNG Terminal in Gabon, to Eni’s Congo LNG in the Republic of Congo. The continent features myriad opportunities in the exploration, transport, processing and storage of natural gas and associated EPC contract value in establishing integrated gas value chains. 

Renewables

Africa’s solar potential is measured at 7,900 GW – more than 1,000 times its current solar generation capacity – while wind potential is measured at 461 GW, which equates to 100 times the current wind generation capacity. The continent is home to considerable technical potential for hydropower – which accounts for approximately 17% of its electricity generation on average – and is set to overtake Europe in installed geothermal capacity by the end of the decade. Given Africa’s prolific energy needs, decentralized power solutions (https://apo-opa.co/4aRnFuC) – particularly from renewables – hold the capacity to help electrify rural parts of the continent, while aligning with net-zero targets.

Green Hydrogen

Owing to its substantial and often co-located renewable resources, Africa provides optimal conditions for the development of green hydrogen (https://apo-opa.co/4aRgItB) and green ammonia, estimated to be able to produce a surplus of 20-40 million tons of green hydrogen per year by 2050. The continent is home to several major green hydrogen projects – namely, the 15 GW Aman project in Mauritania, 3 GW Tsau Khaeb project in Namibia and 4 GW SCZONE project in Egypt. Germany has emerged as an active player in this domain by investing in and lending technical expertise to hydrogen development in Angola, Mauritania and Namibia, as well as pledging to invest €4 billion in sustainable energy projects in Africa – including renewable power, green hydrogen and critical raw mineral extraction – through 2030. The EU is targeting ten million tons of imported renewable hydrogen per year by 2030, offering development finance and production subsidies to help African countries develop their green hydrogen supplies.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCUS)

Capturing carbon dioxide produced from burning fossil fuels or as a by-product of industrial manufacturing processes, CCUS technology represents a dynamic investment opportunity within Africa’s energy transition. It holds a wide range of applications – from enhanced oil recovery to fuel production to waste-to-energy plants – and aligns with Africa’s decarbonization goals, while enabling much-needed energy production. CCUS projects are already underway in South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province – where it will capture carbon dioxide from coal-fired power stations – and at Egypt’s Meleiha Field, part of a broader $25-million, multi-phase CCUS project. CCUS aligns closely with the EU’s broader decarbonization goals and represents a strategic area of potential collaboration between European and African service providers by way of sharing best practices, technical expertise and technological innovation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

The branches of the YPFDJ and National Union of Eritrean Women organizations in Germany conducted activity assessments on April 20. Similarly, national associations’ organizations in the US carried out their congress.

During the assessment meeting in Germany, Mr. Kahsai Tewolde, Head of Public and Community Affairs at the Eritrean Embassy, commended the participation of youth at the 18th congress of the YPFDJ in Italy. He called for early preparation for the successful implementation of the 19th congress, which is set to be conducted in Germany.

Ms. Semhar Gebreab, Chairperson of the organization in Germany, presented a paper detailing the establishment and journey of the YPFDJ, rights and obligations of members, and the formality of establishing units within the organization.

Mr. Kibreab Tekeste, Eritrea’s Consul General in Frankfurt, elaborated on the importance of organization and formulating a plan of action.

In the same vein, national organizations in the southwestern US conducted their annual congress in the city of Atlanta. During the congress, activity assessments for 2023 and plans of action for 2024 were discussed by the participants.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

President Isaias Afwerki yesterday, 25 April, met at Denden Guest House, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ Special Envoy for Sudan.

At the meeting, President Isaias noted that progress in resolving the conflict in Sudan has been elusive thus far, attributing it to the proliferation of initiatives and platforms. President Isaias further stated that Eritrea had submitted to Sudan’s Sovereign Council in 2022, a proposal anchored on the establishment of transitional institutions.

President Isaias stated that although the initiative to resolve the conflict was initially accepted by the Sovereign Council, progress was later hampered due to interference and rivalry among various powers. He urged the United Nations Secretary-General to exert more efforts to stem the flow of finance and arms deliveries through neighboring countries.

The UN Envoy, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, for his part, elaborated on measures that the United Nations and its institutions have embarked on to promote peace in Sudan, as well as to provide support to Sudanese people forced into internal displacement and exile due to the conflict.

President Isaias expressed Eritrea’s support to the United Nations Secretary General initiative as a viable mechanism for unifying all other efforts.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and representatives of UN Offices in Eritrea.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.