Category: Africa

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Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Bafana Bafana send-off dinner ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Director,
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
President of the South African Football Association, Dr Danny Jordaan,
Representatives of football organisations present,
Head Coach, Mr Hugo Broos,
Members of the national squad,
Members of the technical team,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me the greatest pleasure to welcome you all here this evening. 

We gather here to declare boldly and with great pride:

Bafana Bafana has done it. Bafana Bafana is back. 

Stronger. Focused. Fearless. Hungrier. 

The people of South Africa have waited a long time for this moment. 

We have been behind our team in the stadiums, in our homes and in our hearts.

As a team, you have already made history by qualifying for the first time in more than twenty years. 

Now we want to see you lift that trophy. 

Asifuni group stage. Asifuni knockout rounds. Asifuni ukuzwa the words ‘elimination’ or ‘bowing out.’

You are bringing the FIFA World Cup trophy home.

We have seen the immense potential of sport to inspire and unite our country. 

Time and again we have witnessed South Africans from all walks of life rallying behind our sportsmen and women as they compete on the international stage. 

This time will be no different. 

I fully expect to be inundated with calls to declare a public holiday every time you progress to the next round.

It has been a long journey to get to this point, where our team is jetting off to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It has been a difficult road, with lots of challenges. 

What has seen us through is the unwavering commitment of SAFA, government, the football clubs and associations and sponsors to invest in, develop and strengthen South African football over the course of many years.

We owe everyone involved a debt of gratitude for not only developing this sport, but of uniting a nation.

When you arrive in Mexico City, you will be carrying with you the dreams of more than 60 million South Africans.

We are with you, behind you and beside you all the way.

Bafana Bafana are our emissaries of hope and the standard-bearers of the national flag. 

The diversity of our squad and technical team is a reminder to the world that in our constitutional democracy there is room and opportunity for all to realise their potential and fulfil their dreams. 

As ambassadors for South Africa, we are counting on you to put fully into practice what your years of training have prepared you for: sportsmanship, camaraderie, professionalism and teamwork. 

Yet sport is about so much more. 

How the game is played reflects the values of the society itself. Values like integrity, humility, respect, tolerance and inclusivity. 

History has presented Bafana Bafana with this opportunity to rise anew and to take your rightful place at the highest echelons of world football. 

Seize this opportunity. Do even more than your best. Make us even prouder than we are tonight.

We wish you the very best as you head off to the tournament.

I will be there when you lift the trophy on the 19th of July.

And, yes, I will declare it a public holiday.

May you have wind in your sails, steel in your veins and thunder in your boots. 

I thank you.

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Bafana Bafana have “the nation behind them”

Source: Government of South Africa

Bafana Bafana have “the nation behind them”

President Cyril Ramaphosa says Bafana Bafana will carry the hopes and dreams of the nation with them as they head to the FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Mexico, the United States of America, and Canada from next month.

The President said this on Wednesday night during a send-off dinner for the men’s national football squad and the announcement of the final 26-man team by Bafana Bafana Head Coach, Hugo Broos.

President Ramaphosa assured the team that as they travel to the tournament, they will be wrapped in the support of South Africans nationwide.

“You will carry with you the hopes, the dreams, and the prayers of more than 62 million South Africans. Our people will be with you every step of the way,” said the President.

He said Bafana Bafana were back with belief and purpose. 

“They’re back with courage, and they’re back where they belong among the giants of world football.

“For many years, the people of South Africa have longed for this moment. Through triumphs and disappointments, and through difficult qualifying campaigns and rebuilding seasons, South Africans never stopped believing in this team. 

“We supported you as a team in our homes, in our communities, in our stadiums, and in our hearts. And today, that faith has been rekindled and rewarded,” President Ramaphosa said.

The senior men’s national football team last qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 2002 with the last participation coming via host nation status in 2010.

President Ramaphosa emphasised that qualification alone should not be the end, encouraging the squad to aim for ultimate glory.

“By qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in more than two decades, you have already written your names into the proud sporting history of our country.

“But fellow South Africans are not satisfied with just qualifying alone. No. We do not want group stages. We do not want early exits. We do not want to hear the words, eliminated or bowing out. We want to see you compete with courage, determination and believe until the very end.

“We want to see you bring that trophy back home,” he urged.

The President acknowledged the rigorous journey the team had travelled to reach this point, having faced strong opposition from the Nigerian, Zimbabwean, Lesotho, Rwandan and Benin national teams for a qualifying berth.

“The road to the World Cup has required resilience, sacrifice, discipline and long-term commitment by everyone.

“It has demanded investment in football development and grassroots structures, in coaching, in clubs, our wonderful clubs that not only win here at home, like Orlando Pirates…and we congratulate them. We also congratulate [Mamelodi] Sundowns who have conquered football on the nation, and they stand, and they sit at the top of the continent,” he said.

He told the team they were not just footballers, but “ambassadors of our democracy, of our resilience and of our national spirit”. 

“The diversity of this squad and the technical team reflects the true character of South Africa. A constitutional democracy founded on dignity, equality, non-racialism and opportunity for all. You represent the very best of who we are as a people,” he said.

Furthermore, their participation is a “rare opportunity” not only for themselves, but for the entire nation.

“History has now presented this generation of Bafana Bafana with a very rare, precious opportunity to rise again and to reclaim South Africa’s place among the elite nations of world football.

“We ask you to do one thing: Seize the moment. This is your moment, but we want you to know that this is also South Africa’s moment. Play with freedom, play with pride of a very proud nation. Play for one another but play for South Africa and its people,” President Ramaphosa concluded.

The Bafana Bafana squad that will take on the world’s best at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are:

  • Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Captain), Ricardo Goss and Sipho Chaine.
  • Defenders: Khuliso Mudau, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Ime Okon, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Khulumani Ndamane, Aubrey Modiba, Samukelo Kabini, Thabang Matuludi, Olwethu Makhanya, Kamogelo Sebelebele and Bradley Cross.
  • Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena, Jayden Adams, Sphephelo Sithole and Thalente Mbatha.
  • Forwards: Oswin Appollis, Iqraam Rayners, Tshepang Moremi, Relebohile Mofokeng, Evidence Makgopa, Themba Zwane, Lyle Foster and Thapelo Maseko.

Bafana Bafana will face Mexico in the tournament opener on 11 June 2026. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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La demande de libertés civiques reste forte à travers l’Afrique alors que l’offre diminue

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Les Africains expriment largement leur soutien à leur droit d’adhérer à n’importe quelle organisation politique, à la liberté des médias ainsi qu’à leur rôle de contre-pouvoir, selon le dernier Profil Panafricain (https://apo-opa.co/3Q6nNRZ) d’Afrobarometer (www.Afrobarometer.org). 

Pourtant, l’exercice de ces libertés est très inégal et, dans de nombreux contextes, s’érode, de plus en plus restreint par les gouvernements mêmes qui se sont formellement engagés à les protéger. Le nouveau rapport, basé sur 50.961 entretiens menés dans 38 pays africains en 2024/2025, montre que si de nombreux citoyens affirment pouvoir librement adhérer à une organisation politique et voter sans pression, seuls 13 de ces pays comptent une majorité de citoyens qui se sentent « entièrement » libres d’exprimer leurs opinions.

La liberté d’expression perçue a décliné au cours de la dernière décennie, et seule une faible majorité d’Africains considèrent que leurs médias sont libres.

Résultats clés

  • En moyenne à travers 38 pays, plus de six Africains sur 10 (64%) réclament le droit d’adhérer à l’organisation politique de leur choix (Figure 1).
    • Une large majorité des répondants soutiennent la liberté de la presse : 65% approuvent le droit des médias de publier sans aucune forme de contrôle gouvernemental, et 72% estiment que la presse doit enquêter et dénoncer la corruption et les erreurs du gouvernement.
  • Environ deux tiers (65%) des citoyens déclarent se sentir « assez » ou « entièrement » libres d’exprimer leurs opinions (Figure 2).
    • Dans 25 des 38 pays sondés, moins de la moitié des citoyens se sentent                                      « entièrement » libres d’exprimer leurs opinions. Le sentiment de jouir d’une                   totale liberté d’expression est particulièrement rare en Eswatini (18%), au Togo (15%), aux Comores (8%) et au Congo-Brazzaville (7%).
    • A travers les 28 pays sondés de manière constante depuis 2014, les évaluations de cette liberté ont diminué de 7 points de pourcentage (Figure 3).
  • Une grande majorité des répondants se disent « assez » ou « entièrement » libres d’adhérer à l’organisation politique de leur choix (77%) et de voter pour le candidat de leur choix sans se sentir sous pression (86%) (Figure 4).
    • La situation est diamétralement opposée aux Comores et au Congo-Brazzaville, où les citoyens font état de niveaux parmi les plus bas en matière de liberté d’association et de vote.
  • Une petite majorité (53%) de répondants considèrent que la presse dans leur pays est   « assez » ou « entièrement » libre de couvrir l’actualité sans ingérence du gouvernement (Figure 5).
    • La liberté de la presse telle qu’elle est perçue a décliné dans 20 des 30 pays régulièrement sondés entre 2019 et 2025.

L’enquête Afrobarometer

Afrobarometer est un réseau panafricain et non-partisan de recherche par sondage qui produit des données fiables sur les expériences et appréciations des Africains, relatives à la démocratie, à la gouvernance et à la qualité de vie. Dix rounds d’enquêtes ont été réalisés dans un maximum de 45 pays depuis 1999. Les enquêtes du Round 10 (2024/2025) couvrent 38 pays.

Les partenaires nationaux d’Afrobarometer réalisent des entretiens en face à face dans la langue de choix du répondant avec des échantillons représentatifs au niveau national qui produisent des résultats nationaux avec des marges d’erreur de +/-2 à +/-3 points de pourcentage à un taux de confiance de 95%.

Distribué par APO Group pour Afrobarometer.

Pour plus d’informations, veuillez contacter :
Hassana Diallo
Chargé des communications d’Afrobarometer pour l’Afrique francophone
Téléphone : +221 77 713 72 53
Email : hdiallo@afrobarometer.org
Visitez-nous sur www.Afrobarometer.org.

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Demand for civic space holds strong across Africa as supply of freedoms wanes

Source: APO

Africans broadly express support for their right to join any organisation and for the media’s freedom from censorship and its responsibility to report on government mistakes, the latest Afrobarometer (www.Afrobarometer.org) Pan-Africa Profile (https://apo-opa.co/4vjzCDv) shows.

Yet their experience of these freedoms is highly uneven and, in many contexts, eroding, increasingly constrained by the very governments that are formally committed to protecting them. The new report, based on 50,961 interviews across 38 African countries in 2024/2025, shows that while many citizens say they can associate freely and vote without pressure, only 13 of the countries have majorities who feel “completely” free to say what they think.

Perceived freedom of speech has declined over the past decade, and only a slim majority of Africans consider their media free.

Key findings

  • On average across 38 countries, more than six in 10 Africans (64%) affirm the right to join any organisation of their choice (Figure 1).
    • Clear majorities support media freedom: 65% endorse the media’s right to publish without government control, and 72% say the media should investigate and report on government mistakes and corruption.
  • About two-thirds (65%) of citizens say they feel “somewhat” or “completely” free to say what they think (Figure 2).
    • In 25 of the 38 surveyed countries, fewer than half of citizens feel “completely” free to say what they think. The sense of complete freedom of speech is especially scarce in Eswatini (18%), Togo (15%), Comoros (8%), and Congo-Brazzaville (7%).
    • Across 28 countries surveyed consistently since 2014, assessments of this freedom have declined by 7 percentage points (Figure 3).
  • Strong majorities say they feel “somewhat” or “completely” free to join any political organisation they want (77%) and to vote for their preferred candidate without feeling pressured (86%) (Figure 4).
    • The picture is starkly different in Comoros and Congo-Brazzaville, where citizens report some of the lowest levels of freedom to associate and to vote.
  • A slim majority (53%) see the media in their country as “somewhat” or “completely” free to report without government interference (Figure 5).
    • Perceived media freedom declined significantly in 20 of the 30 countries surveyed consistently between 2019 and 2025.

Afrobarometer surveys

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Ten survey rounds in up to 45 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 10 surveys (2024/2025) cover 38 countries.

Afrobarometer’s National Partners conduct face-to-face interviews with nationally representative samples of adults in the language of the respondent’s choice that yield country-level results with margins of error of +/-2 to +/-3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afrobarometer.

For more information, please contact:
Daniel Iberi
Communications coordinator for East Africa
Email: diberi@afrobarometer.org
Telephone: +254 725 674 457
Visit us online at www.Afrobarometer.org.

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Zarein Energy Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as Gold Sponsor Amid Nigeria Gas Hub Expansion

Source: APO


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Energy solutions provider Zarein Energy will participate as a Gold Sponsor at the 2026 edition of African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, scheduled for October 12–16 in Cape Town. The company’s participation comes as it accelerates development of the Kwale Free Trade Zone gas and petrochemical project in Delta State, Nigeria, targeting large-scale gas processing, captive power generation and petrochemical manufacturing.

Held under the theme “Invest in African Energies: Affordable and Abundant Energy Additions,” AEW 2026 serves as the premier platform connecting investors, operators, infrastructure developers and policymakers across the African energy sector. Zarein Energy’s sponsorship underscores growing investor attention on Nigeria’s gas monetization, industrialization and special economic zone strategies.

Incorporated in July 2024, Zarein Energy operates as a private midstream-focused company targeting gas-to-industry commercialization. The company’s strategy avoids upstream exploration risk, instead focusing on processing infrastructure, logistics integration and captive utility systems designed to bridge stranded gas reserves with industrial consumers across West Africa.

Its flagship Kwale Free Trade Zone project is being developed as a 1,000-hectare integrated industrial and midstream hub in Delta State. The project, formally launched during a groundbreaking ceremony led by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, is designed to provide reliable lower-cost utilities for energy-intensive manufacturing sectors operating within Nigeria’s expanding industrial corridor.

The development is strategically anchored to the OB3 (Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben) gas pipeline network and incorporates a four-layer gas supply structure. Primary feedstock sources include the Kwale Gas Gathering Hub alongside supply connections linked to Zenergie’s Processing Plant, Ebendo-Energia, Pillar and Agip’s Kwale-Okwai flow stations. Infrastructure plans support regional throughput volumes ranging from 40 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) to 300 MMscf/d.

Zarein Energy’s industrial framework includes scalable gas processing plants, petrochemical production lines and centralized captive power generation facilities positioned directly alongside industrial tenants. By collocating utility infrastructure with manufacturing operations, the company aims to reduce transmission losses, stabilize power availability and lower operational costs for manufacturers establishing operations within the free trade ecosystem.

The broader Kwale Free Trade Zone master plan also segments operations into dedicated petrochemical, agro-processing, manufacturing and logistics zones. High-clearance transport corridors and logistics yards are being designed to improve regional trade flows to Nigerian coastal ports and neighboring West African markets. Eight major corporate entities including Zarein Energy, have already secured operational layouts within the industrial development.

“Zarein Energy’s participation as a Gold Sponsor at African Energy Week 2026 reflects the growing momentum behind Nigeria’s gas commercialization and industrialization agenda. The development of the Kwale Free Trade Zone demonstrates how African companies are creating integrated infrastructure that converts natural gas resource into power, petrochemicals and long-term industrial growth,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

As the Kwale Free Trade Zone advances through FEED compliance, permitting and pipeline route validation stages, Zarein Energy continues expanding technical recruitment partnerships and strategic financing discussions. Their participation at AEW 2026 is expected to support the company’s broader capital formation, partnership outreach and regional visibility objectives as Nigeria intensifies efforts to commercialize domestic gas reserves and expand industrial energy infrastructure.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Zarein Energy devient sponsor Or de l’African Energy Week 2026 dans le cadre de l’expansion du pôle gazier nigérian

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Le fournisseur de solutions énergétiques Zarein Energy participera en tant que sponsor Or à l’édition 2026 de l’African Energy Week (AEW), prévue du 12 au 16 octobre au Cap. La participation de l’entreprise intervient alors qu’elle accélère le développement du projet gazier et pétrochimique de la zone franche de Kwale, dans l’État du Delta au Nigeria, qui vise le traitement du gaz à grande échelle, la production d’électricité captive et la fabrication de produits pétrochimiques.

Organisée sous le thème « Investir dans les énergies africaines : des sources d’énergie abordables et abondantes », l’AEW 2026 constitue la principale plateforme reliant les investisseurs, les opérateurs, les développeurs d’infrastructures et les décideurs politiques du secteur énergétique africain. Le parrainage de Zarein Energy souligne l’intérêt croissant des investisseurs pour les stratégies nigérianes de monétisation du gaz, d’industrialisation et de zones économiques spéciales.

Constituée en juillet 2024, Zarein Energy est une société privée axée sur le secteur intermédiaire qui vise la commercialisation du gaz à destination de l’industrie. La stratégie de la société évite les risques liés à l’exploration en amont, en se concentrant plutôt sur les infrastructures de traitement, l’intégration logistique et les systèmes de services publics captifs conçus pour relier les réserves de gaz inexploitées aux consommateurs industriels à travers l’Afrique de l’Ouest.

Son projet phare, la zone de libre-échange de Kwale, est en cours de développement sous la forme d’un pôle industriel et intermédiaire intégré de 1 000 hectares dans l’État du Delta. Le projet, officiellement lancé lors d’une cérémonie d’inauguration présidée par le gouverneur de l’État du Delta, Sheriff Oborevwori, est conçu pour fournir des services publics fiables et à moindre coût aux secteurs manufacturiers à forte intensité énergétique opérant dans le corridor industriel en expansion du Nigeria.

Le projet s’appuie stratégiquement sur le réseau de gazoducs OB3 (Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben) et intègre une structure d’approvisionnement en gaz à quatre niveaux. Les principales sources d’approvisionnement comprennent le centre de collecte de gaz de Kwale, ainsi que des raccordements reliés à l’usine de traitement de Zenergie, aux stations de débit d’Ebendo-Energia, de Pillar et d’Agip à Kwale-Okwai. Les plans d’infrastructure prévoient des débits régionaux allant de 40 millions de pieds cubes standard par jour (MMscf/j) à 300 MMscf/j.

Le cadre industriel de Zarein Energy comprend des usines de traitement du gaz évolutives, des lignes de production pétrochimiques et des installations centralisées de production d’électricité captive situées à proximité immédiate des locataires industriels. En regroupant les infrastructures de services publics et les activités de fabrication, l’entreprise vise à réduire les pertes de transport, à stabiliser la disponibilité de l’électricité et à diminuer les coûts d’exploitation pour les fabricants qui s’installent au sein de l’écosystème de libre-échange.

Le plan directeur plus large de la zone de libre-échange de Kwale segmente également les activités en zones dédiées à la pétrochimie, à la transformation agricole, à la fabrication et à la logistique. Des corridors de transport à grande hauteur de passage et des parcs logistiques sont en cours de conception afin d’améliorer les flux commerciaux régionaux vers les ports côtiers nigérians et les marchés voisins d’Afrique de l’Ouest. Huit grandes entreprises, dont Zarein Energy, ont déjà obtenu des emplacements opérationnels au sein du développement industriel.

« La participation de Zarein Energy en tant que sponsor Gold à l’African Energy Week 2026 reflète la dynamique croissante qui sous-tend le programme de commercialisation et d’industrialisation du gaz au Nigeria. Le développement de la zone de libre-échange de Kwale démontre comment les entreprises africaines créent des infrastructures intégrées qui transforment les ressources en gaz naturel en électricité, en produits pétrochimiques et en croissance industrielle à long terme », déclare NJ Ayuk, président exécutif de la Chambre africaine de l’énergie.

Alors que la zone de libre-échange de Kwale progresse dans les étapes de conformité FEED, d’obtention des permis et de validation du tracé du gazoduc, Zarein Energy continue d’étendre ses partenariats de recrutement technique et ses discussions sur le financement stratégique. Sa participation à l’AEW 2026 devrait soutenir les objectifs plus larges de l’entreprise en matière de mobilisation de capitaux, de développement de partenariats et de visibilité régionale, alors que le Nigeria intensifie ses efforts pour commercialiser ses réserves de gaz nationales et développer ses infrastructures énergétiques industrielles.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Energy Chamber.

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A Zarein Energy junta-se à AEW 2026 como Patrocinadora Ouro no contexto da expansão do polo de gás da Nigéria

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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A Zarein Energy, fornecedora de soluções energéticas, participará como Patrocinadora Ouro na edição de 2026 da African Energy Week (AEW), agendada para 12 a 16 de outubro na Cidade do Cabo. A participação da empresa surge num momento em que esta acelera o desenvolvimento do projeto de gás e petroquímica da Zona de Comércio Livre de Kwale, no Estado do Delta, na Nigéria, com o objetivo de processamento de gás em grande escala, produção de energia cativa e fabrico de produtos petroquímicos.

Realizada sob o tema «Investir nas Energias Africanas: Adições de Energia Acessíveis e Abundantes», a AEW 2026 serve como a principal plataforma que liga investidores, operadores, promotores de infraestruturas e decisores políticos em todo o setor energético africano. O patrocínio da Zarein Energy sublinha a crescente atenção dos investidores na monetização do gás, na industrialização e nas estratégias de zonas económicas especiais da Nigéria.

Constituída em julho de 2024, a Zarein Energy opera como uma empresa privada focada no midstream, com o objetivo de comercializar gás para a indústria. A estratégia da empresa evita o risco de exploração a montante, concentrando-se, em vez disso, em infraestruturas de processamento, integração logística e sistemas de serviços públicos cativos concebidos para ligar reservas de gás isoladas a consumidores industriais em toda a África Ocidental.

O seu projeto emblemático, a Zona de Comércio Livre de Kwale, está a ser desenvolvido como um centro industrial e midstream integrado de 1.000 hectares no Estado do Delta. O projeto, lançado formalmente durante uma cerimónia de inauguração liderada pelo Governador do Estado do Delta, Sheriff Oborevwori, foi concebido para fornecer serviços públicos fiáveis e de baixo custo aos setores de produção com elevado consumo energético que operam no corredor industrial em expansão da Nigéria.

O empreendimento está estrategicamente ancorado na rede de gasodutos OB3 (Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben) e incorpora uma estrutura de abastecimento de gás de quatro camadas. As principais fontes de matéria-prima incluem o Centro de Recolha de Gás de Kwale, juntamente com ligações de abastecimento ligadas à Unidade de Processamento da Zenergie, à Ebendo-Energia, à Pillar e às estações de fluxo de Kwale-Okwai da Agip. Os planos de infraestruturas suportam volumes de produção regionais que variam entre 40 milhões de pés cúbicos padrão por dia (MMscf/d) e 300 MMscf/d.

A estrutura industrial da Zarein Energy inclui instalações de processamento de gás escaláveis, linhas de produção petroquímica e instalações centralizadas de geração de energia cativa posicionadas diretamente junto dos inquilinos industriais. Ao colocar a infraestrutura de serviços públicos junto das operações de fabrico, a empresa visa reduzir as perdas de transmissão, estabilizar a disponibilidade de energia e diminuir os custos operacionais para os fabricantes que estabelecem operações no ecossistema de comércio livre.

O plano diretor mais abrangente da Zona de Comércio Livre de Kwale também segmenta as operações em zonas dedicadas à petroquímica, ao processamento agrícola, à manufatura e à logística. Corredores de transporte de grande altura livre e pátios logísticos estão a ser projetados para melhorar os fluxos comerciais regionais para os portos costeiros nigerianos e os mercados vizinhos da África Ocidental. Oito grandes entidades corporativas, incluindo a Zarein Energy, já garantiram layouts operacionais dentro do empreendimento industrial.

«A participação da Zarein Energy como Patrocinadora Ouro na African Energy Week 2026 reflete o impulso crescente por trás da agenda de comercialização e industrialização do gás da Nigéria. O desenvolvimento da Zona de Comércio Livre de Kwale demonstra como as empresas africanas estão a criar infraestruturas integradas que convertem os recursos de gás natural em energia, petroquímicos e crescimento industrial a longo prazo», afirma NJ Ayuk, Presidente Executivo da African Energy Chamber.

À medida que a Zona de Comércio Livre de Kwale avança nas fases de conformidade com o FEED, licenciamento e validação do traçado do gasoduto, a Zarein Energy continua a expandir as parcerias de recrutamento técnico e as discussões sobre financiamento estratégico. Espera-se que a sua participação na AEW 2026 apoie os objetivos mais amplos da empresa em termos de formação de capital, alargamento de parcerias e visibilidade regional, à medida que a Nigéria intensifica os esforços para comercializar as reservas domésticas de gás e expandir as infraestruturas energéticas industriais.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Energy Chamber.

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Deputy President Mashatile to undertake Working Visit to the Republic of India

Source: President of South Africa –

His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Thursday, 28 May 2026, undertake a Working Visit to the Republic of India. 

South Africa and India enjoy a long relationship together which is based on shared history, cultural ties, and a shared vision of the world through its principled approach on non-alignment and supporting the development of the Global South through its promotion of South-South partnerships. 

Both South Africa and India are represented in many multilateral formations that promote this commitment to the development of the Global South and include membership to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), BRICS, IBSA, G20 and IORA. 

Deputy President Mashatile will be the second Deputy President to visit India. 

The last Official visit by a Head of State from South Africa was in January 2019 when President Cyril Ramaphosa was Chief-Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations. 

Through this Working Visit, Deputy President Mashatile is expected to cement the bilateral relations with the business leaders and investors from India through a Roundtable discussion which aims to attract more investment for both countries. 

Deputy President Mashatile will be accompanied by Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Nomalungelo Gina and Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele. 

Details of the Working Visit are as follows:

Date: 29 May 2026 – 3 June 2026 

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to Deputy President Mashatile on 066 195 8840
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Construction begins on Eskom’s R1.2 billion 75MW solar power plant

Source: Government of South Africa

Construction begins on Eskom’s R1.2 billion 75MW solar power plant

Eskom has broken ground on a new R1.2 billion 75MW solar power plant to be based at the Lethabo Power Station in the Free State, marking a major step in integrating renewable generation within the power utility’s coal-fired power station-heavy fleet.

“Once completed, the plant is expected to generate approximately 147GWh of electricity annually, supplying power to an estimated 60,000 households. In addition to its energy contribution, the project will create vital local economic opportunities and contribute significantly to skills development during both the construction and operational phases,” Eskom said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the start of construction, Eskom’s Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, noted that the much-improved performance of the coal-fired fleet is setting a platform to phase in renewable energy.

“Last week we celebrated 365 days without loadshedding, as a result of the focused delivery over the past three years of the generation recovery plan by our skilled employees.

“Now that we have delivered a stable electricity platform for the South African economy to grow from, we can seamlessly enable the integration of renewable energy sources as required by the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan [IRP] to maintain future energy security.

“We are playing our part in bringing online the new generation capacity required by focusing on the deep technical and institutional capability of our employees, built over decades of public investment, that remains a critical part of our national capacity towards delivering cleaner sources of energy,” Marokane said.

Eskom’s Group Executive for Renewables, Rivoningo Mnisi, described the solar power plant as “a significant milestone” in the power utility’s renewable energy pipeline and forms part of the “broader strategy to diversify the generation mix, support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition objectives and provide customers with lower carbon electricity”.

“By leveraging existing power station infrastructure, this project demonstrates the practical integration of renewable energy technology within our existing coal-fired power station fleet infrastructure and signals Eskom’s continued commitment to strengthening security of supply while transitioning toward a lower-carbon future,” Mnisi said.

Investing in renewable energy

According to Eskom, the solar power plant is one of 17 high‑priority projects expected to be implemented across the electricity supplier’s existing coal‑fired power station footprint.

Construction on these is expected to kick off between now and 2028, with those projects representing 6GW of new capacity by the end of the decade.

“These developments will be strategically located at power stations including Arnot, Duvha, Majuba, Tutuka, Lethabo, Komati, Kendal, Kusile, Hendrina, Camden and Grootvlei, leveraging existing infrastructure to accelerate deployment, reduce costs and strengthen grid resilience.

“The Lethabo project also forms part of Eskom’s construction‑ready pipeline of at least 2GW of renewable energy and pumped storage projects progressing during 2026.

“Funding for these projects has been provisioned within Eskom’s approved capital expenditure program and will be financed through on‑balance sheet funding, in line with National Treasury debt relief conditions, without reliance on additional project finance borrowing,” Eskom explained.

Eskom Green will also adopt a “proactive growth strategy that extends beyond Eskom-owned land and existing decommissioning sites”.

“While these anchor projects provide a critical foundation, Eskom Green’s long-term value creation requires expanding into new geographic and technological opportunities.

“To this end, Eskom Green will actively pursue partnerships, co-development opportunities and strategic acquisitions of advanced-stage development projects and operating renewable assets located in high-resource areas with superior wind and solar irradiation,” the power utility said.

This will enable Eskom to “optimise its generation portfolio, diversify its revenue base, and ensure alignment with customer load profiles” by balancing technological advancements like pumped-storage, wind, PV, BESS and other alternatives such as green hydrogen.

“Eskom Green will provide a fit-for-purpose structure to facilitate utility-scale renewables through public-private partnerships, leveraging Eskom’s existing footprint and system knowledge.

“The proposed funding framework ensures limited recourse to the Eskom balance sheet using project finance principles for the renewable energy projects through dedicated project Special Purpose Vehicles.

“This will lead to the advancement of Eskom’s pipeline of more than 32GW of cost-competitive renewable energy and storage projects by 2040 to diversify its energy mix as part of the emissions reduction strategy and enable customers to decarbonise over the life of their operations,” Eskom concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

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Ethiopia’s elections will not be politically competitive: two reasons why

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Bizuneh Yimenu, Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Queen’s University Belfast

Ethiopia is preparing for a national election on 1 June amid deep political uncertainty and growing insecurity. Officially, the polls are expected to reinforce the country’s democratic transition and political stability. But the conditions suggest that the elections are unlikely to be genuinely competitive.

Elections are competitive when parties campaign openly, voters participate freely, and political actors engage without fear of violence or intimidation.

There are two main reasons why this will not be the case.

First, opposition actors remain fragmented, weakened or excluded from effective political participation. Second, there are armed conflicts and political tensions in several parts of the country. The most tense regions are Amhara, Oromia and Tigray. This has created an unstable environment for electoral competition.

Together, these conditions may make the upcoming elections among the least politically competitive Ethiopia has held since multiparty elections were introduced in the 1990s.

Ethiopia has held six national elections since adopting the federal constitution in 1995. Most took place under conditions of strong ruling-party dominance. The 2005 election was widely considered the country’s most competitive contest. But violence, mass arrests and a severe crackdown on opposition supporters followed, after disputed results and protests.

Elections in 2010 and 2015 took place in a more restrictive political environment dominated by the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front.

The 2021 election happened under Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party during the Tigray war. It was marred by delays, insecurity and opposition boycotts. No voting took place in several constituencies. Unsurprisingly, the incumbent won in a landslide.

The current electoral environment appears even more challenging.

As a scholar of federalism and Ethiopian politics, I see the present conditions as particularly restrictive to meaningful political competition.

Opposition fragmentation and exclusion

Ethiopia’s opposition parties remain fragmented along ideological, ethnic and regional lines. Many lack strong national organisational structures or the capacity to mobilise voters effectively across the country.

Attempts to build durable opposition coalitions have faltered. This is due to political mistrust, leadership rivalries, and competing visions of the Ethiopian state. Some parties want stronger regional autonomy and ethnic self-determination. Others favour a more centralised national political framework.

These divisions prevent a unified electoral challenge. Even those in the same camp, such as parties advocating for ethnic self rule, are unable to a form united front.

Opposition actors continue to face political and institutional constraints too. Several have previously been arrested or detained. Civic actors have come under pressure.

During the 2021 elections, prominent Oromo opposition leaders were detained. This prompted the Oromo Liberation Front and Oromo Federalist Congress, the two main opposition groups in the region, to boycott the polls.

Ethiopia formally operates a multiparty system. But meaningful political competition depends also on parties’ ability to organise, campaign and compete on relatively equal terms. Genuine opposition actors have struggled to do so effectively.

Political tensions and armed conflict

The second major challenge is the country’s deteriorating security environment. Ethiopia is experiencing armed conflict and political instability in several regions. It is difficult to conduct competitive elections in these conditions.

In the Amhara region, fighting between federal forces and Fano militias has intensified over the past two years. Large areas have experienced insecurity, militarisation and disruptions to normal political activity.

Oromia continues to face violence linked to the conflict between the government and the Oromo Liberation Army. The conflict has contributed to displacement, insecurity and political tensions in Ethiopia’s largest, most populous and vital region.

Tigray also remains politically fragile. This is despite the 2022 Pretoria agreement. The pact formally ended the civil war between federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

Important aspects of the agreement remain unresolved. These include:

  • the return of internally displaced people

  • the return of pre-war Tigray territories

  • security arrangements

  • relations between regional and federal authorities.

Recent tensions inside Tigray’s political leadership have raised fears of renewed instability.

Such conditions narrow political space and reduce the possibility of open electoral competition.

Elections without competitiveness?

The incumbent is running uncontested in 64 of Ethiopia’s 547 constituencies. Voting will not take place in Tigray. And voting will not happen in notable constituencies in Oromia and Amhara because of security concerns.

But it’s not enough for voting to take place. Political competitiveness depends on whether opposition parties can take full part, whether citizens can engage freely and whether the broader political environment allows genuine contestation for power.

Current conditions raise serious doubts about those requirements. Even compared with previous elections held under authoritarian conditions, today’s environment may prove more restrictive. Insecurity and conflict now intersect with longstanding political constraints.

This does not necessarily mean the elections will lack administrative significance or political consequences. For example, the Oromo Liberation Front is running for the first time since 1992. This is symbolically meaningful.

But elections alone will not resolve Ethiopia’s deeper political crisis. The country continues to face unresolved disputes over political representation, federalism, security and state authority. Without broader political inclusion and a reduction in armed conflict, the elections are unlikely to provide the level of political competition associated with genuinely open democratic contests.

– Ethiopia’s elections will not be politically competitive: two reasons why
– https://theconversation.com/ethiopias-elections-will-not-be-politically-competitive-two-reasons-why-283896