English – Page 307 – MIL Africa Engine

April 22, 2026

Why Africa Needs Institutional Coordination on Energy Policy

Source: APO – Report:

As global energy governance shifts from negotiation tables to courtrooms, Africa is facing a new and urgent challenge: ensuring its voice is not only heard, but aligned. The recent intervention by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) in a landmark climate advisory case before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has brought this issue into sharp focus. Initiated by the Pan African Lawyers Union, the case seeks to define the legal obligations of African states in addressing climate change – decisions that could have far-reaching implications for energy development, industrialization and economic growth across the continent.

Yet engagement from African stakeholders has been uneven. This lack of coordination reflects a broader structural issue. Across the continent, energy policy is shaped by a fragmented ecosystem of governments, regulators, regional institutions, state-owned enterprises and advocacy groups. While each plays an important role, the absence of alignment often results in inconsistent messaging, particularly in global legal and policy forums where clarity and cohesion are critical.

The AEC’s decision to intervene as amicus curiae is, in itself, a response to this fragmentation. By stepping in, the Chamber aims to ensure that Africa’s energy realities – particularly the need to balance climate action with development – are properly represented. However, no single institution can speak for an entire continent. The case highlights a deeper need for coordinated engagement across African stakeholders.

Organizations such as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) have long served as platforms for aligning producer interests and shaping collective positions. OPEC’s coordinated production cuts following the 2020 oil price collapse, for example, helped stabilize global markets and restore price confidence. Meanwhile, APPO has advanced initiatives such as the Africa Energy Bank to mobilize financing for oil and gas projects amid tightening global capital flows. These examples demonstrate the power of coordination, but also underscore the need to expand this approach beyond market management into legal and policy arenas.

That need is becoming more urgent. Courts and legal bodies are increasingly shaping climate policy, shifting key decisions from political arenas into binding or quasi-binding interpretations. These rulings are influencing project financing, approvals and the long-term viability of hydrocarbons in emerging markets like Africa. This is already evident in Africa, where legal and climate-related pressure on projects such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline has contributed to financing withdrawals, delays and heightened scrutiny, alongside challenges facing LNG developments in Mozambique.

Without a coordinated African position, there is a real risk that these frameworks will be shaped externally, without fully reflecting the continent’s priorities. This comes at a time when Africa must simultaneously navigate climate pressures and address a fundamental energy access gap – over 600 million people across the continent still lack access to electricity.

The contradiction is stark. Africa is being asked to accelerate decarbonization while still building the energy systems required to support economic growth and industrialization. A fragmented voice only deepens this challenge. Diverging national positions, inconsistent regulatory frameworks and uncoordinated advocacy weaken the continent’s ability to negotiate effectively, attract investment and defend its development pathway.

“Too often, Africa shows up to global energy debates divided – while others come organized and strategic,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “If we don’t coordinate our policies, our messaging and our legal positions, decisions about Africa’s energy future will be made without Africa at the table. Unity is no longer optional; it’s how we protect our resources, attract investment and secure our development.”

Stronger institutional coordination offers a clear path forward. By aligning positions across governments, regional organizations and industry bodies, Africa can present a unified narrative – one that emphasizes its right to development, the continued role of hydrocarbons and the importance of a balanced, inclusive energy transition.

In this context, OPEC and APPO have a critical role to play – not only as conveners, but as engines of policy alignment. Through coordinated strategies, shared data and unified representation in global forums, these institutions can help transform Africa from a collection of individual voices into a cohesive negotiating bloc.

The AEC’s intervention in the climate case should be seen as a signal – not just of the importance of participation, but of the cost of fragmentation. As global energy governance continues to evolve, Africa cannot afford to be reactive, divided or underrepresented.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

April 22, 2026

Afreximbank announces third African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) training programme as it seeks to empower African businesses

Source: APO – Report:

African Corporates will have a unique opportunity to learn how to fully maximize the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) when the third edition of the AfCFTA Training Programme holds in Cairo, Egypt from 16^th June to 18^th June, 2026.

Developed and led by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the American University in Cairo (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the programme is designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and practical expertise required to navigate and succeed within Africa’s evolving intra-African trade landscape.

While the AfCFTA has significant potential to drive economic development across Africa, limited understanding of its technical provisions and practical applications continues to hinder the full realization of its benefits. The programme is designed to equip businesses with practical, actionable insights on identifying and capitalising on trade opportunities, managing export and import operations, and navigating trade finance, supply chains, and the broader international trade environment. It will also provide a clear understanding of how the AfCFTA framework addresses capacity constraints and expands market access for producers of goods and services across the continent.

By translating the AfCFTA’s legal and treaty provisions into business-ready strategies, the programme offers clarity on the regulatory, operational, and market requirements necessary for companies to fully leverage opportunities within the rapidly expanding AfCFTA market.

As the African Union’s key strategic partner in implementing the AfCFTA, Afreximbank has spearheaded multiple initiatives to advance both intra and extra-African trade and investment, with trainings playing a key role in capacity building.

Commenting on the programme, Dr. Yemi Kale, Group Chief Economist & Managing Director of Research at Afreximbank, described it as “a strategic platform for advancing the adoption and deepening the understanding of the AfCFTA among key stakeholders, particularly corporates within the broader private sector ecosystem.” He added that the initiative “reinforces the Bank’s commitment to equipping businesses with the insights and capabilities required to effectively leverage opportunities under the Agreement.”

Dr. Kale said: “I have full confidence that participants in this training will leave with a holistic understanding of the AfCFTA, its genesis and dimensions, enabling them to assess the outcomes of the ongoing negotiations, and to examine the challenges and opportunities that underlie the negotiations and the agreement at large. They will also be able to explore the prospects of the AfCFTA and to capitalize on the agreement while supporting its objectives to the benefit their corporations and the continent.”

Mohamed Ali, Director of Trade in Goods and Competition at the AfCFTA Secretariat, said: “This programme represents a critical step towards unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade through targeted capacity building and strategic partnerships. Our collaboration with Afreximbank reinforces a shared commitment to equip African businesses with the practical knowledge, tools, and institutional support required to effectively utilize the Agreement.”

Commenting on the programme, Mr. Stephen Tio Kauma, Managing Director, Human Resources at Afreximbank, stated: “Delivered through the Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD), this programme reflects our commitment to equipping African businesses with the practical skills needed to fully leverage the opportunities under the AfCFTA. AFRACAD continues to serve as a leading trade knowledge hub, empowering participants to compete and thrive in Africa’s single market. Through our strong partnerships and innovative learning approach, we are empowering businesses across Global Africa to scale, innovate, and play a leading role in the continent’s economic transformation”.

For registration and further information, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/41O3CdY

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), and. Moody’s (Baa2). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

Media files

April 22, 2026

Bridge across water, history and trust: What the Senqu Crossing tells us about SADC regional cooperation

Source: Government of South Africa

Bridge across water, history and trust: What the Senqu Crossing tells us about SADC regional cooperation

By David Jacobs

The Senqu Bridge is a visible reminder of how South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho have chosen cooperation over competition in the management of shared natural resources, particularly water, one of the most strategic assets in Southern Africa.

The bridge, constructed as part of Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), restores and safeguards connectivity for communities once the Polihali Reservoir is impounded. But its deeper significance lies in what it symbolises: a mature, treaty‑based approach to regional development, rooted in shared benefit, legal certainty and long‑term planning.

At the heart of the LHWP is the Treaty on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, signed on 24 October 1986 between the Governments of South Africa and Lesotho. Far from being a once‑off agreement, the Treaty established a permanent framework for cooperation, defining roles, responsibilities, governance systems, cost‑sharing arrangements and dispute‑resolution mechanisms.

Through this Treaty and its accompanying Protocols, the two countries jointly committed to:

the equitable use of the Senqu/Orange River system,
the delivery of high‑quality water to South Africa, particularly to Gauteng,
hydropower generation and economic development in Lesotho, and
shared responsibility for social and environmental impacts arising from large‑scale infrastructure.

The Senqu Bridge stands out as a flagship example of people-centred development, embodying a holistic approach that integrates skills transfer, road infrastructure development, service delivery, local procurement, and livelihood restoration, in line with the provisions of the Treaty and the Phase II Agreement.

Furthermore,while the LHWP is unique in scale and longevity, it is not an anomaly. The Treaty explicitly recognises that water resources in Southern Africa are shared, transboundary assets whose sustainable use requires cooperation, not unilateral action.

The LHWP therefore stands as one example among many bilateral and regional arrangements through which neighbouring countries collaborate on bulk water supply, river basin management and infrastructure development.

What distinguishes the South Africa–Lesotho cooperation is its depth and durability: a multi‑decade legal framework supported by detailed protocols on royalties, cost apportionment, taxation, governance and dispute settlement.

In an increasingly water‑scarce region, such arrangements matter. They demonstrate that water diplomacy can be developmental, delivering mutual gains and uplifting both countries.

In addition to this, the Project’s governance model, centred on the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission, the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, and South Africa’s Trans‑Caledon Tunnel Authority, ensures joint oversight and accountability. Cost allocation, royalties and financing responsibilities are clearly delineated through legally binding instruments, reducing uncertainty and reinforcing trust.

For South Africa, the benefits include secure, gravity‑fed water supply to its economic heartland at lower long‑term pumping costs. For Lesotho, the Project delivers hydropower generation, infrastructure investment, royalties, employment and skills development.

These benefits are commendable as they demonstrate the effectiveness of the treaty.

Over and above, the Senqu Bridge remains a key achievement worth celebrating in the SADC Regional Cooperation. As vehicles cross the bridge for the first time, they do so on a structure made possible by a shared vision forged four decades ago.

On the other hand, in a time when pressures on water resources are intensifying across Southern Africa, the LHWP and milestones like the Senqu Bridge, offer an important lesson. When neighbouring states embed cooperation in law, institutions and long‑term planning, infrastructure can become more than concrete and steel. It can become a bridge between national interests, carrying shared prosperity into the future.

*David Jacobs is Chief Director: Cluster Communication and Stakeholder Management at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

Matona
Wed, 04/22/2026 – 14:02

63 views

April 22, 2026

6 African thinkers who help us understand the world – new book

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Christophe Premat, Professor, Canadian and Cultural Studies, Stockholm University

Who counts as an intellectual? In many traditions, the figure of the intellectual is tied to the search for truth, social critique and public engagement. From the Dreyfus Affair (a political scandal in 1894 in France that mobilised writers and thinkers to defend justice) to postcolonial debates, intellectuals are those who intervene in society, not just to interpret the world, but to challenge it.

Hermann

In the African context, this role takes on particular urgency. Intellectuals on the continent and in the diaspora have long navigated a complex terrain shaped by colonial legacies, political constraints and global inequalities. They are not simply producers of knowledge. They are mediators between worlds, engaged in a struggle over meaning, identity and historical narrative.

As a scholar of cultural studies and postcolonial thought, I’ve sought, in a new French book, to analyse their paths not as isolated figures, but as part of a broader constellation of what we’ve called “African intellectual sensibilities”.

These are ways of thinking that are at once critical, situated and globally engaged. This approach highlights how African thinkers contribute not only to debates about Africa, but also to the redefinition of knowledge production itself.

So, identifying African thinkers is not just an exercise in recognition. It’s part of a broader effort to rebalance an intellectual history that has too often marginalised or misrepresented African contributions. As Congolese philosopher Valentin-Yves Mudimbe famously argued, Africa has often been constructed as an object of knowledge rather than a subject producing it.

From this perspective, here are six intellectuals whose work helps us rethink Africa and the world.

The famous

1. Valentin-Yves Mudimbe (1941-2025)

Mudimbe is one of the most influential African philosophers of the late 20th century. His seminal work The Invention of Africa dismantles what he calls the “colonial library”, the body of western knowledge that has historically defined Africa from the outside.

Mudimbe: deconstructing the colonial production of knowledge. Screengrab/YouTube/Alice Ces

Rather than simply rejecting western thought, Mudimbe proposes a critical archaeology of knowledge. His work invites us to rethink how Africa can be known and, crucially, how it can speak for itself. He shifts the question from what Africa is to who has the power to define it.

His contribution goes further. By drawing on thinkers like Michel Foucault from France, he shows that knowledge is never neutral. It’s embedded in structures of power. This allows Mudimbe to expose how academic disciplines, from anthropology to history, have participated in constructing a distorted image of Africa.

His work opened the way for a generation of scholars who now seek to produce knowledge from within African perspectives rather than about Africa as an external object.

2. Achille Mbembe (born 1957)

A major voice in contemporary global theory, Cameroonian historian Mbembe explores how power operates in postcolonial societies. In works such as On the Postcolony and Critique of Black Reason, he analyses the afterlives of colonial violence and their impact on subjectivity.

Mbembe: thinking about power, violence and the postcolonial condition. Wikimedia Commons/Heike Huslage-Koch, CC BY-SA

Mbembe also emphasises the need for Africa to produce its own narratives. For him, intellectual work is inseparable from historical trauma, but also from the possibility of reinvention.

One of his key contributions is the concept of “necropolitics”, which examines how modern forms of power determine who may live and who must die. This framework has been widely used to analyse conflicts, borders and inequalities far beyond the continent.

At the same time, Mbembe insists on moving beyond victimhood. His work points toward what he sees as an emerging African future, shaped by mobility, creativity and new forms of belonging in a globalised world.

The fascinating

3. George Ayittey (1945–2022)

Ghanaian economist and thinker Ayittey stands out for his uncompromising critique of postcolonial African elites. While acknowledging the impact of colonialism, he argues that many of Africa’s problems today stem from internal governance failures such as corruption, authoritarianism and institutional decay.

Ayittey: rethinking governance and postcolonial elites. Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA

One of his most influential ideas is the distinction between “cheetahs” and “hippos”. Cheetahs are a new generation of reform minded Africans, hippos are entrenched elites resistant to change. This captures a broader critique of political stagnation and elite capture.

Ayittey also insists on the importance of indigenous African institutions as resources for political renewal. His work is therefore not only critical, it is also programmatic, calling for a reconstruction of governance.

4. Kwasi Wiredu (1931-2022)

Ghanaian philosopher Wiredu is one of the most important figures in African philosophy. His central project, conceptual decolonisation, aims to free African thought from uncritically adopting western philosophical categories.

Wiredu: decolonising philosophy through language and concepts. © Global Echo

For Wiredu, language plays a crucial role. Philosophical problems are often shaped by the language they’re formulated in. By returning to African languages, he shows that debates about truth, personhood or political organisation can be reframed in very different ways.

His work on consensus-based political systems, inspired by Akan traditions, is particularly influential. Rather than relying on majoritarian democracy, Wiredu explores forms of deliberation that include agreement and social cohesion. In the process, he does not reject universality. He redefines it from within African intellectual traditions.

5. Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí (born 1957)

Nigerian sociologist and gender scholar Oyěwùmí’s work offers a powerful critique of western ideas being applied to the rest of the world. In The Invention of Women, she argues that gender, as understood in western societies, was imposed on Yoruba social structures through colonialism.

Oyěwùmí: rethinking gender. Wikimedia Commons/O Oyěwùmí, CC BY-SA

Her research demonstrates that social organisation in Yoruba society was not originally structured around gender in the same way.

Rather than gender serving as the main axis of social difference, other markers such as age and status played a more central role. This challenges the assumption that categories such as man and woman are universally foundational.

More broadly, her work invites us to question how knowledge travels and how it can distort the realities it claims to describe.

The rising

6. Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni (born 1967)

Zimbabwean historian Ndlovu-Gatsheni is a leading voice in decolonial theory. His work focuses on coloniality, understood as the persistence of colonial patterns of power long after formal independence.

Ndlovu-Gatsheni: decolonial thinking and the politics of knowledge. Screengrab/YouTube/GCSMUS

He criticises the global division of intellectual labour, where African scholars are often confined to producing data while the theory is developed elsewhere. For him, the issue is about who has the authority to produce knowledge.

His work calls for African perspectives to be put in the centre of global debates and for a transformation of the structures that continue to marginalise them.

Beyond a list

African intellectuals are not a uniform group. They operate across disciplines such as philosophy, history, economics, sociology and literature, and across spaces around the world.

What unites them is a shared engagement with a central question. How can Africa be thought critically in a world still marked by unequal power relations?

There are, of course, many other prominent African thinkers whose work deserves attention. The figures here have been chosen because they are particularly representative of different ways of thinking from and about Africa.

Each of them opens a distinct intellectual pathway, whether through the critique of knowledge, the analysis of power, the rethinking of social categories or the transformation of political and philosophical frameworks.

– 6 African thinkers who help us understand the world – new book
– https://theconversation.com/6-african-thinkers-who-help-us-understand-the-world-new-book-280090

April 22, 2026

More FMD vaccines arrive in South Africa

Source: Government of South Africa

More FMD vaccines arrive in South Africa

The Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has announced the arrival of two million doses of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine in South Africa, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to control the spread of the disease.

The vaccines, sourced from Dollvet in Turkey, represent the first tranche of a six million doses order secured through local agents Dunevax. Distribution to provinces is expected to begin within the next few days.

Building on this progress, the Minister said an order for an additional five million doses from Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina has been placed with Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP).

He said the consignment of vaccines will arrive in the country in two batches, 3.5 million and 1.5 million doses, pending approval from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) under a Section 21 application.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Steenhuisen said the department has secured all matched vaccines currently available on the international market to ensure access to a steady supply.

“We will push forward to make sure that we achieve our goal – vaccinate the national herd to achieve World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) recognition of FMD-free status with vaccination. This will allow us to access international markets for South African red meat that have been closed for decades due to FMD,” Steenhuisen said.

Strategic vaccine allocation

In order to effectively manage the vaccine rollout, the Minister said the Department of Agriculture is implementing a scientific, targeted allocation strategy based on animal risk and population figures.

Under this approach, the latest batch of vaccines will be distributed as follows:
The Eastern Cape has been allocated 135 400 doses; Free State 182 400 doses; Gauteng 124 800 doses; KwaZulu Natal 192 000 doses; Mpumalanga 144 000 doses; North West 182 400 doses; Western Cape 150 000 doses; Northern Cape 100 000 doses; and Limpopo 150 000 doses.

Additional allocations have been set aside for key agricultural sectors to ensure the continuity of our food supply chain, including 100 000 doses for the dairy industry, 150 000 for feedlots, and 150 000 for the pig industry. A further 239 000 doses will be reserved for immediate emergency deployment where required.

The Minister said strengthened surveillance and faster reporting systems, which allows the department to capture data from provinces more quickly, are critical to these efforts.

“We continue to work closely with the private sector and industry bodies to ensure that our vaccination drive remains efficient and reaches every corner of our country,” Steenhuisen said.

Since February 2026, South Africa has received four million FMD vaccine doses, including 2.5 million from Biogénesis Bagó and 1.5 million from Dollvet.

This is in addition to the 2 million vaccine doses imported in the last quarter of 2025. This has ensured the vaccination of more than 2.1 million animals nationwide.

On 10 April 2026, Minister Steenhuisen officially announced the intention to publish the Routine Vaccination Scheme for Foot and Mouth Disease (RVS-FMD) under Section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984).

The department said the deadline for comments was 17 April 2026, and the submissions that have been received are currently being evaluated and consolidated, following which the final scheme will be published.

Global context

FMD outbreaks remain a global concern and are not unique to South Africa. Recent cases have been reported in parts of Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region, including in Greece, China, Cyprus, Israel, and most recently Germany.

The SAT1 topotype 3 strain currently affecting South Africa has also been detected in several countries, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus, and Syria between late 2025 and early 2026. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Wed, 04/22/2026 – 15:52

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April 22, 2026

Zambia Energy Minister to Showcase Integrated Power and Fuel Investment Agenda at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026

Source: APO

Zambia’s Energy Minister, Makozo Chikote, will take a prominent role at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town from 12–16 October, where he is expected to outline the country’s integrated energy strategy to investors, policymakers and development partners.

His participation comes at a time when Zambia is accelerating reforms across the entire energy value chain – from electricity generation and renewable deployment to fuel supply security and downstream oil infrastructure – positioning the country as both a regional power hub and an emerging player in refined fuel distribution.

A key pillar of the government’s agenda is the Carbon Feed-in Premium (CFIP) program, launched earlier this month and designed to unlock up to 300 MW of private renewable energy investment. The initiative aims to diversify Zambia’s generation mix, reduce emissions and strengthen grid stability. It also includes a Mitigation Outcome Purchase Agreement with Norway under the CFIP framework, expected to help mobilize international climate-linked financing and support decarbonization of the power sector ahead of 2027.

Alongside the renewable push, Zambia is also advancing its hydrocarbons and fuel security agenda. The government has begun construction of a 60,000 barrels-per-day crude oil refinery in Ndola, a landmark downstream project aimed at reducing dependence on imported refined fuels and strengthening domestic supply security. The refinery is expected to support industrial demand, particularly from mining and transport sectors, while easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves over the long term. At AEW 2026, Minister Chikote is expected to position this dual-track strategy as central to Zambia’s long-term energy security and industrial growth agenda.

Zambia has already committed to adding more than 2,610 MW of new electricity generation capacity by the end of 2026. The expansion program is designed to address chronic power shortages, reduce load shedding and support industrial expansion. It prioritizes a diversified mix of solar, wind and hybrid projects to improve system resilience, particularly as climate variability continues to affect hydropower output.

Investor sentiment has also been supported by recent regulatory momentum. In March 2026, the Energy Regulation Board approved 24 licenses, seven construction permits and amendments to existing projects, representing a combined investment commitment of ZMW 1.1 billion across power generation, renewables and downstream petroleum infrastructure. The approvals reflect both growing private sector appetite and a more streamlined regulatory environment for energy project development.

Beyond generation and fuel infrastructure, Zambia is also strengthening energy efficiency and system resilience. Through a partnership with the European Union, the Ministry of Energy has launched the Zambia Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Transformation program, introducing LED retrofits and infrastructure upgrades in schools and hospitals in the Eastern Province to reduce consumption and improve reliability.

Regionally, Zambia is deepening cooperation with Tanzania in oil and gas development, with both governments exploring joint exploration opportunities, cross-border energy trade and shared infrastructure. The discussions reflect a broader regional push to strengthen energy security and improve integration across East and Southern Africa.

“Zambia is taking a smart, integrated approach to energy – balancing power, renewables, and oil and fuel security. This is exactly the kind of practical, investment-ready strategy Africa needs. Minister Chikote is showing how policy can unlock capital and deliver real projects across the entire energy value chain,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

April 22, 2026

King Misuzulu reaffirms commitment to transparent, peaceful elections

Source: Government of South Africa

King Misuzulu reaffirms commitment to transparent, peaceful elections

His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has reaffirmed the importance of credible, transparent, and peaceful elections as a cornerstone of constitutional democracy and societal stability.

The King received a high-level delegation from the Electoral Commission at his Private Office at Emashobeni Royal Palace in Pongola on Tuesday.

The meeting formed part of the Commission’s national stakeholder consultation programme ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections.

Zulu Kingdom spokesperson Prince Thulani Zulu said the engagement served as an important platform to explore constructive and collaborative approaches to strengthening trust in democratic processes.

“The delegation presented His Majesty with a comprehensive briefing on the state of readiness for the elections, including key timelines, operational preparedness, and ongoing voter education initiatives aimed at ensuring free, fair, and credible polls,” Zulu said.

He added that discussions also reflected on recent findings highlighting challenges related to public confidence in governance institutions in KwaZulu-Natal.

The King emphasised the critical role of traditional leadership in fostering social cohesion, civic responsibility, and active participation in democratic processes, particularly at community level.

He further expressed his full support for the work of the Commission and encouraged all eligible citizens, especially the youth, to register and participate in the upcoming elections in a peaceful and responsible manner.

The Private Office of His Majesty welcomed the Commission’s recognition of the role of traditional leaders in advancing voter education and participation, particularly in rural communities, and underscored the importance of sustained cooperation in this regard.

Both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting peaceful elections, strengthening democratic participation, and working collaboratively to enhance public confidence in the electoral process.

The Commissioners of the Electoral Commission, led by Chairperson Mosotho Moepya will on Friday, 24 April 2026, brief members of the media on the conclusion of a week-long stakeholder engagement programme in KwaZulu-Natal.

The briefing to be held in Durban, will present the key outcomes of the engagements, consider the implications of the Voter Participation Survey for the province, and provide an update on the province’s state of readiness for the 2026/27 municipal elections.

The briefing will also provide a comprehensive account of the key issues raised by stakeholders, outline the Commission’s planned interventions to mitigate identified risks, and reaffirm its constitutional mandate to deliver free, fair, and credible municipal elections. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Wed, 04/22/2026 – 15:09

65 views

April 22, 2026

SA moves to strengthen climate response across municipalities

Source: Government of South Africa

SA moves to strengthen climate response across municipalities

As South Africa experiences more frequent extreme weather events, government has launched a national initiative to strengthen climate-responsive development across municipalities.

Municipalities play a critical role in addressing climate change through service delivery, infrastructure development and community engagement.

However, many local authorities continue to face capacity, coordination and resource constraints that limit their ability to effectively plan and implement climate responses.

“South Africa has made significant progress in developing robust climate policy frameworks. However, the true test of our success lies not in the policies we adopt, but in the impact we deliver on the ground – particularly within municipalities, where citizens experience the realities of climate change most directly,” Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh said on Tuesday in Pretoria.

He was speaking at the launch of the Climate Action Planning (CAP) Support Project, an initiative of the South African Local Government Association in partnership with the African Climate Foundation.

The project was initially piloted and is still ongoing at nine district municipalities.

It is designed to provide focused technical and institutional support to all 44 district municipalities in the country, to review, strengthen, and implement Climate Action Plans in line with the Climate Change Act, national climate policy, and South Africa’s Just Energy Transition and developmental priorities.

The launch expands the intervention to 35 remaining district municipalities.

“The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is actively advancing the implementation of the Climate Change Act, Act 22 of 2024.

“We have embarked on the process of developing the National Climate Change Adaptation Scenarios to provide South Africa with the scientific basis upon which we frame our adaptation responses.

“These scenarios will be consulted upon to ensure that we collect inputs across our stakeholders, ensuring that they reflect the realities faced by communities across urban, rural, and coastal environments,” the Deputy Minister said.

The department has also developed technical guidelines to support different spheres of society to undertake their adaptation needs and response assessments, as well as corresponding climate change response plans required by the Act.

These guidelines are intended to ensure consistency, improve planning quality, and support municipalities in meeting their legislative obligations.

Beyond introducing the project, the launch established a platform for stakeholder alignment, partnership mobilisation and resource coordination, reinforcing municipalities’ role as key implementers of South Africa’s climate response.

The initiative also positions SALGA as a leading champion of climate-responsive local governance and collaborative action across sectors. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Wed, 04/22/2026 – 14:14

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April 22, 2026

Sgt Fannie Nkosi denied bail

Source: Government of South Africa

Sgt Fannie Nkosi denied bail

Suspended police official Sergeant Fannie Ezekiel Nkosi has been denied bail in the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court.

In January, Nkosi was identified as a possible wrongdoer by the Madlanga Commission’s first interim report and was arrested this month following a raid at his home.

“It is alleged that police officials attached to a task team emanating from the Madlanga Commission acted on information regarding the unlawful possession of ammunition at the accused’s residence.

“On 02 April 2026, the task team executed a search warrant at Nkosi’s home in Pretoria North. During the search, police discovered firearms, ammunition, a stun grenade, South African Police Service dockets, and other state-issued items at various locations on the premises.

“A substantial amount of cash, exceeding R50 000, was also found concealed beneath a mattress. The accused was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the origin of the money. He was subsequently arrested,” the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said in a statement.

The prosecutorial body – which opposed Nkosi’s bail application – welcomed the decision of the court.

“The court found that the accused failed to discharge the onus resting upon him to satisfy the court that the interests of justice permit his release on bail.

“Nkosi faces multiple charges, including unlawful possession of explosives; three counts of failure to safeguard firearms; eight counts of failure to safeguard ammunition; defeating the administration of justice; failure to mount a stand up safe as per the SABS 953-1/2, theft and money laundering.

“In opposing bail, the State, led by Advocate Tholoana Sekhoyana, placed on record the affidavit of the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Thembekile Mathwa. The affidavit indicated that the accused poses a flight risk, may evade trial, and is likely to interfere with witnesses and ongoing investigations, particularly given his knowledge of police processes,” the statement read.

The case has been postponed to 21 May 2026 for further investigations. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Wed, 04/22/2026 – 13:59

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April 22, 2026

Advisor to Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Qatar Follows Developments, Backs Resolution Efforts

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, April 21, 2026

Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari affirmed that Qatar continues to maintain ongoing communication with various parties, including the United States, to follow developments amid current tensions and to support efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful solution to end the crisis.

During the Ministry’s weekly media briefing, Al Ansari stressed Qatar’s full support for the efforts undertaken by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, noting the continuation of coordination and communication with the Pakistani side, and pointing out that it is too early to speak of the failure of ongoing negotiations, especially as the world supports these efforts and hopes for their success.

He noted that Qatar is monitoring ongoing developments and tracking reactions related to calls for a new round of negotiations, pointing out that Gulf states, including Qatar, are in near-daily contact with various parties, given that this crisis directly affects the security and stability of the region, in addition to direct coordination with Pakistan, which is making significant efforts in communicating with the parties to the crisis.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Al Ansari stressed that any closure of the strait would transform the crisis from a regional to a global one due to its connection to the energy sector, supply and logistics chains, export and re-export operations, and its impact on various aspects of life worldwide, considering that the impact of closing the strait would be felt even at the household level and basic services in countries thousands of kilometers away from the region.

He considered ensuring that the strait remains open to navigation a shared international responsibility, expressing Qatar’s commitment to its international partners and its continued role as a reliable partner in the energy sector, while continuing coordination to ensure maritime security and market stability, and that reaching solutions to this crisis represents a priority for Qatar’s national security and national interests and those of its partners.

Regarding regional affairs, he said that relations between Gulf states and Pakistan are historic and strategically important, based on brotherhood and long-standing cooperation, with significant coordination at various levels, explaining that partnerships among countries in the region are continuous and enduring, and are not a recent development but rather a natural extension of these relations.

He explained that developing Qatar’s defense partnerships represents a continuous priority under all circumstances, within the framework of a policy of diversifying and expanding international relations, without being linked to a specific circumstance that necessitates a special relationship with a particular party, noting that relations with Pakistan are extensive and diverse within the framework of bilateral partnerships.

Regarding Syria, he affirmed Qatar’s continued support for the Syrian people, noting that Qatar was among the first countries to support the path toward stability in Syria, and pointing out that bilateral relations are witnessing development across political and economic aspects.

Regarding contacts with Iran, he explained that the Iranian side was urged, during the latest call between HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to stop attacks on countries in the region and to reach a peaceful solution, reiterating support for Pakistani efforts and communication with various parties in the hope of the success of ongoing negotiations.

He pointed to Qatar’s work to enhance its national security and defense capabilities, praising in this context the role of the Qatari Armed Forces in protecting the country during attacks preceding the ceasefire, alongside supporting international efforts aimed at consolidating the ceasefire and reaching a comprehensive peaceful solution, noting that it is too early to make assumptions about the future of the ceasefire, as this depends on the parties concerned.

Regarding Lebanon, Al Ansari affirmed Qatar’s firm position in supporting the unity and sovereignty of Lebanon, condemning violations and attacks that resulted in casualties and large-scale displacement, welcoming the ceasefire as an initial step toward de-escalation.

He also stressed the need for full adherence to the ceasefire and that no violations should pass without a clear international stance, expressing hope that this would support international and regional efforts to reach a sustainable agreement in Lebanon.

He affirmed that all regional crises can only be resolved through the negotiating table, noting Qatar’s support for Lebanon at all levels.

On the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, he noted that Qatar has repeatedly called for an end to the war that negatively affects the global economy and the oil and gas sectors, calling for a return to the negotiating table and reaching peaceful solutions to end this crisis.

He highlighted that if no agreement is reached, Qatar supports extending the ceasefire until a solution is reached, given the futility of returning to escalation due to its negative effects on the international economy and the security of populations in the region.