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The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Convenes High-Level HerAfCFTA Regional Conference to Advance Women’s Economic Leadership under African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Source: APO

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (https://FMITI.gov.ng/) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (www.UNDP.org) convenes the HerAfCFTA Regional Conference on Monday, 29 June 2026, alongside the 2026 African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) (https://au-AfCFTA.org/) Council of Ministers Meeting, bringing together African leaders, Ministers of Trade, policymakers, women entrepreneurs, private sector leaders, financial institutions, development partners, and regional organizations to advance women’s economic leadership and unlock the full potential of Africa’s single market.

Held as Africa marks five years since the launch of AfCFTA, the Conference comes at a critical moment in the continent’s economic integration journey. With a market of more than 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding US$3 trillion, AfCFTA presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deepen intra-African trade, strengthen regional value chains, accelerate industrialization, and drive inclusive economic growth.

The next phase of implementation requires moving beyond policy commitments towards practical solutions that strengthen productive capacity, expand market access, mobilize investment, and enable African enterprises—particularly women-led businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—to compete and grow across regional markets.

Hosted by the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, together with the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Conference will serve as a high-level platform to strengthen partnerships, showcase practical solutions, and identify actions that accelerate women’s participation in intra-African trade and regional value chains.

Nigeria’s leadership in this conversation is particularly significant. As Africa’s largest economy and one of the continent’s leading centres for entrepreneurship, innovation, and enterprise, Nigeria is well positioned to demonstrate how trade, investment, and innovation can work together to drive industrialization, create jobs, and advance sustainable development across the continent.

The Conference will feature Ministers of Trade from Ghana, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside senior government officials, women entrepreneurs, development finance institutions, private sector leaders, investors, and regional organizations.

Senior Nigerian government representatives expected to participate include:

  • Honourable Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Federal Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development;
  • Honourable Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs; and
  • Honourable Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, Federal Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.

Discussions will focus on strengthening women’s participation in regional value chains, expanding access to finance and markets, enhancing export competitiveness, and fostering strategic partnerships that enable women-owned enterprises to scale across Africa.

The Conference builds on HerAfCFTA, UNDP’s flagship continental initiative launched in 2023 to advance women’s economic empowerment through trade, investment, and enterprise development. In Nigeria, the initiative supports women-led businesses by strengthening export readiness, facilitating market access, connecting entrepreneurs to finance and investment opportunities, and creating an enabling ecosystem for inclusive trade.

The HerAfCFTA Regional Conference reflects UNDP’s broader commitment to connecting markets, innovation, investment, and partnerships to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation. By bringing together governments, businesses, investors, and development partners, the Conference seeks to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA translate into tangible outcomes—stronger enterprises, quality jobs, resilient value chains, and inclusive prosperity for women and communities across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

For media inquiries, please contact:
Ugochukwu Kingsley Ahuchaogu
Regional Communications and External Engagement Specialist
UNDP Africa
Email: Ugochukwu.kingsley@undp.org

Christabel Chanda-Ginsberg
Public Engagement, Outreach and Partnerships Unit
UNDP Nigeria
Email: christabel.chanda-ginsberg@undp.org  

About UNDP AFRICA:
UNDP Africa supports 46 countries in accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, expediting structural economic transformation for sustainable development, building resilience to shocks and promoting sound governance, peace, and security throughout the continent. Guided by the principle that Africa is not homogeneous, UNDP’s Renewed Strategic Offer in Africa is a premier ENABLER and INTEGRATOR for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda (https://apo-opa.co/4weqVdM) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 (https://apo-opa.co/4g9fqjj). For more information, visit:  https://www.UNDP.org/africa

In Nigeria, UNDP has been supporting the Government and people of Nigeria in addressing development challenges through strengthening and building institutions that promote inclusive, sustainable development and democratic governance. UNDP collaborates with multisectoral stakeholders to support Nigeria in meeting its Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promise. For more information, visit: https://apo-opa.co/44GnmBm

About HerAfCFTA:
HerAfCFTA is an initiative stemming from UNDP’s renewed strategic focus on Africa, leveraging inter-African trade as a key mechanism for poverty reduction, job creation, and increasing foreign exchange. Launched by the UNDP Regional Director for Africa at the inaugural AfCFTA Business Forum in 2023, HerAfCFTA underscores the importance of collective effort and calls on all development actors to invest consistently, in supercharging export readiness. For women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, this framework presents several opportunities that could potentially transform their business prospects.

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Decisive action will be taken against lawlessness, warns Natjoints

Source: Government of South Africa

Decisive action will be taken against lawlessness, warns Natjoints

Chairperson of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structures (Natjoints), Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, says law enforcement agencies will respond to criminality swiftly, proportionately and decisively within the confines of the law.

“To those who intend to break the law tomorrow, our message is simple: do not test the resolve of the State. To those who intend to demonstrate peacefully, we assure you that your constitutional rights will be protected,” Mosikili said.

This comes as several groupings will be protesting undocumented immigration on 30 June.

Addressing the media on Monday night, Mosikili said the Natjoints, Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structures, and all operational command centres were functioning on a 24-hour basis.

“Our operators are on the ground across all nine provinces. The first responders tasked with responding to public gatherings and any emerging incidents are fully deployed and on high alert. Public Order Policing units are in position,” Mosikili said.

She said specialised operational units were ready to respond at a moment’s notice.

“Our intelligence structures continue to monitor developments in real time, and operational commanders are receiving continuous updates to ensure swift and decisive decision-making.

“Every law enforcement officer understands their mandate. Every commander understands their responsibility. Every operational plan is in motion.  

“Let there be no doubt. Government is ready. We will secure every lawful and peaceful demonstration. We will protect every community. We will safeguard critical infrastructure. We will maintain public order,” she said.

Mosikili warned those who intend to break the law that “they should not test the resolve of the State”.

“To those who intend to demonstrate peacefully, we assure you that your constitutional rights will be protected. To every South African, be confident that your safety remains our highest priority,” Mosikili said.

She said contingency plans had been tested and law enforcement was ready, adding that the Air Wing would provide aerial surveillance and operational support wherever required.

“There is a clear distinction between exercising democratic rights and committing criminal offences. Anyone who crosses that line must expect the full and immediate consequences of the law,” she said.

She warned that no individual or group will be allowed to undermine the authority of the State.

“No one will be allowed to intimidate communities. No one will be allowed to shut down the economy. No one will be allowed to prevent law-abiding citizens from going to work, attending school, accessing healthcare facilities or conducting business. No one will be permitted to damage public infrastructure, loot businesses, attack law enforcement officers or incite violence.

“No dangerous weapons including firearms, knives and traditional weapons will be allowed, in terms of Section 17 of the Constitution. The State will act decisively against any person who seeks to exploit tomorrow’s demonstrations to commit acts of lawlessness,” she said.

With regard to arrests, Mosikili said from 1 March to date, the police have registered 103 cases with 195 suspects arrested.

A breakdown of cases per province:

• In KwaZulu Natal, 39 cases have been reported with 11 arrests. 
• In the Eastern Cape 12 cases were reported with 9 suspects arrested. 
• In the Free State, 29 cases were reported with 153 arrests. 
• In the Western Cape, 15 cases were reported and 14 arrests were affected. 
• In Gauteng, 4 cases were registered with 5 suspects arrested.   
• In Mpumalanga, 3 cases were registered with 3 arrests.

Mosikili said the leader of the march linked to the Abahambe protests, Simphiwe James Bonile, remains in custody following his arrest in May in the Western Cape.

More than 25 000 foreign nationals have been repatriated.

“This is an ongoing process. All buses transporting repatriated foreign nationals are travelling under strict law enforcement escort from departure to the designated ports of entry.

“Along the routes, a number of verification checkpoints have been established where law enforcement officials confirm passenger numbers, verify identities and nationalities, and ensure that all processes comply with the law,” she said.

In his weekly newsletter, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the right to protest is enshrined in the Constitution, but that does not allow people to threaten or intimidate others, or to engage in acts of vandalism or violence. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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African Guarantee Fund appoints Mr. Constant N’ZI as Group Chief Executive Officer

Source: APO

Following its 15th Annual General Meeting and Board Meeting held this week, the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) (www.AGF.Africa) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Constant N’ZI as Group Chief Executive Officer (Group CEO), effective 23 June 2026.

Download Document: https://apo-opa.co/4xWVcj7

Mr. N’ZI brings more than 15 years of leadership experience across financial services, banking, risk management, development finance and stakeholder engagement. He previously served as Deputy Group CEO and Group Chief Risk Officer of AGF, before being appointed Interim Group CEO in February 2026. Mr N’ZI has shown his ability to bridge the technical banking area with the leadership and relationship building required with all stakeholders.

His appointment follows a comprehensive and rigorous selection process undertaken by the Board of Directors to identify a leader capable of guiding the Group through its next phase of growth, strengthening financial sustainability, and deepening its impact across the African continent.

As AGF advances an ambitious capital mobilisation agenda to expand its guarantee capacity and support more SMEs, Mr. N’ZI’s appointment represents continuity, stability and renewed momentum for the institution.

The Shareholders of the Company and Board of Directors have extended their congratulations to the new Group CEO and reiterated their confidence in Mr. N’ZI to bring the Company to the next level.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Felix BIKPO, the Chairman of the Board, said:

“The Board is delighted to welcome Constant as our new Group Chief Executive Officer. His extensive leadership experience and thorough knowledge of the Company, its mandate and the vision set by the Shareholders, make him exceptionally well placed to lead the Group into its next chapter. We are confident that under his leadership, the Group will continue to strengthen its market position as the number one guarantee fund in Africa, deliver the impact across the continent whilst maintaining the long-term value for our shareholders and remain committed to the highest standards of governance and integrity.“

On accepting the appointment, Mr. Constant N’ZI stated:

“I am honoured and humbled by the confidence placed in me by the Board and the shareholders, and privileged to continue my journey with AGF as the new Group CEO. AGF has built a powerful platform for mobilising finance for African SMEs, supporting jobs, and advancing inclusive and sustainable growth. Together with our Shareholders, Board members, management team and talented employees, valued partner financial institutions and business partners among other key stakeholders, my priority will be to build on this strong foundation, strengthen our financial performance, mobilise additional capital, deepen our partnerships with financial institutions, and ensure that AGF continues to deliver meaningful impact across Africa.“

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Guarantee Fund.

Media Contact:
Write to us on info.communications@agf.africa

About African Guarantee Fund:
African Guarantee Fund (AGF) is a pan-African Non-Bank Financial Institution dedicated to promoting access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises across Africa. Through its guarantee products and capacity-development support to over 250 Partner Financial Institutions, AGF has unlocked over USD 7 billion in financing for SMEs, with a focus on job creation, inclusive growth, women-led businesses, green finance and sustainable economic development across 44 African countries.

AGF is backed by the following shareholders and sponsors: the German Development Bank (KfW), Impact Fund Denmark (formerly Investment Fund for Developing Countries – IFU), the Government of Denmark through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the Government of Spain through the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID), the African Development Bank (AfDB), French Development Agency (AFD), Nordic Development Fund (NDF), French Agency for Private Sector (PROPARCO), West African Development Bank (BOAD), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), TechnoServe, Norad, Mastercard Foundation, African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and Visa Foundation.

African Guarantee Fund is rated AA- by Fitch Ratings.

For more information, please visit www.AGF.Africa 

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs Issues Guide Describing, Classifying Jobs of Diplomatic and Consular Corps

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | June 29, 2026

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani issued Ministerial Decision No. 34 of 2026 issuing a guide to describing and classifying the jobs of the diplomatic and consular corps.
This decision comes within the framework of developing and strengthening the institutional work system in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organizing career paths through clarity of tasks and responsibilities, raising performance efficiency, enhancing accountability, and emphasizing effective performance to members of the two corps in the Ministry’s General Directorate and the State’s diplomatic missions abroad.
The guide is an organizational reference for members of the diplomatic and consular corps, contributing to the standardization of procedures and the clarification of career paths in the Ministry’s General Directorate and representative missions. It aims to provide an accurate and comprehensive description of positions and job titles, in support of professional development to raise performance efficiency, enhance clarity of responsibilities, and to facilitate recruitment and career development processes, while ensuring consistency with the organizational structure of the Ministry. 

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SADC approves new measures to support Madagascar reform process

Source: Government of South Africa

SADC approves new measures to support Madagascar reform process

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has approved a series of measures aimed at strengthening its support for Madagascar’s political reform process, including expanding the mandate of its Panel of Elders and establishing a liaison office in Antananarivo.

Closing an Extraordinary Virtual SADC Summit on Monday, SADC Chairperson President Cyril Ramaphosa said the decisions reflected the regional bloc’s commitment to restoring constitutional order, democratic governance and long-term stability in Madagascar.

President Ramaphosa said the summit had approved reports from three shuttle diplomacy missions submitted to the Extraordinary Troika Summit of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

He commended the Panel of Elders, led by former Malawian President Joyce Banda, the Mediation Reference Group and the SADC Secretariat for providing an evidence-based assessment of developments in Madagascar.

“We have agreed that SADC shall remain seized with the situation in Madagascar and will continue to accompany the Malagasy people on this journey,” the President said.

The summit agreed that political reforms in Madagascar should serve as a transitional process leading, within a defined timeframe, to the restoration of constitutional order and democratic elections.

“Our region cannot afford cycles of transition without resolution. Stability is not sustained by indefinite processes, but by credible institutions and legitimate, elected governance,” he said.

SADC called on the Organ Troika to meet more frequently to assess progress and determine further interventions as the reform process unfolds.

Among the key decisions was the expansion of the Panel of Elders’ mandate to include facilitation and reconciliation functions, while a new SADC Liaison Office in Antananarivo will coordinate regional support on the ground with Malagasy authorities and other partners.

President Ramaphosa said the new mechanisms would ensure SADC remained “present, responsive and effective” throughout the transition.

The summit further agreed to strengthen oversight through quarterly reports to the SADC Secretariat, with any deterioration in the political situation or failure to meet agreed milestones to be escalated immediately to the Organ Troika.

The President reiterated SADC’s call for the release of political prisoners, an end to arbitrary arrests and the return of political exiles, describing the measures as essential to fostering trust and creating conditions for meaningful national dialogue.

He urged all stakeholders in Madagascar, including government, political parties, civil society, youth, women and traditional leaders, to participate in the reform process in good faith and place national interests ahead of partisan concerns. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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RegTech Africa and Startup World Cup Deliver Landmark Regional Pitch Competition at Presidential Villa

Source: APO – Report:

The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference and Expo (RACE 2026) (https://RegTechAfrica.com) concluded on a landmark high, bringing to a close a three-day gathering of regulators, investors, technology innovators, policymakers, financial institutions, and startup founders from across the continent. Held at the prestigious State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the conference reaffirmed its standing as Africa’s premier platform for advancing regulatory technology, digital financial services, and ecosystem-wide innovation — and this year’s edition may have been its most significant yet.

RACE 2026 convened a rich cross-section of Africa’s financial and technology leadership for panel discussions, workshops, and policy roundtables designed to address the continent’s most urgent regulatory and digital transformation challenges. From central bank representatives and compliance professionals to venture capital investors and growth-stage founders, the conference created a uniquely convergent space — one where regulation, innovation, and capital could meet in productive conversation.

Among the highlights of the conference was the highly anticipated RegTech Africa Startup World Cup Abuja Regional Challenge, as a centrepiece event of the expo. Organised through a strategic partnership between RegTech Africa and Pegasus Tech Ventures — one of the world’s most recognised startup pitch competitions — the Abuja Regional Challenge brought together 15 carefully selected startups drawn from hundreds of applications received across Africa. The finalists, representing sectors spanning fintech, regulatory technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and GovTech, pitched their solutions before a distinguished panel of judges, investors, and ecosystem leaders. Entries were evaluated on innovation, scalability, revenue potential, business sustainability, societal impact, and quality of presentation.

“At RegTech Africa, our mission has always been more than convening conversations — it is about building an active, enabling infrastructure for the African startup ecosystem. Through platforms like the Startup World Cup Regional Challenge, we are deliberately creating pathways for Africa’s most promising innovators to gain global visibility, access to capital, and the strategic partnerships they need to scale. RACE 2026 demonstrated clearly that when regulators, investors, and entrepreneurs share the same room, the outcomes are transformative not just for individual companies, but for the continent’s broader financial and regulatory landscape.” — Cyril Okoroigwe, Chief Executive Officer, RegTech Africa

The partnership between RegTech Africa and Pegasus Tech Ventures reflects a growing recognition that Africa’s regulatory technology and fintech sectors are ripe with world-class solutions deserving of global platforms. By anchoring the Regional Challenge within RACE, both organisations demonstrated a shared commitment to ensuring that African innovation is not simply acknowledged locally, but positioned for meaningful participation in global startup ecosystems. The pitch day drew significant energy from the conference audience, with attendees, exhibitors, and delegates from across Africa and beyond actively engaging with the competing teams and their solutions.

After a rigorous selection process, the panel of judges crowned Mehtic Technology — developers of the BankPlus Core Banking Infrastructure platform — as the winner of the 2026 Abuja Regional Challenge. The company will now advance to represent the region at the Startup World Cup Global Finals in Silicon Valley, United States, where startups from across the world will compete for a $1 million investment prize and strategic global partnerships. Their selection from a highly competitive field is a testament both to the quality of African fintech innovation and to the rigour of the Regional Challenge process.

“RACE 2026 exceeded every expectation we had for it. From the quality of conversations in the conference halls to the electric energy of the Startup World Cup Pitch Day, what unfolded at the Presidential Villa over those three days was a genuine statement about where Africa stands in the global RegTech and fintech conversation. The partnership between RegTech Africa and the Startup World Cup produced something special — a competition that not only celebrated the ingenuity of African founders but gave that ingenuity a genuine global stage. I am immensely proud of how this edition came together, and deeply encouraged by what it signals for the future of the African innovation ecosystem.” — Belinda Nkechi Idinmachi, Startup World Cup Ambassador.

As RACE 2026 draws to a close, the RegTech Africa team has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing to build and strengthen the infrastructure of Africa’s regulatory and financial technology ecosystem — through conferences, startup development programming, policy dialogue, and strategic global partnerships. The success of this year’s Abuja Regional Challenge sets a powerful precedent for what future editions of the competition, and of RACE itself, can achieve.

– on behalf of RegTech Africa.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
RegTech Africa Press Office
Email: info@regtechafrica.com
Tel: +234 812 710 5857

ABOUT REGTECH AFRICA: 
RegTech Africa is a leading organisation dedicated to driving innovation, compliance, and transformative growth in the regulatory technology (RegTech) landscape across the African continent. Through its flagship RegTech Africa Conference and Expo (RACE), startup development initiatives, policy engagement programmes, and pan-African ecosystem building, RegTech Africa serves as a critical bridge between regulators, financial institutions, technology innovators, and investors shaping Africa’s digital financial future.

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SADC committed to supporting Madagascar’s return to constitutional rule

Source: Government of South Africa

SADC committed to supporting Madagascar’s return to constitutional rule

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Madagascar’s return to constitutional rule, with regional leaders meeting virtually on Monday to assess progress on political reforms following last year’s change of government.

Opening the Extraordinary SADC Summit, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the regional bloc remained committed to accompanying Madagascar through its transition until constitutional order is restored.

President Ramaphosa told the Heads of State and Government that the summit comes at “a decisive moment” for both the region and Madagascar, as leaders review the implementation of resolutions adopted during an Extraordinary SADC Summit in December 2025.

Those resolutions followed a technical fact-finding mission to Madagascar in October last year, which assessed the political and security situation after the country’s change of government in 2025.

President Ramaphosa said the December summit had acknowledged the restoration of relative calm in Madagascar and the launch of national consultations by the transitional authorities.

However, he stressed that reforms must remain inclusive, time-bound and led by the Malagasy people.

“The reform process must create space for all stakeholders, including political exiles, to participate meaningfully in shaping Madagascar’s future,” he said.

The summit had previously directed Madagascar to submit a dialogue readiness report and a draft National Roadmap by the end of February 2026, alongside regular progress updates.

President Ramaphosa described these as essential measures to ensure accountability, transparency and trust in a process aimed at delivering credible elections.

SADC also approved the deployment of a Panel of Elders, led by former Malawian President Dr Joyce Banda, supported by the Mediation Reference Group and the SADC Secretariat, to assist Madagascar’s reform process.

The regional body further instructed its Secretariat to work with the African Union and international partners to mobilise financial, technical and logistical support while ensuring efforts remain coordinated and centred on Malagasy-led solutions.

The report before the summit would determine whether Madagascar had taken advantage of the opportunity provided by SADC by maintaining stability, advancing inclusive national dialogue, strengthening representative institutions and implementing meaningful reforms.

The President said leaders were looking forward to receiving the report of the Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit held on 22 June 2026 on the political and security situation in Madagascar.

He called on all stakeholders in Madagascar—including government, opposition parties, civil society, youth, women and traditional leaders—to act in good faith and prioritise the country’s national interests. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Trafigura Brings Capital, Market Access and Supply Chain Expertise to African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as Silver Sponsor

Source: APO


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Commodity trading company Trafigura will participate as a Silver Sponsor at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place on October 12–16 in Cape Town. Its participation underscores the expanding role of international commodity traders in Africa’s energy sector – not only as buyers of resources, but increasingly as providers of financing, logistics, market access and commercial expertise that strengthen energy security and unlock investment.

In April 2026, Trafigura signed a $1 billion oil prepayment agreement with Gabon, providing upfront financing to support the country’s upstream expansion strategy. The financing is expected to help sustain national oil production above 220,000 barrels per day while supporting plans to triple refining capacity by 2030.

Beyond upstream financing, Trafigura is expanding its presence across Africa’s downstream energy sector to strengthen regional refining capacity and fuel security. The company is among the bidders for a minority stake in South Africa’s Natref Refinery. Through its subsidiary Puma Energy, Trafigura also operates fuel storage, distribution and retail infrastructure across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana and Mozambique, strengthening regional fuel security and the reliable distribution of petroleum products.

The company is also strengthening Africa’s position within global energy transition supply chains. In May 2026, Trafigura signed an agreement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Entreprise Générale du Cobalt and EVelution Energy to establish a long-term supply chain for Congolese cobalt to the U.S., supporting battery manufacturing and clean energy industries. The company also serves as an offtaker for copper produced by Ivanhoe Mines’ Kamoa-Kakula complex, supporting mineral exports through the Lobito Corridor – a strategic transport route linking Central African mineral production to international markets.

Trafigura’s energy transition portfolio extends beyond critical minerals. Through the Miombo Restoration Alliance, the company is supporting a $1 billion carbon removal and ecosystem restoration initiative spanning Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi. The program aims to restore approximately 675,000 hectares of woodland while generating high-quality carbon credits. In Angola, Trafigura has also partnered with engineering firm ProMarks to support the development of up to 2 GW of renewable energy capacity, contributing to the country’s long-term energy diversification strategy.

“Trafigura has demonstrated how commodity traders can serve as strategic partners in Africa’s energy development – not only by connecting producers to global markets, but by providing the financing, logistics and commercial expertise needed to unlock new projects and strengthen regional energy security,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “As African countries pursue industrialization and greater value addition, partners that can mobilize capital, strengthen supply chains and expand market access will become increasingly important.”

At AEW 2026, Trafigura executives are expected to participate in discussions on commodity financing, energy security, supply chain resilience and the evolving role of trading houses in Africa’s industrialization agenda. The conference will provide policymakers, investors and industry leaders with an opportunity to engage directly with one of the commercial partners helping transform Africa’s energy resources into long-term economic growth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Nominations Now Open for Angola’s Premier Oil & Gas Industry Awards

Source: APO


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As Angola’s oil and gas sector enters a new phase of growth driven by upstream investment, gas monetization, downstream expansion and local content development, the industry leaders and projects shaping this transformation will be recognized at the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Awards Ceremony.

https://apo-opa.co/3Sv1hmN

Held during the official Gala Dinner on September 9 in Luanda, the awards will celebrate companies, projects and individuals making outstanding contributions across Angola’s oil and gas value chain. Nominations are now officially open.

This year’s award categories include:

Game Changer of the Year

The Game Changer of the Year Award recognizes a company or project that has transformed Angola’s oil and gas value chain through innovative technologies, approaches or strategies, setting new benchmarks for performance and industry advancement.

Explorer of the Year

The Explorer of the Year Award honors a company demonstrating exceptional success in exploration activities within Angola. The category celebrates significant discoveries, innovative exploration techniques and strategic efforts that have expanded the country’s resource potential.

Local Company of the Year

The Local Company of the Year Award recognizes an Angolan-owned company that has demonstrated strong performance, resilience and growth within the oil and gas sector. The award highlights contributions to local content development, job creation and sustainable business practices.

CSR Initiative of the Year

The CSR Initiative of the Year Award recognises a company, project or organization that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to social responsibility within Angola’s oil and gas sector. It celebrates initiatives delivering measurable impact in communities through investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, environmental stewardship, skills development and economic empowerment.

National Service Company of the Year

The National Service Company of the Year Award honors an Angolan service provider that has delivered outstanding performance, innovation and value creation across the oil and gas value chain. The category recognizes companies that have strengthened local content participation, created employment and supported the competitiveness of the national industry.

Downstream Player of the Year

The Downstream Player of the Year Award recognizes a company that has made a significant contribution to the development of Angola’s downstream sector. It celebrates excellence in refining, storage, distribution, retail, petrochemicals and related infrastructure, highlighting investments and strategies that enhance energy security and domestic supply.

Lifetime Achievement Award (non-voting category)

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual or company that has made exceptional long-term contributions to Angola’s oil and gas industry. This prestigious award celebrates a career marked by visionary leadership, innovation and a profound commitment to the growth and development of the sector.

The AOG Awards Ceremony reflects Angola’s growing position as one of Africa’s leading oil and gas investment destinations. From frontier exploration and deepwater developments to refining infrastructure and local enterprise growth, the awards celebrate the achievements shaping the next chapter of the country’s energy industry.

Visit https://apo-opa.co/4gMweN6 to submit your nomination.

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

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Could AI create a new form of inequality in South Africa?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Rennie Naidoo, Professor of Information Systems, University of the Witwatersrand

Generative artificial intelligence (AI), and especially large language models deployed as chatbots and digital assistants, are now part of everyday digital life.

These models are being framed as a helpful assistant, a patient tutor, a customer service agent and even a source of emotional support. But what happens when even more human encounters are mediated by machines?

This question matters especially in South Africa, where apartheid not only separated people by law, but also shaped who was seen, heard and recognised as fully human. Its legacy still lives in unequal access to education, healthcare, work, technology and public services.

This is also why ubuntu has become such an important part of South African debates about social life. Ubuntu is a way of thinking about personhood. It sees personhood as relational. It reminds us that dignity is not only individual. It is also formed through mutual belonging.

Ubuntu is expressed through the idea that “a person is a person through other persons”. People become themselves fully through relationships of recognition, care, responsibility and shared life.

As a scholar of technology and society, I have been exploring how AI is reshaping human relationships.

In my research on ubuntu and generative AI, I set about asking what this means in practice. What happens when machines begin to replace the human relationships through which people experience care, recognition and dignity? To answer this question, I used ubuntu as a lens to examine whether AI-mediated interactions can support the kinds of relationships through which human dignity is affirmed.

I argue that the rise of generative AI is more than a technical issue in two ways. Firstly, it is a relational one. Secondly, it’s about who gets access to human beings. In my paper, I describe this risk as a form of “relational apartheid”. By this I mean a social and technological pattern in which access to meaningful human engagement becomes unequally distributed. Some people are met by persons. Others are managed by systems.

This is not apartheid in the legal sense of the past. It is a warning about how old inequalities can reappear in new digital forms.

Simulated care is not the same as shared life

Large language models can now produce fluent and emotionally sensitive responses. They can apologise, encourage, advise and offer language that sounds consoling. They can remember details within a conversation and adjust their tone to the user. For many people, this can feel surprisingly human.

Yet the appearance of a relationship is not the same as a relationship.

A chatbot may respond warmly to a lonely student, a frustrated customer or a patient seeking reassurance. But it does not share in that person’s life. It cannot be vulnerable in return. It cannot be held accountable as a person. It cannot forgive, be forgiven, carry a moral burden or be transformed by the encounter.

Human relationships are difficult because they involve more than responsiveness. They involve mutual risk. We disappoint one another. We misunderstand one another. We apologise, repair and try again. These imperfect processes are part of what makes human relationships morally meaningful.

AI often offers a form of responsiveness without the mutual resistance found in human relationships. It can always be available, endlessly polite, and easily reset. That convenience is attractive. But it may also train us to expect relationships without the hard work of relationship.

The concern is not that every interaction with AI is harmful. AI tools can help people find information, write better, learn faster and access services. Used carefully, AI can create more space for human care rather than replace it.

The danger comes when AI is used as a substitute for human presence in areas where recognition matters.

Inequality is also about who receives human attention

Customer service offers one example. As organisations automate front-line support, people are increasingly routed through chatbots before they can reach a human being. This may reduce costs. It may also improve speed for simple queries. But it can create a tiered system in which some customers receive human attention while others are left with automated interaction.

The labour implications are also becoming visible. Salesforce, one of the world’s largest providers of customer service and business software, has reported that AI agents now handle a growing share of customer interactions. The company has also reduced thousands of support roles in recent years, although it would be simplistic to attribute all of these changes solely to AI. This does not mean all customer service work will disappear. But it does show how quickly routine service work can be reorganised once AI becomes the default front line.

Something similar could happen in healthcare, education and social support. Where human professionals are scarce, AI counselling tools, tutoring systems and advice bots may appear to offer a practical solution. In some cases they may help. But they also risk normalising a situation in which those who are already underserved are increasingly spoken to by machines rather than people.

In a society that the World Bank describes as among the most unequal in the world, old differences in income, education, language, geography and institutional power could reappear in new digital forms.

The problem is not only whether machines give accurate or inaccurate answers. The deeper problem is that some people may be denied the kind of encounter through which dignity is affirmed. A person does not only need a response. A person often needs to be recognised by another person.

Building ubuntu into AI

What about efforts to build ubuntu-aligned AI?

Scholars have explored how ubuntu might inform AI design, ethics and governance.

There is value in designing AI systems that are more sensitive to African languages, local histories and communal values. There is value in involving communities in decisions about how AI is built and used. There is also value in ensuring that technology does not simply import the assumptions of powerful companies and distant markets.

But can ubuntu simply be programmed into a machine?

Ubuntu is not only a set of polite phrases or cultural preferences. It is a way of thinking about persons in a relationship. It depends on shared life, mutual vulnerability and accountability. A system can be designed to support these values, but current AI systems cannot live them in the way people do.

This distinction is important for policy and design.

AI systems should be presented clearly as tools, not companions. They should not blur the difference between simulated care and real care, especially when used by children, elderly people, patients or socially isolated users. In sensitive settings, AI should support human professionals rather than replace them.

It may help South Africa improve public services, widen access to knowledge and support overburdened institutions. But it may also deepen the distance between people if efficiency becomes the main measure of progress.

– Could AI create a new form of inequality in South Africa?
– https://theconversation.com/could-ai-create-a-new-form-of-inequality-in-south-africa-283725