Southern African Development Community receives China grant and adds Angolan kwanza to RTGS

On 29 July, China announced an annual grant of US$90,000 for the Southern African Development Community’s 2026‑2027 financial year. The pledge was made by Ambassador Fan Yong in Botswana and welcomed by SADC Secretary‑Executive Elias Magosi, reaffirming the partnership established under the 2019 framework agreement.

On 27 July 2026, the Angolan kwanza was introduced as a settlement currency in the SADC real‑time gross settlement (RTGS) system. The move was announced by South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago and Angola’s central bank governor Manuel Tiago Dias, making the kwanza the second currency in the system after the South African rand and aiming to lower foreign‑exchange costs and boost regional trade.