The Central African Republic has secured a US$90 million World Bank grant to finance key road and energy infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity, expanding electricity access and supporting long-term economic growth.
The funding, equivalent to roughly 53 billion CFA francs, was announced in Bangui on Thursday following talks between Prime Minister Félix Moloua and a delegation led by the World Bank’s regional director for Central Africa, Franz Drees-Gross.
The package forms part of broader efforts to strengthen critical infrastructure in one of the world’s least electrified and most transport-constrained economies.
Road infrastructure push
A significant share of the grant will be allocated to upgrading strategic transport corridors, particularly the Bangui–Gara–Mboulaï road, which links the capital to the southwest and provides access to Cameroon’s port of Douala.
The corridor is considered vital for the landlocked country’s external trade, with officials noting that the Douala–Bangui axis handles a large portion of imports entering the Central African Republic. Cameroonian customs authorities estimate goods transiting the route at nearly 55 billion CFA francs annually.
The programme also includes the paving of the 145-kilometre Bossembélé–Bossangoa road, a key link between National Route 1 and the northern region. Authorities say the project will improve movement of goods and people between central and northern parts of the country, where infrastructure remains limited.
Energy expansion and electrification
The remaining funds will be directed toward the energy sector, where electricity access remains extremely low at about 14–16 percent nationally and as little as 4 percent in rural areas.
A central component of the energy programme is the development of the Danzi solar power plant near Bangui, designed to increase generation capacity and reduce reliance on expensive thermal power production.
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State utility ENERCA will also implement the rollout of low-cost electricity meters aimed at low-income households, a measure intended to reduce illegal connections and improve revenue collection.
Development strategy and outlook
The projects fall under the country’s 2024–2028 National Development Plan, which prioritises transport and energy infrastructure as key drivers of economic recovery and private sector growth.
The World Bank has projected modest but steady economic expansion, with growth expected to reach 2.2 percent in 2026 and 2.8 percent in 2027, depending on performance in energy, agriculture and services.
Analysts say the success of the programme will depend on the government’s ability to maintain implementation momentum in a challenging environment marked by limited fiscal space, weak infrastructure and ongoing security concerns in parts of the country.
Despite these constraints, officials say the investment marks an important step toward improving regional connectivity and expanding access to basic services, particularly electricity and transport links that are essential for trade and development.
