Category: Africa

Source: APO – Report:

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HE President of the Republic of Uganda Yoweri Museveni received the credentials of HE Ahmed bin Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Zwaidi as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to Uganda.

HE the Ambassador conveyed HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s greetings and wishes of good health and happiness to HE the President of Uganda, and further progress and prosperity to the government and people of Uganda.

For his part, HE the President of the Republic of Uganda entrusted HE the Ambassador to convey his greetings to HH the Amir, wishing His Highness good health and happiness and the State of Qatar continued progress and development.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.

Source: APO

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After five consecutive years without human cases and with significant progress in strengthening epidemiological surveillance, community mobilisation and response to animal infections, the country is entering a decisive phase towards the global goal of eradicating the disease by 2030. These advances represent an important milestone in controlling the disease.

However, for the country to be officially certified as free of Guinea worm, a crucial challenge must be overcome: the persistence of infections in animals. Although no human cases have been reported since 2020, Angola remains classified as an endemic country. Between 2018 and 2024, 137 infections in animals were confirmed, of which 134 were in dogs. Globally, in 2025, only 10 human cases were reported, the lowest number ever, but 683 infections in animals were recorded, concentrated in six countries, of which Angola accounted for about 10%. This scenario reinforces the urgency of intensifying the measures recommended by the WHO.

It was in this context that, between 24 and 25 February, the Ministry of Health, with the support of the WHO and The Carter Centre, held the first annual meeting to evaluate the Guinea worm Eradication Programme in Ondjiva. The meeting brought together national authorities, provincial teams and technical partners to consolidate the progress achieved, identify good practices and operational gaps, and define operational priorities for 2026.

During the closing ceremony, the Minister of Health, Dr. Sílvia Lutucuta, emphasised the need to maintain national commitment: “The eradication of Guinea worm requires a coordinated effort. The active participation of traditional authorities, community leaders, municipal administrations and all sectors is essential to ensure that no Angolan is ever again affected by this preventable disease.”

The data presented confirm a positive epidemiological trend, resulting from increased surveillance and growing community involvement. The immediate focus of the programme is to contain animal infections, currently considered the main challenge for certification of eradication in the country.

The WHO Representative in Angola, Dr. Indrajit Hazarika, stressed that the country has a unique opportunity to achieve this goal: “The eradication of dracunculiasis is realistic, feasible, and within our reach. The progress achieved reflects the leadership of the Government, the commitment of communities and the continued technical support of WHO and The Carter Centre. The challenge now is to translate this political commitment into sustainable action by 2030.”

Over the course of two days, key factors of the National Guinea worm Eradication Programme were analysed, namely the quality of active surveillance, the performance of local teams, the investigation of suspected cases and intersectoral coordination. The teams also established operational priorities to accelerate results.

The Deputy Governor for the Political, Social and Economic Sector of Cunene Province, Dr Apolo Ndinolenga, highlighted the role of partnerships and community participation: “No country can eradicate a disease on its own. With support from WHO and The Carter Centre, we have strengthened surveillance, trained community agents, promoted health education, and improved access to safe drinking water. Progress is encouraging, but it requires continued vigilance and participation from everyone.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Angola.

Source: APO

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The Regional Steering Committee for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Tax Transition Programme was officially inaugurated from February 24 to 26, 2026, in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. This inaugural meeting brought together representatives of member states, tax policy experts, and officials from the ECOWAS Commission, marking a decisive step in the implementation of Directive C/DIR.5/07/23, which establishes the regional institutional framework dedicated to monitoring and evaluating the tax transition within ECOWAS member states.

In his welcoming remarks delivered on behalf of His Excellency Dr. Kalilou Sylla, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS Commission, the Acting Director of the Customs and Tax Union, Mr. Darlingston Talery, emphasized the importance of the Steering Committee as a key mechanism for strengthening regional cooperation and promoting the harmonization of tax systems throughout the region. He stressed that the establishment of this Committee represents a significant step towards better mobilization of national resources and deeper regional economic integration.

In the same vein, delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, Mr. Salisu Amara conveyed greetings from His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone and Chairman of ECOWAS. He highlighted the importance of the meeting as a platform for monitoring and evaluating national tax transition efforts and encouraged Member States that have not yet established their National Tax Transition Steering Committees to do so. He further informed participants that Sierra Leone had recently established its National Tax Transition Committee, reaffirming the country’s commitment to advancing the ECOWAS fiscal transition agenda.

In his opening remarks, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Benin, Mr. Alban Bessan Bienvenu, officially welcomed delegates to Cotonou and expressed appreciation to the ECOWAS Commission for entrusting Benin with hosting the inaugural meeting. He emphasized that the creation of the Steering Committee reflected the shared commitment of Member States to strengthen fiscal governance, promote sustainable domestic resource mobilisation, and support regional integration. He further noted that efficient and modern tax systems were essential for financing development and strengthening economic resilience in the region.

On the margins of the meeting, the ECOWAS delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Director General of Tax Administration in Benin, Mr. Benito Sherif GBOSSANE. The visit provided an opportunity to follow up on the implementation of ECOWAS regional fiscal directives and to discuss the level of implementation of these directives at the national level. Discussions also focused on strengthening collaboration between the ECOWAS Commission and national authorities to ensure effective domestication and monitoring of regional fiscal reforms.

The Steering Committee is mandated to coordinate key stakeholders, review program reports, provide technical support to Member States, and validate national fiscal transition plans. Through these functions, the Committee will play a central role in ensuring coherence and effectiveness in the implementation of ECOWAS fiscal objectives.

The meeting, which ran from 24 to 26 February 2026, is expected to lay a solid foundation for the effective functioning of the Regional Steering Committee and to strengthen collaboration among Member States in advancing fiscal reforms across the ECOWAS region.

The ECOWAS Commission reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Member States in implementing the Tax Transition Program and promoting sustainable and harmonised tax systems throughout the region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO

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The ECOWAS Commission, through the Early Warning Directorate, organized the annual retreat for field monitors of the ECOWAS Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN) in Lomé, Togo, from February 25 to 27, 2026. With the aim of reviewing the data collection system and related challenges, the retreat reaffirms its strong commitment to early warning, preventive diplomacy, and the promotion of human security throughout the West African region.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Onyinye Onwuka, Acting Director of the Early Warning Directorate, expressed her sincere gratitude to the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, for her leadership and unwavering support to the Directorate and the ECOWARN system. She also highlighted how this retreat underscored the strategic importance that the Commission attaches to early warning as a central pillar of the regional peace and security architecture.

In her message, H.E. Tchintchibidja underscored the complex security challenges facing the region, including climate change, violent extremism, governance deficits, and transnational organized crime. She reiterated the Commission’s commitment to preventive diplomacy in line with the ECOWAS Vision 2050 framework and emphasized the importance of sustained grassroots engagement.

She called on Field Monitors to uphold professionalism and integrity in strengthening the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture.

The retreat takes place against a backdrop of complex and constantly changing dynamics in terms of human security in West Africa, a region characterized by the challenges of climate change, violent extremism, community tensions, governance, and transnational organized crime. Given the various scenarios, the role of the ECOWARN system remains central to preventive diplomacy and the ECOWAS conflict prevention mandate.

Special recognition was given to ECOWARN field monitors, who are considered the backbone of the system and the Commission’s “eyes and ears on the ground.” The quality, credibility, and timeliness of their reports were highlighted as essential for generating regional analysis, informing early warning trends, and guiding preventive measures taken by the Commission and its partners.

Over the course of the three-day retreat, participants will strengthen their technical and analytical capacities, including a review of ECOWARN’s mandate and institutional framework, enhancement of data collection and verification methodologies, ethical reporting standards, and the application of analytical tools such as the Human Security Analysis Framework and the Conflict Risk and Human Security Assessment.

The ECOWAS Commission remains committed to strengthening its early warning and preventive action mechanisms to anticipate risks, address vulnerabilities, and promote sustainable peace and stability in the region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO

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Members of the National Union of Eritrean Women in the Akria sub-zone of the Central Region have extended material support to fistula patients undergoing treatment at the Mendefera Referral Hospital Fistula Center. The support included sanitation materials and other consumer goods.

Ms. Tsega Solomon, head of the union branch, said that in addition to the support provided by the Government, visiting and encouraging fistula patients is the responsibility of every citizen, as it provides them with much-needed moral support.

Dr. Habte Hailemelekot, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, provided a detailed explanation on the causes and consequences of fistula and called on women in higher positions to strengthen their role and participation in efforts to eradicate harmful practices.

Commending the initiative of the union members in visiting the fistula patients, Dr. Seare Tesfu, head of Mendefera Referral Hospital, stated that beyond providing health care services, the hospital also offers basic education and vocational training to patients during their stay.

Ms. Liya Bereketeab, administrator of Akria sub-zone, commended the initiative taken by the union members and called for active participation in the eradication of harmful practices.

Noting that the initiative is being carried out in connection with International Women’s Day, 8 March, Mr. Hiskias Wuhbet, administrator of Mendefera sub-zone, said the effort carries a significant message and called on others to follow the noble example.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

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The basic health care services provided by the Tinsheai health station are significantly contributing to easing the burden on the Mensura health center.

Nurse Amanuel Tewolde, head of the Tinsheai health station, said that the facility provides first aid services, maternal health care, vaccination and child health services, delivery services, voluntary counseling, and other essential health care services.

Nurse Amanuel also commended the support extended by the local community toward the development of the health station.

Expressing appreciation for being able to receive health care services in their vicinity, residents indicated their readiness to play their due part in the development and sustainability of the health station.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

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1. PREAMBLE

We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, held our First Plenary Meeting for the year at the CSN Resource Centre, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Durumi, Abuja, from 19 to 26 February 2026. Having prayerfully deliberated on issues affecting the Church and the Nigerian State, we issue this Communiqué:

2. LENT: A SPECIAL SEASON OF PRAYER, FASTING, ALMSGIVING AND REPENTANCE

The season of Lent this year coincides with the Ramadan, the Muslim period of fasting. We believe that this is not a mere coincidence but God’s invitation to work and live together in harmony and mutual respect. We enjoin all to use this opportunity to intensify their prayer life, works of charity, refrain   from sin, and repent. We call on adherents of both faiths to worship God and contribute to good neighbourliness and a better society.

3. THE MEANING OF THE COMMON GOOD

God created human beings for community life after the pattern of the Blessed Trinity, a community of persons. Drawing from this, the Church has always taught that the good of individuals is bound up with the good of the community. The Common Good, therefore, is both the good which is meant for all and the totality of conditions that make possible the flourishing of life. Common Good therefore is a social good meant for all people by the fact of human existence. The Common Good presupposes respect for the dignity and rights of everyone. It involves the social welfare and development of one and all in the society. All have a role to play in the actualization of the Common Good by ensuring that human dignity and rights are respected and protected. Pope Saint John XXIII affirmed this truth when he taught that “the Common Good is chiefly guaranteed when personal rights and duties are maintained” (Pacem in Terris, no. 60). This reality opens the door for the participation of all in the realization of the Common Good. 

4. LEADERSHIP FOR THE COMMON GOOD

We affirm that responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. This obligation is rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all that we do. It is, therefore, necessary that all participate, each according to their position and role, in promoting the Common Good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person. We, therefore, call on all Christians to be aware of their own specific vocation within the political community. It is for them to give an example by their sense of responsibility and their service of the Common Good (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes, no 75).

Similarly, leadership is the platform for working for the Common Good. It is the responsibility of public authority to ensure that the citizenry has access to what is needed to lead a truly human life: food, clothing, health, work, education, culture, suitable information, the establishment of a family, etc. The Common Good also requires peace, stability and security of a just order. The obligation of government to the Common Good must not become the usurpation of the rights of the governed. It must be carried out without repression or tyranny because each sector of society as well as individuals have their proper contributions to make, and government must respect and encourage these contributions. This approach paves way for the participation of all in politics and, most especially, contributes to leadership effectiveness at all levels of society. Indeed, effective leadership means the prioritization of the Common Good over selfish and sectional interests.

5. STATE OF THE NATION

i) Persistent Insecurity and Loss of Lives

We support the move by our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to declare a national security emergency, ordering the recruitment of more security personnel alongside far-reaching measures. This has led our military to step up its operations against terrorists in the country. However, our country has continued to experience more security challenges. We continue to experience tragic events of senseless massacre, mass burials, endless tears, and grief. There are incidents of mass murders in different communities, particularly in Woro and Nuku villages in Kwara State, where over 200 people, both Christians and Muslims, were gruesomely massacred by scores of Islamist jihadists for refusing to embrace fundamentalist Islam. Most recently, in many parts of the country, particularly in the Northern region and the middle belt, there are cases of attacks and mass killings involving many students, pupils and worshippers. Still more, while many farmers cannot go to their farms for fear of being injured or killed, many other persons are still displaced from their homes and business areas, owing to the activities of insurgents and bandits. In all, the gunmen operate brazenly, freely and unchallenged.

To deal with the problem of insecurity and recognizing the need for more proactive measures to secure Nigeria, we call on governments at all levels to invest more in modern technological equipment for surveillance. We also urge them to strengthen measures for intelligence gathering by security agencies to enable them to proactively perform their duties. Governments should ensure that culprits involved in insurgency, banditry or kidnapping and those who fund and support their activities are quickly arrested, prosecuted and punished under the law to deter others. There is the impression that government is complicit when there is delay in the prosecution of arrested terrorists or when there is outright pardon and reintegration of so-called repentant Boko Haram adherents and other criminals into the security forces.  

We commend the fact that our government has finally admitted that it is not coping adequately with its responsibility to secure the lives and property of its citizens and is seeking external help. While external help is commendable and appreciated, the security and destiny of our nation are in our hands, and we do have the wherewithal to achieve them, with the help of God.

ii)  Socio-Economic Sabotage to the Common Good

Nigeria is richly blessed with abundant mineral resources. With good leadership, these resources would have been contributing significantly to our national economic growth and development. In our country, the ownership of all mineral resources is vested in the Federal Government, which also regulates their exploration and exploitation. Yet, trillions of Naira are annually lost to bunkering and illegal mining owing to banditry, kidnapping and other organized crimes in parts of our country. Often, these criminal groups use proceeds from the sale of minerals, such as gold and lithium, to fund terrorist activities across the country. Yet, the Nigerian government has continued to borrow huge sums of money without much to show for the welfare of citizens. Furthermore, taxes paid by individuals and businesses are not adequately utilized for the Common Good.

To stem the tide of economic sabotage, especially in relation to illegal mining and stealing of our mineral resources, with the attendant environmental degradation, we enjoin the government to devise a more aggressive approach to fighting these illegalities across the country. For instance, the “Mining Marshals” deployed by government to secure mining sites and arrest unlicensed miners have not been fully effective in covering the vast, remote, and difficult terrains, where illegal miners operate. The efforts of these Marshals should be complemented by using drone technology and artificial intelligence (AI) for monitoring remote and high-risk mining sites.  Again, rather than importation of food as is currently being done by the government, to lower the prices of food, which invariably has negatively affected the local farmers, we demand that the government provide adequate security and grant sufficient subsidy to the farmers to enable them to produce enough food for the nation.

iii) Bad Leadership as a Major Cause of our Afflictions

We observe that a major cause of our problem as a nation is poor leadership and the wrong idea of politics. Where politics is erroneously understood only as rigging of elections and stealing of other people’s mandate, leadership is unfortunately taken as the amassing of illicit gains or engaging in other fraudulent activities. We note that bad leadership in our nation has caused systemic damage showing up in a worsening economy, widespread and persistent insecurity, and extreme poverty, despite the blessing of rich human and natural resources. This situation has fueled corruption, infrastructural decay, high rate of unemployment and a deep lack of trust in government institutions.

In our nation, governments in power usually have their own candidates in the election and therefore are parties in the contest and are thus technically not impartial. We call on the governments in power at all levels to resist the temptation to seek to win at all costs including the misuse and manipulation of state institutions, such as the INEC, the security agencies and the judiciary, to achieve selfish purpose. In our country, various forms of electoral malpractice exist because of illegal conducts displayed by the electoral umpire, political parties, candidates or some members of the electorate. These malpractices influence and disrupt the smooth conduct of elections. These acts range from the inclusion of fictitious names in the voters register, vote buying, artificial scarcity of electoral materials, to the use of thugs and intimidation, disenfranchisement, falsification of election results and so on. These malpractices would naturally shortchange the will of the electorate in choosing their preferred leaders. The result is the undermining of the confidence of the citizens in the electoral process together with its further destruction of our democracy and increase in the suffering of our people. 

In a democracy, elections are the means through which political leaders are chosen by the electorate. Regrettably, in our country, the process of electing political leaders has been for a long time marred by gross irregularities. These irregularities affect the confidence of our citizens in the electoral process and have led to the steady decline of voter turnout during elections. According to the data from INEC itself, it was only 23% of registered voters that exercised their franchise in 2023 general elections, a very sharp decline from participation in previous elections. Again, the recently concluded FCT elections, touted as a full-dress rehearsal for 2027, fell to an abysmal 7% of registered voters, a strong indicator of increasing voter apathy.  This calls into question the legitimacy of elected officials in a democratic dispensation. To save democracy in our nation, there is need to respect the will of the people and promote free, fair and credible elections in our nation, we demand that the National Assembly review its recent stand on the electoral reform. We urge our law makers to try to revive the confidence of voters by ensuring that the Electoral Act provides for the mandatory transmission of election results in real-time from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at the polling unit, to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, to prevent any human interference with the expressed will of the people. Failure to do this will only aggravate voter apathy. At the same time, we continue to urge all eligible voters to come out en-masse, vote, and ensure that their votes count.

6. EVENTS IN THE CHURCH

As a follow up to the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, proclaimed the Special Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi from 10 January 2026 to 10 January 2027, to mark the 8th centenary of the death of St Francis of Assisi. This Jubilee is an auspicious occasion for authentic spiritual renewal of the faithful in imitation of St. Francis’ life of humility and simplicity, poverty and detachment, and for all to become models of holiness of life and constant witnesses of peace. We encourage our faithful to participate actively and gain spiritually from the celebration. We congratulate Enugu Diocese on the completion of her 4^th Enugu synod which took place from 16 to 22 November 2025. We equally congratulate the Archdiocese of Owerri for celebrating 75 years of its existences as a diocese, along with Onitsha and Calabar. The event took place on 27 November 2025.  We rejoice with the Archdiocese of Onitsha for celebrating, on Friday, 5 December 2025, the 140^th anniversary of the missionaries’ arrival in Onitsha, the Metropolitan See of the Province. We express joy with the Diocese of Umuahia for a successful celebration of the silver jubilee of the dedication of their Cathedral, Mater Dei, on Wednesday, 10 December 2025.We are joyful with the Diocese of Nnewi, for the successful dedication of her Cathedral, Our Lady of Assumption, on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. May these events give added impetus and usher in a flowering of the faith in these dioceses.

7. ELECTION OF CBCN PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

Our Conference held her elections in this Plenary Assembly. We congratulate the new executive and other officers of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. In a special way, we congratulate the new President, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, the Archbishop of Kaduna; Vice President, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, the Archbishop of Lagos; Secretary, Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo, the Bishop of Abeokuta, and Assistant Secretary, Most. Rev. Peter Chukwu, the Bishop of Abakaliki. We wish them a successful and impactful tenure. We thank the past executive and other officers for their service and pray God to bless them in their future endeavours.

8. CONCLUSION: WE MUST NEVER GIVE IN TO DESPAIR (ROM 5:5)

A better Nigeria is possible, and we enjoin everyone to contribute to building our nation. This calls for a change of attitude across board and a generous and selfless disposition to serve the Common Good. In pursuit of the Common Good, our Christian faith challenges us to serve “the least of the brethren” – feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, caring for the sick and prisoners (Mt. 25:31 – 40). As believers in Christ, who are called to be the salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13), the light of the world (Mt. 13:14 – 16) and the leaven of the society (Mt. 13:33), we must collectively work for the social transformation of our country, rooted in the Common Good, and ensure that those who occupy positions of leadership in our land, at both the national and sub-national levels, are people with track records of probity, competence and commitment. Through the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope and all Consolation, Queen of Nigeria, we shall get there.

+Lucius Iwejuru UGORJI
Archbishop of Owerri
President, CBCN

+Donatus A. OGUN, OSA
Bishop of Uromi
Secretary, CBCN

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

Source: APO

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Venezuela’s leading petroleum authorities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) – the voice of the African energy sector – aimed at strengthening investment and collaboration across the oil, gas and broader energy sector. The agreement was signed by the Ministry of People’s Power for Hydrocarbons of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the country’s state-owned oil corporation Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), establishing a formal framework for long-term cooperation across the hydrocarbon value chain. Signed in Caracas during a high-level working visit by the AEC, the agreement lays the foundation for structured collaboration in upstream development, refining, training and joint investment promotion, reinforcing a shared vision of deeper integration in the energy sector.

Collaboration as a Catalyst for Energy Investment and Development

The MoU recognizes Africa’s growing strategic role in global oil and gas markets as well as Venezuela’s longstanding experience as a major hydrocarbon producer. The primary purpose of the agreement is to strengthen cooperation through the exchange of experiences, perspectives, information and best practices, while identifying and advancing joint projects of mutual interest.

Areas of cooperation include joint studies on liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon market dynamics; technology associated with exploration, production and refining; sustainable environmental management; and pathways to guarantee universal access to energy. The parties will also exchange regulatory and institutional best practices, evaluate successful case studies and promote enabling frameworks that facilitate investment across the value chain.

The MoU further provides for coordinated outreach activities, including joint publications, seminars, training programs and site visits, with a specific focus on promoting investment in upstream and midstream assets. Importantly, the agreement outlines plans to evaluate initiatives for asset rehabilitation, infrastructure development and improved commercialization mechanisms.

“This MoU reflects a shared vision between Africa and Venezuela to strengthen cooperation across the hydrocarbons value chain and ensure that producers work more closely together. By combining Venezuela’s deep technical experience with Africa’s dynamic growth and investment landscape, we are creating a structured platform for knowledge exchange, joint project development and long-term collaboration that supports energy security, industrialization and sustainable development,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

Institutional Mechanisms and Implementation

To ensure tangible outcomes, the MoU establishes clear implementation mechanisms. A Joint Working Group will be formed within 60 days of the signing, composed of representatives from each party. The Working Group will define work plans, identify specific projects, review progress and evaluate results. Focus areas will include exploration, commercialization and technical training. The parties also agreed to coordinate positions on oil industry issues in the context of global development goals, reflecting a shared commitment to realistic, balanced discussions around hydrocarbons and sustainable growth.

For Africa, the MoU represents a strategic expansion of the continent’s energy diplomacy and commercial footprint, positioning African companies, investors and technical experts as active participants in one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon provinces. It reinforces Africa’s role not only as a destination for capital, but as a source of expertise, structured investment and leadership in oil and gas development. For Venezuela, the agreement strengthens its international engagement at a pivotal moment in its production recovery strategy, opening structured channels to African capital, operators and service providers while amplifying its energy narrative across the continent through the AEC’s institutional and industry platforms.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.