On the sidelines of the summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, President Ruto engaged in discussions with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed regarding the resolution of the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He also explored opportunities for collaboration with The Rockefeller Foundation to expand Kenya’s school feeding program. ‘Mission 300’ stands as a beacon of hope for millions across Africa, promising not only access to electricity but also economic transformation and an improved quality of life
African leaders have unveiled an ambitious initiative, “Mission 300,” aimed at connecting 300 million people to electricity over the next five years. The program, which seeks to provide affordable and sustainable power to more than half of the 600 million Africans currently without electricity, was launched during the African Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The historic summit brought together African Heads of State and global leaders from the financial and philanthropic sectors. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who hosted the event, emphasized the far-reaching impact of the initiative. “This summit goes beyond energy; it is about empowering families, lifting millions out of poverty, and providing hope and opportunities for the youth,” she said.
Prominent attendees included Kenya’s President William Ruto and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazaouani, Chair of the African Union. Key partners in the initiative include the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank (AfDB), The Rockefeller Foundation, and the African Union.
Largest Public-Private Partnership in Africa
The electrification drive marks the largest public-private-philanthropic partnership in Africa’s history. The World Bank has committed $30–40 billion, while the AfDB has pledged $18 billion over five years. Ajay Banga, World Bank President, underscored the significance of “Mission 300,” stating, “It is the cornerstone of the jobs agenda, the foundation of future growth.”
The program will also address clean cooking solutions to prevent 600,000 annual deaths caused by smoke exposure, particularly among women and children. Without such collaborative efforts, President Hassan warned, most Africans without power today would remain in darkness by 2030, even as the rest of the world strives for universal electrification.
AfDB President Dr Akinwumi Adesina highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa, which has already increased power access from 39% to 52% between 2015 and 2024, connecting 25 million people. “Despite this progress, Africa still accounts for 81% of the global population without electricity, with 571 million people in the dark,” Dr Adesina noted.
The summit concluded with the signing of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, committing leaders to practical reforms in their respective countries. Additionally, National Energy Compacts were introduced, detailing country-specific targets and timelines for achieving the electrification goals.
Dr. Adesina praised the leaders for embracing the initiative, stating, “You will be remembered as Presidents who said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Other notable attendees included Rajiv Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, Mokhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of Total.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Ruto held discussions with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed on resolving the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He also explored collaboration opportunities with The Rockefeller Foundation to expand Kenya’s school feeding program.
“Mission 300” represents a beacon of hope for millions across Africa, promising not only electricity but also economic transformation and improved quality of life.
