Africa – Page 425 – MIL Africa Engine

July 14, 2026

Tanzania’s foreign policy has changed. How it’s being shaped by domestic power struggles

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Georg Lammich, Senior Researcher, Institute of Political Science, University of Duisburg-Essen

Tanzania’s foreign policy has changed in the past five years. There is a clear break from the mood, tone and actions of President John Magufuli, who ran the country from 2015 until his death in 2021. His rule was marked by challenges to foreign investors, an emphasis on sovereignty, reduction in international engagement and withdrawal from important legal commitments.

His successor, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has adopted a different tone. Her administration has courted investors, repaired diplomatic relationships and presented Tanzania as open for business and cooperation.

It is tempting to explain this simply as a change in leadership style. Magufuli was combative; Hassan is more diplomatic.

But I argue that the change in leadership is only part of the story.

I am a scholar of international relations and African politics, and in a recent research paper I investigated the connection between Tanzania’s domestic politics and its foreign policy.

I found that the change in diplomatic approach reflected a change in the domestic distribution of power. That suggests foreign policy should not be treated as something separate from domestic politics.

This matters now because Tanzania has prevailing internal political pressures. The country is also seeking new investments, regional influence and global partnerships. Its future foreign policy will likely continue to reflect this balancing act.

Why foreign policy is also domestic politics

My analysis draws on fieldwork, interviews and document reviews. This uncovered how what was happening inside the ruling party and among elites shaped foreign policy choices. These choices have influenced policies on resource management, international legal commitments and regional engagement.

The idea of political settlements is helpful here. A political settlement refers to the informal bargain among powerful groups over who gets access to authority, resources and influence, and what compromises keep the political order stable.

These bargains are rarely written down. They are not the same as constitutions, elections or formal institutions. But they often shape how power really works.

In many countries, including Tanzania, political stability depends on embracing important groups. They may include ruling party factions, business elites, state officials, security actors, regional networks and social groups.

National leaders must constantly manage these relationships. Policies are chosen partly to reward allies, weaken rivals, build legitimacy or keep a coalition together.

This is why political settlements matter for foreign policy. A government’s relationship with foreign investors, international courts, regional organisations or major powers can strengthen some domestic groups and weaken others. International engagement can bring resources, legitimacy and opportunities. But it can also bring scrutiny or empower domestic opponents.

Foreign policy is therefore part of the struggle over power at home.

How domestic power struggles shaped policy abroad

Tanzania is a useful case because its foreign policy has changed several times since independence in ways that reflect domestic political priorities. Founding president Julius Nyerere’s foreign policy was shaped by African socialism, Pan-Africanism and support for liberation movements. Later governments moved towards “economic diplomacy” in the early 2000s. Investment, trade and development partnerships became more important. Business-oriented networks within the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, had more influence.

The Magufuli period marked another shift. Magufuli came to power in 2015 as a compromise candidate after factional struggles within Chama Cha Mapinduzi. He moved quickly to centralise authority. He weakened party factions, sidelined some powerful business networks and concentrated decision-making around the presidency.

His political settlement was narrow and highly personalised. Rather than relying mainly on elite consensus, his appeal came from an anti-corruption and nationalist agenda.

This domestic strategy had clear foreign policy effects. One important example was the mining sector. Magufuli’s government passed laws asserting greater state control over natural resources.

Magufuli presented himself as defending ordinary Tanzanians against foreign exploitation. His policies also weakened business networks associated with earlier governments.

A second example was Tanzania’s withdrawal from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The court, based in Arusha in northern Tanzania, had become an important channel for cases challenging state actions. The withdrawal closed off an avenue for opposition political figures and civil society organisations to challenge the state.

Hassan’s rise to power changed the domestic equation. The constitution provided for the vice president to take over after Magufuli’s death. But her position was not politically secure. She lacked a strong faction and faced resistance on multiple fronts.

To consolidate power, she sought to:

rebuild consensus within her party
bring sidelined actors back into the political fold
restore confidence among bureaucratic, business and diplomatic communities.

This required a different foreign policy.

Hassan’s administration moved to repair relations with investors and international partners. It returned to a language of economic diplomacy, regional cooperation and international engagement. The government reopened communication with foreign companies, promoted Tanzania as a destination for investment and linked external engagement to national development goals.

Yet the shift has not meant a full reversal of Magufuli’s policies. In mining, for example, the government softened the nationalist approach but retained some rules introduced under Magufuli.

Hassan must satisfy groups that favour renewed international engagement, as well as nationalists.

Why this matters beyond Tanzania

The significance of these findings extends beyond Tanzania. Many African foreign policies are still explained mainly through external pressure. They are also put down to presidential personality or abstract “national interest”. These factors matter, but there are others.

The Tanzanian case shows that foreign policy can stem from managing domestic coalitions. This helps explain why governments sometimes make choices that seem economically costly, diplomatically puzzling or inconsistent. A confrontational stance towards foreign investors may damage friendships. But it can help a leader build domestic legitimacy or weaken rival networks.

On the other hand, re-engagement with international partners may look like a technocratic policy shift. But it can also help rebuild elite consensus and attract resources needed to stabilise a broader coalition.

– Tanzania’s foreign policy has changed. How it’s being shaped by domestic power struggles
– https://theconversation.com/tanzanias-foreign-policy-has-changed-how-its-being-shaped-by-domestic-power-struggles-285835

July 14, 2026

Will El Niño drought hit food prices in South Africa? Earlier rains and grain stocks offer hope

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Wandile Sihlobo, Senior Fellow, Department of Agricultural Economics, Stellenbosch University

The likely impact of the expected El Niño on South Africa’s agriculture and food prices in 2027 is a major point of discussion among analysts and economists in the country.

By mid-2026, weather forecasts were signalling that the world was heading towards a severe El Niño. The El Niño weather phenomenon tends to have varying impacts on the many regions of the world. For southern Africa, it typically presents drought, which is negative for agricultural production.

The arrival of the likely drought is due to coincide with South Africa’s 2026-27 summer crop season.

In my work as an agricultural economist and visiting various farming regions across South Africa, I believe that in examining the likely impact of this El Niño on crop production and, subsequently, on consumer food price inflation, two major factors need to be considered.

First, unlike in the most recent droughts, South Africa will enter the 2026-27 summer crop season with higher soil moisture, because there were excessive rains in the 2025-26 season which lasted far longer than usual. South Africa received rains through to May 2026, which is unusual; the summer rains typically end around March. The rains improved the water levels in the dams for irrigation, and also the soil moisture and water tables. This places the country in a better position ahead of the 2026-27 crop season.

Second, South Africa has ample grain supplies, and carries over a high stock of grain, which may soften some of the drought impact on food prices and therefore inflation.

Food is an important component of South Africa’s inflation basket, with a weighting of about 16.8%. A rise in food price inflation therefore tends to influence the overall inflation trend. Still, it’s likely that 2027 may not be the same as previous droughts that led to a notable increase in food price inflation, and then the headline (overall) inflation figure.

The impact of previous droughts

South Africa’s staple grain is maize. In past drought events, South Africa saw notable losses in maize production, and a broader impact on other agricultural activities. For example, one of the most memorable droughts in South Africa occurred in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. The maize harvest in that period fell to around 8.9 million tonnes on average. (For comparison, at the current 2025-26 season, South Africa is expecting a maize harvest of 17.3 million tonnes.)

South Africa’s annual maize consumption is about 12.0 million tonnes, and a smaller harvest meant the country had to import. This led to a surge in food price inflation, which averaged 10.8% in 2016. (It averaged 3.2% in the first five months in 2026.)

The impact was not only on maize, but across the field crops: maize, wheat, soybeans, sunflower seed and sugarcane, among others. Roughly 20% of South Africa’s field crops are under irrigation, with the rest rainfed. All production of fruits and vegetables is under irrigation, and will benefit from the higher water levels in dams this year.

This time, things are different.

What’s different this time

First, South Africa has benefited from a prolonged La Niña, a weather pattern which makes the region wetter. This has supported the agricultural sector over the past few years. The rains place farming in a better position ahead of the 2026-27 season.

In the 2024-25 season, the summer rains continued through April 2025; they normally end in March. In the 2025-26 season, they went on to May 2026.

Ordinarily, such long rainfall periods would raise concerns about crop quality. But in the areas that harvested the 2025-26 crops, the country hasn’t seen many quality issues. In fact, the Crop Estimates Committee’s latest projections were revised higher and still point to a record summer crop harvest for 2025-26.

The longer rainfall season improved soil moisture and the water table. The planting period starts in October 2026. There may be sufficient soil moisture to support seed germination and crop development even as El Niño conditions likely result in below-normal rainfall.

That said, the timing of the rain is what will matter most for crop development.

In the irrigation areas, such as the fruit and vegetable growing regions, the La Niña rains over the past few years have improved dam water levels and the overall water table.

Field crops will depend mostly on available soil moisture and the timing of showers going into the 2026-27 season.

For the livestock industry, grazing across the country is in a fair condition, having benefited from the longer rainy periods. The improved water table will continue to support pastures.

The second key factor is that South Africa has its largest-ever summer grain and oilseed crop in the 2025-26 season. The Crop Estimates Committee places the 2025-26 summer crop at a record 21.49 million tonnes, 5% up year-on-year. Notably, zooming in on the major grains, the 2025-26 maize production estimate is 17.25 million tonnes, up 4% from last season, and the largest harvest on record. This ample grain harvest adds to large carryover stocks from the previous season.

The path ahead is better

The drought that’s being forecast is not ideal and may impose costs on farmers. But any upcoming drought shouldn’t be viewed in the same way as previous dry spells. There are clear factors here that may shape this upcoming season better than the last droughts.

– Will El Niño drought hit food prices in South Africa? Earlier rains and grain stocks offer hope
– https://theconversation.com/will-el-nino-drought-hit-food-prices-in-south-africa-earlier-rains-and-grain-stocks-offer-hope-286373

July 14, 2026

Les opérateurs nigérians apportent leur savoir-faire en amont à l’African Energy Week (AEW) au Cap

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Les plus grands opérateurs pétroliers et gaziers nigérians ont rejoint la conférence et le salon African Energy Week (AEW), qui se tiendront au Cap du 12 au 16 octobre 2026, afin de renforcer la collaboration régionale et de faire avancer la prochaine vague de projets en amont en Afrique. Parmi les intervenants figurent les entreprises au cœur d’une mutation structurelle du secteur en amont au Nigeria, où les opérateurs locaux ont acquis plus de 6 milliards de dollars d’actifs cédés par les grandes sociétés internationales et représentent désormais environ 60 % de la production de brut du pays.

Wale Tinubu, directeur général du groupe Oando PLC, y participera aux côtés du Dr Alex Irune, directeur exécutif d’Oando PLC et directeur général d’Oando Energy Resources. Oando a finalisé l’acquisition des anciens actifs terrestres de NAOC (Eni) dans le cadre d’une transaction évaluée à environ 800 millions de dollars, ce qui lui a permis d’étendre son périmètre d’exploitation dans le delta du Niger et de s’imposer comme l’un des plus grands opérateurs locaux du Nigeria en termes de volume de production.

Seplat Energy, le plus grand producteur indépendant du Nigeria, sera représenté par son futur PDG, l’ingénieur Effiong Okon, qui succédera à Roger Brown le 1er août 2026. La stratégie 2030 de Seplat vise une production de 200 000 barils équivalent pétrole par jour et plus d’un milliard de pieds cubes standard par jour de gaz national, suite à l’acquisition de la filiale nigériane d’ExxonMobil.

L’usine de traitement de gaz d’ANOH, à la mise en service de laquelle M. Okon a contribué en tant que directeur général, a produit son premier gaz en janvier 2026. Okechukwu Mba, directeur du gaz et des nouvelles énergies, participera également à l’événement et apportera sa contribution aux discussions sur la commercialisation du gaz et la stratégie de transition énergétique du pays.

Aradel Holdings, la plus grande société pétrolière et gazière cotée à la Bourse du Nigeria, sera représentée par Adegbite Falade, directeur général et PDG. Aradel a enregistré un chiffre d’affaires d’environ 697,3 milliards de nairas et une croissance de ses bénéfices de 55 % en glissement annuel pour 2025, grâce à l’augmentation de la production de pétrole brut et de gaz sur un parc d’actifs en expansion. La société a porté sa production de pétrole brut à 14 100 barils par jour et a atteint son plus haut niveau historique de production de gaz, soit environ 83,8 millions de pieds cubes standard par jour, au cours de l’année.

Aradel est également actionnaire de Renaissance Africa Energy, le consortium qui a finalisé l’acquisition, pour 2,4 milliards de dollars, des activités terrestres de Shell au Nigeria. La société exploite un modèle entièrement intégré, de l’amont à l’aval, sur son gisement phare d’Ogbele, dans l’État de Rivers, combinant production, traitement du gaz et raffinage.

Osayande Igiehon, directeur général et PDG d’Heirs Energies, participera à la conférence alors que la société continue de renforcer sa position en amont et sa capacité de financement. Parmi les accords phares conclus récemment figure une facilité de crédit à deux tranches de 750 millions de dollars, basée sur les réserves de Heirs Energies et mise en place par la Banque africaine d’import-export. La société exploite le bloc OML 17 dans le delta du Niger, fournissant du gaz qui alimente plus de 350 MW d’électricité, et sa société mère, Heirs Holdings, détient une participation de 20,07 % dans Seplat Energy à la suite d’un investissement de 500 millions de dollars.

Kola Karim, directeur général et PDG de Shoreline Energy International Group, participera également à la conférence. La société est spécialisée dans les investissements dans les secteurs de l’électricité, des infrastructures, de l’ingénierie et de l’énergie, et exploite notamment le bloc OML 30 dans le delta du Niger. Le projet compte huit stations de production et cinq stations de compression à gaz lift.

Collectivement, ces opérateurs représentent les entreprises qui ont redéfini la structure de propriété du secteur amont au Nigeria et s’emploient désormais à accroître la production, à intégrer les actifs acquis et à investir dans les infrastructures nécessaires pour soutenir une croissance à long terme.

« Les opérateurs locaux du Nigeria ont acquis des actifs d’une valeur de plusieurs milliards de dollars et sont désormais chargés de les exploiter, de les financer et de les développer. Leur présence massive à l’AEW démontre qu’il ne s’agit pas d’une transition de pure forme, mais d’un changement fondamental dans le mode de fonctionnement du plus grand producteur de pétrole d’Afrique », a déclaré NJ Ayuk, président exécutif de l’African Energy Chamber.

L’AEW 2026 réunira la délégation nigériane aux côtés de chefs d’État, d’opérateurs internationaux et d’investisseurs au Centre international de congrès du Cap, du 12 au 16 octobre.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Energy Chamber.

July 14, 2026

Operadoras nigerianas vão partilhar conhecimentos sobre o setor a montante na African Energy Week (AEW), na Cidade do Cabo

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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As maiores operadoras nacionais de petróleo e gás da Nigéria participam na Conferência e Exposição da African Energy Week (AEW), que decorre na Cidade do Cabo de 12 a 16 de outubro de 2026, com o objetivo de reforçar a colaboração regional e impulsionar a próxima vaga de projetos de upstream em África. Entre os oradores contam-se as empresas que estão no centro de uma mudança estrutural no setor a montante da Nigéria, onde as operadoras locais adquiriram mais de 6 mil milhões de dólares em ativos alienados por grandes empresas internacionais e representam agora aproximadamente 60% da produção de crude do país.

O Diretor Executivo do Grupo Oando PLC, Wale Tinubu, estará presente juntamente com o Dr. Alex Irune, Diretor Executivo da Oando PLC e Diretor Geral da Oando Energy Resources. A Oando concluiu a aquisição dos antigos ativos onshore da NAOC da Eni, num negócio avaliado em cerca de 800 milhões de dólares, ampliando a sua área de exploração no Delta do Níger e consolidando a Oando como uma das maiores operadoras locais da Nigéria em termos de volume de produção.

A Seplat Energy, o maior produtor independente da Nigéria, será representada pelo futuro CEO, o Eng. Effiong Okon, que substituirá Roger Brown a 1 de agosto de 2026. A estratégia da Seplat para 2030 tem como meta 200 000 barris de equivalente de petróleo por dia e mais de mil milhões de pés cúbicos padrão por dia de produção doméstica de gás, na sequência da aquisição da subsidiária nigeriana da ExxonMobil.

A unidade de processamento de gás de ANOH, cuja concretização Okon ajudou a garantir enquanto diretor-geral, alcançou a primeira produção de gás em janeiro de 2026. Okechukwu Mba, diretor de Gás e Novas Energias, também participará, contribuindo para os debates sobre a comercialização do gás e a estratégia de transição energética do país.

A Aradel Holdings, a maior empresa de petróleo e gás cotada na Bolsa de Valores da Nigéria, será representada por Adegbite Falade, diretor-geral e CEO. A Aradel registou receitas de aproximadamente 697,3 mil milhões de nairas e um crescimento dos lucros de 55% em relação ao ano anterior em 2025, impulsionado pelo aumento da produção de crude e gás numa base de ativos em expansão. A empresa aumentou a produção de crude para 14 100 barris por dia e atingiu a sua taxa de produção de gás mais elevada de sempre, de aproximadamente 83,8 milhões de pés cúbicos padrão por dia, durante o ano.

A Aradel é também acionista da Renaissance Africa Energy, o consórcio que concluiu a aquisição, no valor de 2,4 mil milhões de dólares, das operações terrestres da Shell na Nigéria. A empresa opera um modelo totalmente integrado, desde a exploração até à comercialização, no seu campo emblemático de Ogbele, no Estado de Rivers, combinando produção, processamento de gás e refinação.

O diretor-geral e CEO da Heirs Energies, Osayande Igiehon, participará na conferência, à medida que a empresa continua a expandir a sua posição no setor de exploração e a sua capacidade de financiamento. Um acordo emblemático recente incluiu uma linha de crédito baseada em reservas, em duas tranches, no valor de 750 milhões de dólares da Heirs Energies — organizada pelo Banco Africano de Exportação e Importação. A empresa opera a OML 17 no Delta do Níger, fornecendo gás que gera mais de 350 MW de eletricidade, e a sua empresa-mãe, a Heirs Holdings, detém uma participação de 20,07% na Seplat Energy, na sequência de um investimento de 500 milhões de dólares.

Kola Karim, Diretor-Geral e CEO do Shoreline Energy International Group, também participará na conferência. A empresa é especializada em investimentos nos setores da energia, infraestruturas, engenharia e energia, com operações que incluem a OML 30 no Delta do Níger. O projeto conta com oito estações de produção e cinco estações de compressão de elevação a gás.

Em conjunto, estas operadoras representam as empresas que reformularam a estrutura de propriedade do setor a montante da Nigéria e que estão agora a trabalhar para aumentar a produção, integrar os ativos adquiridos e investir capital nas infraestruturas necessárias para sustentar o crescimento a longo prazo.

«As operadoras nacionais da Nigéria adquiriram milhares de milhões de dólares em ativos e estão agora a geri-los, a financiá-los e a expandi-los. A sua presença em força na AEW demonstra que esta não é uma transição apenas no nome, mas uma mudança fundamental na forma como o maior produtor de petróleo de África opera», afirmou NJ Ayuk, presidente executivo da Câmara Africana de Energia.

A AEW 2026 reunirá a delegação nigeriana juntamente com chefes de Estado, operadores internacionais e investidores no Centro Internacional de Convenções da Cidade do Cabo, de 12 a 16 de outubro.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Energy Chamber.

July 14, 2026

Nigerian Operators to Bring Upstream Know-How to African Energy Week (AEW) in Cape Town

Source: APO

Nigeria’s largest indigenous oil and gas operators have joined the African Energy Week (AEW) Conference and Exhibition, taking place in Cape Town from October 12-16, 2026, to strengthen regional collaboration and advance Africa’s next wave of upstream projects. Speakers include the companies at the center of a structural shift in Nigeria’s upstream sector, where local operators have acquired more than $6 billion in assets divested by international majors and now account for approximately 60% of the country’s crude production.

Oando PLC Group Chief Executive Wale Tinubu will attend alongside Dr. Alex Irune, Executive Director of Oando PLC and Managing Director of Oando Energy Resources. Oando completed its acquisition of Eni’s former NAOC onshore assets in a deal valued at approximately $800 million, adding acreage across the Niger Delta and establishing Oando as one of the largest indigenous operators in Nigeria by production volume.

Seplat Energy, Nigeria’s largest independent producer, will be represented by incoming CEO Engr. Effiong Okon, who takes over from Roger Brown on August 1, 2026. Seplat’s 2030 strategy targets 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and more than one billion standard cubic feet per day of domestic gas production following its acquisition of ExxonMobil’s Nigerian subsidiary.

The ANOH gas processing plant, which Okon helped deliver as Managing Director, achieved first gas in January 2026. Okechukwu Mba, Director of Gas and New Energy, will also participate, contributing to discussions on gas commercialization and the country’s energy transition strategy.

Aradel Holdings, the largest oil and gas company listed on the Nigerian Exchange, will be represented by Adegbite Falade, MD and CEO. Aradel reported revenue of approximately N697.3 billion and 55% profit growth year-on-year for 2025, driven by increased crude and gas production across an expanding asset base. The company raised crude output to 14,100 barrels per day and achieved its highest-ever gas production rate of approximately 83.8 million standard cubic feet per day during the year.

Aradel is also a shareholder in Renaissance Africa Energy, the consortium that completed its $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell’s onshore Nigerian operations. The company operates a fully integrated upstream-to-downstream model at its flagship Ogbele field in Rivers State, combining production, gas processing and refining.

Heirs Energies MD and CEO Osayande Igiehon will attend the conference as the company continues to expand its upstream position and financing capacity. A recent flagship agreement included Heirs Energies’ $750 million dual-tranche reserve-based lending facility – arranged by the African Export-Import Bank. The company operates OML 17 in the Niger Delta, supplying gas that powers more than 350 MW of electricity, and its parent company Heirs Holdings holds a 20.07% stake in Seplat Energy following a $500 million investment.

Shoreline Energy International Group Managing Director and CEO Kola Karim will also join the conference. The company specialized in power, infrastructure, engineering and energy investments, with operations including OML 30 in the Niger Delta. The project has eight producing flow stations and five gas lift compression stations.

Collectively, these operators represent the companies that have reshaped Nigeria’s upstream ownership structure and are now working to scale production, integrate acquired assets and deploy capital into the infrastructure required to sustain long-term growth.

“Nigeria’s indigenous operators have acquired billions of dollars in assets and are now running them, financing them and expanding them. Their presence at AEW in force demonstrates that this is not a transition in name only but a fundamental shift in how Africa’s largest oil producer operates,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

AEW 2026 will convene the Nigerian delegation alongside heads of state, international operators and investors at the Cape Town International Convention Center from October 12-16.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

July 14, 2026

Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Draws Leading Service Providers as Angola’s Project Pipeline Expands

Source: APO

As Angola’s oil and gas sector enters a new investment cycle, service providers are increasingly positioning themselves at the center of project delivery. The Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition will host Siemens Energy, Copia Group of Companies, Angola Environmental Serviços (AES), KAESO Energy Services and FAMAR Energies, bringing together companies active across power infrastructure, engineering, logistics and industrial support services. Their participation highlights the critical role service companies continue to play in enabling Angola’s next phase of upstream and infrastructure development.

Filippo Bellan, Executive Head of O&G Africa – Gas Services at Siemens Energy, joins the conference as the company deepens its footprint in the Angolan market. Siemens Energy is currently developing an 80 MW power generation plant for the Kaminho FPSO, part of the wider Kaminho development scheduled to come online in 2028. As Angola advances gas monetization, refining capacity expansion and industrial development, the company brings expertise in gas services, efficiency and energy technology deployment.

Copia Group of Companies is also strengthening its market presence, supporting developments across the oil and gas value chain. The company has expanded its technology offering through two proprietary platforms, Copia Six and Copia DynamicSim, which apply AI and machine learning to seismic interpretation and oilfield management. Adilson Mangueira Nelumba, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Copia Group, will present these developments at AOG 2026. Copia is also a Platinum Sponsor of the event.

AES, a Silver Sponsor of AOG 2026, provides integrated environmental services tailored to the oil and gas sector, including waste management, treatment, logistics and environmental monitoring. These services support drilling campaigns, production operations and infrastructure development. As Angola advances its estimated $70 billion upstream investment pipeline, Matuzalem Sukete, Head of New Markets and Public Affairs at AES, is expected to share insights on the company’s positioning as a strategic partner to operators.

As Angola’s project pipeline expands, KAESO Energy Services is strengthening its role in engineering, technical and operational support. The company’s solutions focus on improving asset reliability, extending production lifecycles and reducing operational risk. At AOG 2026, General Manager Jorge De Morais will outline the company’s approach to supporting operators across the value chain.

AOG 2026 Gold Sponsor FAMAR Energies is developing a growing maritime and infrastructure portfolio supporting project execution across Angola’s oil and gas sector. Its operations span key national ports, where integrated services in fuel storage, logistics and ship repair support petroleum trade and energy infrastructure. Project Manager Mari de Jager Andrade will join AOG 2026 to discuss the role of domestic energy logistics in supporting Angola’s next phase of growth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

July 14, 2026

Cabo Verde apresenta III Revisão Nacional Voluntária nas Nações Unidas

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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Cabo Verde apresentou nesta segunda-feira, 13 de julho, em Nova Iorque, a sua Terceira Revisão Nacional Voluntária, reafirmando o compromisso do país com a Agenda 2030 e com os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável.

A apresentação foi feita pelo Ministro do Ambiente, Ação Climática e Energia, Carlos Varela, que chefiou uma delegação cabo-verdiana a Nova Iorque composta pela Direção do Serviço de Planeamento Estratégico, Monitorização e Avaliação da Direção Nacional do Planeamento do Ministério das Finanças.

Durante a apresentação, o Ministro destacou os progressos alcançados por Cabo Verde desde 2021, apesar dos impactos da pandemia, da inflação internacional, das alterações climáticas e de outros desafios externos. Entre os principais avanços registados estão o acesso à eletricidade próximo da universalidade, uma cobertura superior a 90% no acesso à água potável, uma participação de cerca de 25% das energias renováveis na produção de eletricidade.

Enquanto Pequeno Estado Insular em Desenvolvimento, Cabo Verde continua particularmente vulnerável à escassez de água, aos riscos climáticos e às oscilações dos preços internacionais dos combustíveis.

Cerca de 90% da água potável consumida no país é produzida por meio da dessalinização, um processo fortemente dependente de energia. Por isso, a transição energética é essencial não apenas para proteger o ambiente, mas também para reduzir os custos da água e da eletricidade, aumentar a competitividade da economia e promover a criação de empregos verdes.

O país pretende igualmente reforçar o saneamento, o tratamento e a reutilização das águas residuais, reconhecendo a água tratada como um recurso estratégico para a agricultura e para a resiliência ambiental.

O Governo reiterou ainda a importância de continuar a investir em energias renováveis, inovação, infraestruturas resilientes, boa governação e parcerias sólidas, com vista à promoção de um desenvolvimento mais sustentável e inclusivo.

No entanto, Cabo Verde firmou o compromisso junto das Nações Unidas de alinhar os compromissos para os próximos anos, alinhados às metas a serem definidas pelo Executivo cabo-verdiano, . que for aprovado o programa do Governo, previsto para esta semana.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

July 14, 2026

Protecting girls from cervical cancer in The Gambia

Source: APO

In The Gambia, bold and coordinated efforts are improving access to lifesaving vaccines for adolescent girls across the country. To catch up on vaccination of girls missed during a 2025 campaign, The Gambia implemented a week-long human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign targeting girls aged 9–14 years in three regions in April 2026.

The campaign moved beyond traditional facility-based delivery, bringing vaccines closer to where girls learn and live: schools, madrassas and community settings. Vaccination teams were deployed across multiple outreach points to ensure that eligible girls were not left behind.

Led by the Ministry of Health (MoH) through the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), the campaign was implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, WHO, UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The joint effort strengthened planning, coordination and service delivery, ensuring that the campaign reached both in-school and out-of-school adolescents across the targeted regions.

Following the 2025 nationwide HPV vaccination campaign, over 11 000 eligible girls remained unvaccinated across the country. To help close this gap, the catch-up campaign targeted almost 9000 girls in three regions. By the end of the campaign, around 8500 girls had been vaccinated, representing 95% coverage.

“With continued support from WHO and partners, The Gambia is strengthening an immunization system that is not only more effective but increasingly trusted by the communities it serves,” says Dr Nathan Bakyaita, WHO Representative in The Gambia. “And within that trust lies the most powerful outcome of all: a generation of girls growing up protected, empowered and free from the threat of cervical cancer.”

Strong collaboration between the health and education sectors ensured the success of the campaign. The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education played a critical role in coordination across regions, working through cluster managers who support schools with planning, communication and implementation guidance.

This coordination strengthened the link between schools, communities, and health teams ensuring better planning, smoother delivery and improved acceptance among parents and caregivers. Regional monitoring systems have further supported timely follow up and ensured that eligible girls are not missed during implementation.

By normalizing vaccination through engagement with teachers, religious and community leaders, The Gambia is evolving toward a more equity-driven immunization strategy.

Fakebba Kolley, a head teacher at Wulingkama Lower Basic School in Brufut, a town in The Gambia’s Western Division, used the school’s WhatsApp platform to engage parents and build trust. This led 98% of parents to provide consent for their daughters to receive the vaccine.

For Kolley, the mission is personal. “I lost my sister to this disease. If this vaccine had been available then, maybe her story would have been different,” he says. “Today, we can protect our girls early and we must not miss it.”

Other educators at the school, like Abdoul Wahab, echo this sentiment. “This vaccine is important in the life of a girl,” he says. “I encourage all parents to allow their children to be vaccinated—it also supports their reproductive health.”

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

July 14, 2026

Seychelles: President Herminie Meets Préfet de La Réunion to Strengthen Regional Cooperation

Source: APO

Underscoring the close ties between La Réunion and Seychelles, President Dr Patrick Herminie yesterday met with the Préfet de La Réunion Patrice Latron, as part of his official visit programme.

During their one-hour bilateral talks held at the Creolia Hotel in St Denis, the two men reviewed the cooperation between the two sister islands, which spans defence, security, combating drug trafficking, disaster management, education and sport. They agreed that cooperation in defence and security remains strong and dynamic, as attested by the many Seychellois nationals undergoing training in various fields in both Réunion and mainland France.

President Herminie expressed satisfaction with the longstanding partnership in security matters, which he said had also benefited members of the Police Force’s Quick Response Team, trained by the French Groupe d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN).

Discussions extended to the maritime domain, with both sides recognising shared challenges in protecting and monitoring their vast Exclusive Economic Zones. Seychelles commended the French navy’s role in combating piracy, as well as its contribution to the fight against illegal fishing through joint patrols.

The fight against narcotics featured prominently in the talks between the two men. Seychelles welcomed continued cooperation with the French navy, which has led to drug seizures and the destruction of vessels involved in the illicit trade. Seychelles is seeking French assistance in carrying out a new survey on the extent of drug consumption in the country, and the two sides agreed that efforts should also focus on reducing demand for drugs. Préfet Latron said that a new campaign entitled ‘Pa Ter La’, focusing on prevention and education, is already showing positive results.

Disaster risk management was another point of discussion. President Herminie thanked La Réunion for its readiness to assist Seychelles and said that crisis management training received from France had played a critical part in enabling Seychelles to contain a recent fire outbreak on Praslin. He expressed a wish to expand cooperation in this field to cover other types of hazards.

President Herminie informed Préfet Latron that he is looking forward to visiting the Régiment du Service Militaire Adapté, as he would like to see how this model could help in establishing the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme.

President Herminie described sport as a critical area of cooperation, saying that Seychellois athletes need to perform better in the next edition of the Jeux des Îles de l’océan Indien. He identified assistance in coaching and training as potential areas for collaboration.

President Herminie thanked the Préfet for welcoming him to Réunion as guest of honour at the celebrations of French National Day, and congratulated him on his appointment as Commandeur de l’Ordre national du Mérite. He said Seychelles deeply values its friendship with France and La Réunion, and expressed confidence that continued collaboration would benefit the peoples of both islands and contribute to the stability and prosperity of the region.

A platoon from the Seychelles Defence Forces’ Tazar Special Forces will take part in tomorrow’s military parade in La Réunion.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Media files

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July 14, 2026

Newly-appointed Social Development Minister vows to earn public trust

Source: Government of South Africa

Newly-appointed Social Development Minister vows to earn public trust

Newly appointed Minister of Social Development Dina Pule says she will not “take lightly” the responsibility entrusted to her by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In an exclusive interview with the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Pule described her appointment as both an honour and an opportunity to serve South Africa’s most vulnerable with humility and integrity.

She expressed her appreciation to President Ramaphosa for appointing her as Minister of Social Development, and for the confidence he has shown in her since her return to public office.

“I am grateful to the President for the honour and the trust he has placed in me through this appointment. I also appreciate the support I have received since my return to public life after being elected as a Member of Parliament in 2024 elections,” Pule said.

Pule expressed appreciation for the support she has received since returning to public life after being elected as a Member of Parliament in the 2024 General Elections. She said serving as Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Agriculture had reaffirmed her commitment to public service.

“The trust and responsibility given to me as Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture has reaffirmed my commitment to the public service. I do not receive this trust lightly. I receive it with humility, gratitude, and a sober awareness of the weight of responsibility that it carries,” the Minister said.

Pule said that during her years away from public office, she worked on rebuilding trust, strengthening relationships and reflecting on the values required of public representatives.

“Away from the limelight, I have worked to restore much of what I broke: relationships, trust and, above all, my own understanding of what it means to serve.”

Pule said she recognised that being given another opportunity to serve carries significant responsibility, particularly as government seeks to strengthen ethical leadership and rebuild public confidence.

“I do not take this second chance lightly. I know that it carries a price at the very moment when government is renewing its values, and the trust of the people.”

Turning to her new portfolio, Pule said her priority would be to serve those who depend most on government support, including children, older persons and vulnerable households.

“To the people of South Africa, whom I now have the privilege to serve, [including] the poorest and the most vulnerable; the child who depend on a grant; the grandmother who holds a household together; the young person searching for dignity and work, I took an oath of office and will uphold it.”

She said her work as Minister would be guided by the Constitution and a commitment to ethical governance.

“I will be guided to the fullest by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which is the supreme law of our land and the compass of all who are called to serve within it.”

Pule described her appointment as an opportunity to demonstrate through action that trust can be rebuilt.

“This appointment, for me, is not a return to comfort. It is a restoration of hope – hope that ours is a nation generous enough to allow redemption and demanding enough to insist that it be earned. I intend to earn it, every single day, through my work and through my conduct,” Pule said.

She concluded by thanking President Ramaphosa, and South Africans for what she described as a second chance to serve.

“I thank the President, and I thank the people of South Africa for the grace of a second chance, which I shall honour with everything that I have.” – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Tue, 07/14/2026 – 15:52