15 October 2026

Bangui-M’Poko International Airport Modernisation More Than 90% Complete, African Development Bank Says

Edited by:

African Pilot Newsdesk

Why this article matters
The mission reviewed progress across the Bank’s project portfolio in the Central African Republic, and the Bangui-M’Poko airport project was named by the Bank among the priorities for faster implementation. The parties agreed to strengthen preparation and reduce start-up times, and to build the capacity of implementing bodies in procurement, disbursement and accountability.

PAMAB’s stated aim is to bring Bangui-M’Poko up to the standards required for ICAO certification and to strengthen the country’s air connectivity, and the terminal, car park and power station works that are more than 90% complete are the physical part of that programme. The project is funded by a US$13.67 million grant from the African Development Fund and the Transition Support Facility.

Of Interest
- The African Development Bank’s Executive Director for the Central African Republic and its Director General for Central Africa led a nine-day dialogue mission to Bangui from 11 to 19 September 2026.
- Modernisation of the terminal and associated infrastructure at Bangui-M’Poko International Airport, including the car park and power station, is more than 90% complete under PAMAB.
- PAMAB is funded by a US$13.67 million grant from the African Development Fund and the Transition Support Facility.
- PAMAB aims to bring Bangui-M’Poko International Airport up to the standards required for ICAO certification and to strengthen the country’s air connectivity.
- The mission concluded with a joint commitment by the Bank and the Central African Republic authorities to accelerate priority investments, strengthen monitoring and coordination, and resolve bottlenecks.

Modernisation of the terminal and associated infrastructure at Bangui-M’Poko International Airport, including the car park and power station, is more than 90% complete, according to the African Development Bank. The Bank’s delegation visited the airport during a nine-day dialogue mission to Bangui from 11 to 19 September 2026, led by its Executive Director for the Central African Republic, Régis Lakoué Derant, and its Director General for Central Africa, Léandre Bassolé, and was accompanied there by the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Herbert Gontran Djono Ahabam.

Nine people standing in a row for a group photograph indoors, a woman in a patterned green dress at the left and eight men in suits, with a flag behind them. — (from left to right) Constance Mbonihankuye, adviser in the office of the Executive Director for CAR; Mathurin Zanga, Chief Transport Economist; Mamadou Coulibaly, AfDB Country Manager for CAR; Léandre Bassolé, AfDB Director General for Central Africa; Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic; Régis Lakoué Derant, Executive Director for CAR; Marc Mandaba, Minister for the Economy, Planning and International Cooperation and AfDB Governor for CAR; Joseph N’guessan, Division Manager for Infrastructure for the North and Central Africa regions; and Clément Ahossi, Division Manager for Procurement.

The work is being carried out under the Project to Support the Modernisation and Extension of Bangui-M’Poko International Airport (PAMAB), which is funded by a US$13.67 million grant from the African Development Fund and the Transition Support Facility. The Bank states that the project aims to bring the airport up to the standards required for certification by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and to strengthen the country’s air connectivity.

The airport visit formed part of a review of the Bank’s project portfolio in the Central African Republic, where air transport sits alongside roads, energy, water and sanitation, and agriculture. Bassolé said that, in accordance with the Prime Minister’s instructions, new impetus will be given to the implementation of Bank-funded projects, and that sectoral meetings and regular discussions will help to accelerate priority projects, naming the airport project alongside Corridor 13 and agricultural initiatives.

The discussions also covered how implementation can be sped up. The Bank and the authorities agreed to strengthen the preparation of operations and reduce start-up times, and to build the capacity of implementing bodies, notably sectoral ministries and project management units, in procurement, disbursement and accountability. The delegation held talks with the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, among other ministers, and the mission concluded with a joint commitment by the Bank and the Central African Republic authorities to accelerate priority investments, strengthen monitoring and coordination among stakeholders, and resolve bottlenecks swiftly.