Category: Africa

Source: APO – Report:

.

The Workers Vocational Training Center in Massawa, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water, Land and Environment and the Ministry of Defense, has provided a three-month training course on cooling and heating systems to 16 youth.

Mr. Habtemariam Tesfamicael, representative of the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers, said that the trainees were members of the Ministries of Water, Land and Environment and Defense, and that 70% of the training was practical.

Col. Mehari Feseha, head of Logistics at the Defense Forces Training Center, noted that the training was highly important as it was supported with technology, and he called on the trainees to practically apply the knowledge they gained.

Eng. Robel Kibrom, head of Chemicals and Wastes at the Ministry of Water, Land and Environment, underlined that vocational training makes a significant contribution to sustainable development and stated that similar training programs will continue to be organized.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

.

On August 22, commencing at 9:30 a.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a Foreign Ministers’ meeting with Hon. Mr. Samuel Okudzeto ABLAKWA, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, who is visiting Japan to participate in the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9). The overview of the meeting is as follows:

1. At the outset, Minister IWAYA expressed his condolences for the deaths of eight people, including the Minister of Defense and the Minister of the Environment, in an accident that occurred in Ghana on August 6. Minister IWAYA also mentioned that it will soon be 100 years since Dr. NOGUCHI Hideyo traveled to Ghana, and expressed his hope that Minister Ablakwa’s visit to Japan will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries. In response, Minister Ablakwa expressed his congratulations on the success of TICAD 9 and highly appreciated Japan’s efforts in TICAD, including in the field of health. In addition, Minister Ablakwa expressed his desire to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in the international arena, looking ahead to 2027, marking the 100th anniversary of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’s voyage, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the 50th anniversary of the dispatch of JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers.
    
2. Minister IWAYA referred to Japan’s support in the infrastructure sector and requested cooperation in improving the business environment for the further development of economic relations between the two countries. In response, Minister Ablakwa expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support to date, including in the areas of infrastructure and agriculture, and stated his desire to continue working closely with Japan to promote further investment by Japanese companies.
    
3. The two Ministers exchanged views and concurred in closely working together to respond to various regional and international challenges, including their policies toward North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues and the abductions issue, as well as the United Nations Security Council reform.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Source: APO – Report:

.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, pays tribute, on this International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, to all those who have lost their lives and to those who continue to endure the physical, psychological, and social consequences of terrorist and extremist acts.

The Chairperson underscores that the memory of the victims serves as a constant reminder of the urgent need to intensify collective efforts to eradicate terrorism, which continues to sow devastation, destroy communities, and threaten peace, security, and development in Africa.

In this regard, the Chairperson recalls that the African Union has established a solid normative framework through the 1999 OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism and its 2004 Protocol. He urges all Member States to fully implement these instruments, which embody the continent’s collective commitment to fighting this scourge.

The Chairperson stresses the necessity of combining both military and non-military approaches in the prevention and fight against terrorism and violent extremism. Security operations must be complemented by initiatives that foster dialogue, reconciliation, and socio-economic reintegration.

While reaffirming the solidarity of the African Union with all victims and their families, the Chairperson reiterates the determination of the continental organization to support Member States in their efforts to eradicate terrorism and to promote an Africa of peace, security, and dignity.

– on behalf of African Union (AU).

Source: APO – Report:

.

President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday co-chaired the second plenary session on the ‘Economy: Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa’ of the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan.

Mr Mahama co-chaired the session with former Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, with interventions from Kenyan President William Ruto, Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbe, and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa. The UN Under-Secretary General Cristina Duarte and Comoros President Azali Assoumani also delivered remarks.

In his concluding remarks, President Mahama said TICAD-9 is happening at a time of a rapidly changing world order.

“The world’s largest economy, which should be the driver of global trade and investments, has become more insular and transactional in its relationship with the rest of the world”, he noted.

He had advice for African leaders and their people: “Africa is open for business. We wish to partner with any nation in the world on a win-win basis. But let’s not kid ourselves! Trade and investments will not come to Africa because we wish for it.”

According to President Mahama, “Africa must undertake the hard but necessary reforms, as countries on the continent, to make Africa an attractive destination for investments.”

“That is why we must silence the guns and stop the fighting. That is why we must reform our economies and make them more stable and predictable. This is why we must reform our governance and make public service accountable and corruption-free”, Mr Mahama added.

– on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

Source: APO – Report:

.

In collaboration with the Sudanese Albeser Ophthalmologists team, successful cataract surgery was performed on over 400 patients at Adi-Keih Hospital between 14 July and 18 August.

Dr. Tsegazeab Kiflezgi, Medical Director of the hospital, said the patients who underwent surgery were those on the waiting list and came from the sub-zones of Senafe, Adi-Keih, Tserona, Segeneity, and Foro.

Mr. Alem Zekarias, Director of National Blindness Control at the Ministry of Health, noted that the collaboration with the Albeser Ophthalmologists team has lasted for over 15 years and has made a significant contribution in terms of experience sharing.

Mr. Alem also stated that similar surgeries have previously been conducted on 12,000 nationals in Dekemhare, Massawa, and Keren.

Ms. Soliana Abraha, a staff member at Adi-Keih Hospital, indicated that the surgeries were conducted free of charge.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

.

Zimbabwe – Africa’s top lithium producer and among the world’s leading suppliers – is accelerating sector growth in 2025 through new partnerships, major project milestones and rising investment inflows. Against this backdrop, African Mining Week (AMW) 2025 – Africa’s premier platform for mining stakeholders – will connect global lithium market players with investment-ready opportunities in Zimbabwe, while unpacking strategies to scale beneficiation and integrate the country into global supply chains. High-level discussions will feature Winston Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, alongside representatives from the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe.

Export Growth Signals Momentum

The country’s production and export capacity is expanding rapidly. In the first half of 2025, Zimbabwe increased lithium exports by 30%, shipping 586,197 metric tons of spodumene concentrate compared to 451,824 metric tons in the same period of 2024 – underscoring its emergence as a critical supplier to global EV and battery markets. This trajectory strengthens Zimbabwe’s position in global supply chains while highlighting the strategic importance of downstream investment and value addition within Africa.

Beneficiation Efforts Gain Traction

Zimbabwe is equally advancing local beneficiation to capture greater value from its resources. In July 2025, state-owned Verify Engineering successfully piloted a domestically manufactured lithium-ion battery, marking a step toward value addition and industrialization. A government ban on exports of lithium concentrates – set for 2027 – is already spurring construction of new facilities, including Kuvimba House’s 600,000-metric-ton-per-year concentrator, Sinomine Resources’ $500 million lithium sulphate plant at Bikita and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt’s 50,000-ton-per-year lithium sulphate facility.

Rising Investment Flows

The sector is attracting both established players and new entrants. In January 2025, Premier African Minerals secured £4.7 million to advance its Zulu Lithium Project, while since 2021, Chinese firms including Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine, Chengxin Lithium Group, Yahua Group and Tsingshan have invested over $1.4 billion in Zimbabwe’s lithium value chain. Additional exploration is being advanced by companies from the UK, Canada, China, Australia, and Ireland, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s position as a global lithium hotspot. This wave of capital not only diversifies Zimbabwe’s investor base but also signals growing competition among global markets to secure reliable access to the country’s strategic minerals. As AMW 2025 spotlights the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa, Zimbabwe’s lithium sector will stand out as one of the continent’s fastest-growing and most strategic investment frontiers.

African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, met with Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University, to discuss opportunities for joint cooperation between the two sides. This was during the activities of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), in which Egypt is participating with a high-level delegation headed by H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, on behalf of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

During the meeting, the two sides explored avenues of collaboration within the framework of the pivotal role played by the United Nations University, established in 1975, in building bridges between academic institutions across continents and advancing scientific research to achieve sustainable development, particularly in the Global South.

In this context, the Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation underscored the importance of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, which paves the way for broader areas of cooperation and partnership between Japan and African countries, as well as regional and international organizations.

Dr. Al-Mashat affirmed the government’s keenness to strengthen partnerships and cooperation with United Nations organizations and international institutions in order to advance efforts to achieve sustainable development. At the same time, H.E. pointed to the national efforts to localise technology, develop a strategy for artificial intelligence and launch a national council for artificial intelligence in order to keep pace with developments in these technologies, which have become a necessary factor for achieving development in various fields.

The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation welcomed the prospect of cooperation and partnership with the United Nations University to build upon the strong and longstanding partnership between Egypt and the United Nations, as Egypt is a founding member of the UN system.

For his part, Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University, emphasized the University’s keenness to continuing and strengthening cooperation with the Egyptian government to support its efforts in the areas of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, human capital development, and other fields that contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.

It is worth noting that Japan is one of Egypt’s most significant Asian development partners. The cooperation portfolio currently includes about 18 development projects in support of the government’s plan to achieve sustainable economic development goals. The cooperation portfolio between Egypt and Japan is in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030, the government’s action programme (2024-2027), and the priorities of Japanese funding policies. The total technical support and grants provided by Japan amounted to about $2.4 billion, in addition to development funds amounting to about $7.2 billion, in the fields of renewable energy, electricity, transport, civil aviation, antiquities, irrigation, education and health, and budget support.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

Source: APO

.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been confirmed to speak at this year’s edition of the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference. Taking place September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town, the event represents the premier dealmaking platform for the African energy sector. President Mnangagwa’s participation reflects the country’s ambition to unlock the full potential of its energy sector and comes as international and regional companies advance projects in natural gas and renewable energy.

As a frontier oil and gas market, Zimbabwe offers significant opportunities for exploration firms seeking forays into southern Africa’s energy landscape. While the country does not currently produce oil and gas, efforts are being made to position the country as an onshore gas producer. Notably, exploration and production company Invictus Energy continues to advance the development of the Cabora Bassa Project – situated in northern Zimbabwe and representing one of the world’s largest untested frontier rift basins. The company made a significant gas discovery at the Mukuyu field in 2023, with a second discovery made at the Mukuyu-2 well in 2024. As the country works towards field development, President Mnangagwa’s participation at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 is expected to facilitate new deals across Zimbabwe’s emerging gas market.

AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

On the back of its exploration success, Zimbabwe is now seeking to fast-track field development and bring the Cabora Bassa Project into production. The government is currently finalizing the Petroleum Production Sharing Agreement (PPSA) with Invictus Energy, with a draft PPSA shared with the company in June 2025. The Zimbabwean government has also moved to provide National Project Status (NPS) to the Cabora Bassa Project, reflecting its commitment to the success of this endeavor. With NPS, the project will benefit from a suite of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, including duty exemptions, fast-tracked permitting and streamlined access to key infrastructure and services.

The NPS is also expected to support future exploration at the project, including the Musuma-1 exploration well, which is expected to be drilled in H2, 2025. The well is expected to provide a broader scope of the project and represents the first high-impact well to be drilled in the country outside of the Mukuyu discovery area. The well targets a new play type in the basin and, if successful, could unlock a substantial new resource base in addition to the already-proven Mukuyu field. These activities underscore both Invictus’ commitment to Zimbabwean gas development as well as the country’s drive to unlock the full potential of its energy resources.

Beyond natural gas exploration, Zimbabwe continues to make advancements in regional fuel distribution and power infrastructure. In April 2025, Companhia do Pipeline Moçambique-Zimbabwe announced plans to expand the capacity of the Beira corridor pipeline – connecting Beira in Mozambique to Zimbabwe. The company plans to increase capacity from the current three million cubic meters per annum to five million by 2027, underscoring the value of cross-border infrastructure in supporting regional fuel trade. As Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community from August 2024 to August 2025, President Mnangagwa promoted the role regional collaboration in energy and infrastructure plays in Africa.

Meanwhile, as a major coal and hydroelectric producer, Zimbabwe has been making strides towards boosting generating capacity and attracting fresh investment across the sector. Coal production is on track to rise 10.5% in 2025, reaching 6.3 million tons throughout the year. In collaboration with neighboring Zambia, the country also plans to restart several coal-fired plants, seeking to address power challenges and boost supply. In the hydropower sector, the country generates the majority of its capacity from the Kariba hydroelectric plant, but new projects across the nation are expected to bolster production even further. These include the Lake Mutirikwi plant, the Batoka Gorge plant, the Osborne Dam Mini-Hydro project, among others. Despite this progress, significant investment gaps remain, highlighting a strategic opportunity for investors and project developers across the entire energy value chain.

“Zimbabwe is a prime example of a frontier energy market with significant potential. Projects across the natural gas, coal and hydropower spaces showcase the level of opportunity that is available across the market, and investors should seize the opportunity to join this promising industry. At a time when African energy demand continues to grow, frontier markets such as Zimbabwe will play an instrumental part in the next era of development,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.