Lagos, Oct. 6, 2025 (Lusa) - The credit rating agency Moody's has decided to maintain the rating of the African Finance Corporation (AFC), one of the leading infrastructure financiers in Africa, at A3 with a stable outlook, allowing for low-interest financing.
"Despite the high country risk in several of the countries where AFC operates and the low average rating of its shareholder base, the credit profile is supported by a solid liquidity reserve, backed by high-quality treasury assets and resilient asset performance, underpinned by effective credit protections that mitigate potential credit risks," Moody's said in its latest report, according to a statement from AFC sent to Lusa on Monday.
Maintaining the A3 rating, above investment grade and allowing cheaper access to international financial markets than any other African country, "reflects AFC's strict adherence to its prudential guidelines and its solid financial performance," adds the statement from AFC, which is the main promoter of the Lobito Corridor, an economic infrastructure that will enable the transport of minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the port of Lobito in Angola and develop the economy of the entire region.
Maintaining this rating for the 11th consecutive year "is strong evidence of AFC's financial strength and resilience, even in a context of global headwinds," said the Corporation's chief executive, Samaila Zubairu, quoted in the statement, in which he added that the opinion on credit quality "reinforces the ability to consistently access long-term capital at competitive rates to fulfil the mandate to finance transformational infrastructure projects that include Africa and enable its industrialisation."
Angola, which became a sovereign shareholder in AFC in June, is the second Portuguese-speaking country, after Cabo Verde, to be a shareholder in this entity aimed at financing infrastructure investments on the continent.
Earlier this year, the Angola Sovereign Wealth Fund also made a capital investment of US$25 million in AFC, reflecting "a cohesive national strategy to promote Angola's industrial and infrastructure development agenda through close collaboration with AFC," it announced last month.
AFC was created in 2007 to foster investment in infrastructure and industry on the African continent, bringing together sector expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development and venture capital to address infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth in Africa.
AFC has 45 member states and has invested more than US$15 billion (€12.9 billion) in 36 African countries since its creation.
MBA/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
