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Minister Diamantino Azevedo Awarded Medal for Peace and Energy Leadership as Angola Charts Bold Energy Future

Source: APO – Report:

In recognition of a lifetime dedicated to peace, development and the advancement of Angola’s oil and gas industry, Diamantino Pedro Azevedo, Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, has been awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 50th Anniversary of National Independence in the Peace and Development Class by Angola’s President João Lourenço. As the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) strongly supports the honor bestowed upon Minister Azevedo, whose visionary leadership has catalyzed a new era of investment and growth in Angola’s energy sector.

As an advocate for enabling African energy success through policy reform, infrastructure reform and global investment, the AEC applauds Minister Azevedo for his bold agenda to transform Angola into a regional petroleum hub. Under his guidance, the country has rolled out game-changing initiatives including a $60 billion upstream investment drive, a multi-phase refinery rollout, licensing reforms and development of an upcoming Gas Master Plan (GMP).

Minister Azevedo’s leadership has ushered in a 2025-2028 project pipeline that is expected to significantly boost production and catalyze cross-sector development. Key initiatives include the Cabinda Refinery – set to start operations in 2025 with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day – as well as the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development and Kaminho Deepwater Project, both on track for 2026 and 2028, respectively. Angola is also advancing its first-ever non-associated gas project through the New Gas Consortium, expected to launch in 2026. At the same time, frontier exploration will begin in the Etosha-Okavango basin, while independent oil companies target new opportunities in the onshore Kwanza basin.

These developments are supported by a new licensing round in 2025, which will offer 10 offshore blocks in the Kwanza and Benguela basins, highlighting Angola’s drive to open new acreage and attract further investment.

Since Angola launched its six-year licensing round in 2019, the country has awarded 41 concessions to a mix of international and regional companies. At the same time, new opportunities in marginal fields have opened doors for smaller independent operators to enter the market. Currently, five marginal fields are available, with prospects in Blocks 4, 14, 15 and 18. To further boost investment, the government introduced a permanent offer program and launched the Incremental Production Initiative in 2024 – designed to encourage reinvestment in mature fields. The initiative is already showing results, with energy major ExxonMobil announcing a new discovery at the Likembe-01 well, the first under the program.

As the country works to diversify its energy mix, the AEC strongly supports the forthcoming launch of Angola’s GMP, a 30-year strategy that aims to create a competitive domestic gas market. the GMP is expected to provide clear policy direction for investors while linking upstream projects to local value chains. Meanwhile, Minister Azevedo is also leading the push to extend Angola’s licensing strategy beyond 2026, offering new opportunities for both frontier and onshore developments.

As Angola hosts the Angola Oil & Gas 2025 conference in Luanda this September, Minister Azevedo will deliver a keynote address and participate in a high-level Fireside Chat – outlining the government’s vision for transforming Angola into a globally competitive energy economy. Taking place on the eve of the country’s golden jubilee, the event will explore the role oil and gas has played over the past five decades, while charting a future defined by policy certainty, youth- and women-led innovation, infrastructure growth and regional integration.

“Minister Azevedo has consistently demonstrated that energy development is a pathway to peace, progress and shared prosperity. The Chamber sees the medal not only as a personal honor, but as a symbol of what energy leadership can accomplish when tied to national development. We congratulate Minister Azevedo on this well-deserved recognition and remain committed to working alongside Angola to build the next 50 years of hydrocarbon success,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Millions risk losing access to humanitarian food assistance amid funding slowdown in South Sudan

Source: APO – Report:

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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has reached over two million people with life-saving assistance in South Sudan so far this year. However, a severe funding shortfall threatens ongoing support, placing millions at risk of losing aid.

Below is an update on food security and WFP operations in South Sudan, including a quote from WFP Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Carl Skau, who recently returned from South Sudan:

Food Security Situation

Half the population of South Sudan – 7.7 million people – are facing severe hunger. 

Of these, 83,000 people are facing catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC5) – the highest classification of food insecurity – including:

  • 32,000 people in Upper Nile State where fierce fighting since March has displaced thousands and severely limited humanitarian access.Nasir and Ulang counties in Upper Nile are at risk of deteriorating into famine.39,000 who have returned to South Sudan fleeing conflict in Sudan.A record 2.3 million children are at-risk of malnutrition – with conflict areas in Upper Nile and flood-affected areas such as Bentiu among the most impacted.Progress has been achieved where conditions allow for humanitarian access:In Uror county, Jonglei state, all pockets of Catastrophic hunger (IPC5) were alleviated this year as WFP was able to consistently deliver assistance.In ten other counties where conflict and insecurity subsided, crop production increased – improving the food security situation.Sustained peace and humanitarian support are vital to cement these gains.Due to raging conflict in neighboring Sudan, nearly 1.2 million people have fled to South Sudan since April 2023, many arriving hungry, malnourished and traumatised.WFP Response 

  • WFP has supported two million of the most vulnerable people in South Sudan this year, including over 300,000 impacted by the escalation of conflict in Upper Nile.
  • In July, WFP conducted airdrops to access the most remote parts of the Greater Upper Nile region, including areas at risk of famine. To date, we have delivered 430 metric tons of food, and airdrops are ongoing to reach 40,000 people.
  • Vital river convoys on the White Nile River have resumed after access was granted for the first time in months due to fighting.
  • On 16 July, a river convoy carrying 1,380 mt of life-saving food assistance from WFP and other non-food items transported on behalf of the humanitarian community, departed Bor destined for Upper Nile state.
  • River routes are the most cost-effective way to move food assistance at scale in South Sudan where infrastructure is severely limited.
  • The WFP run United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) continues to serve seven destinations in Upper Nile including Maban, Maiwut, Malakal, Mandeng, Mathiang, Renk, and Ulang – providing life-saving cargo and access to the most remote areas.
  • Upper Nile state has been significantly affected by a cholera outbreak. Since March, the WFP-led Logistics Cluster has airlifted 109 metric tons of cholera-related supplies to locations in Upper Nile and Unity states.

Funding outlook and challenges

  • Severe funding shortfalls mean WFP can reach just 2.5 million people with regular assistance – only 30 percent of people facing severe hunger – across the country with emergency food assistance.
  • WFP urgently requires US$274 million to maintain support for just the 2.5 million most acutely food insecure through the end of the year – providing only 50 percent rations to these communities in most cases.
  • Further reductions in rations and assistance will be necessary in September if additional funds are not urgently received.
  • Limiting food aid to the most vulnerable families risks undoing recent fragile gains.

– on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

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South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to Spotlight Energy, Mining Finance Solutions at African Mining Week (AMW) 2025

Source: APO – Report:

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Thabiso Sekano, Head of Mining and Metals at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa, will join African Mining Week (AMW) as a featured speaker on the high-level panel, The Investor Perspective – Financing Africa’s Mineral Industrialization. He is expected to share insights into innovative financing mechanisms that are accelerating project development across Africa’s mining and energy value chains.

Sekano will highlight the IDC’s instrumental role in advancing South Africa’s mining sector, particularly its platinum group metals (PGMs), which represent over 70% of global reserves. Among the IDC’s recent investments, in June 2025, the agency approved R622 million in funding to Canadian firm Theta Gold Mines to develop multiple sites under the TGME Project in Mpumalanga Province. This seven-year facility is expected to extract 1.24 million ounces of gold, creating jobs and contributing to national revenue growth.

AMW 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.

In April 2025, the IDC approved a further R1.6 billion facility to support the operational stability of ArcelorMittal South Africa, helping preserve jobs and strengthen South Africa’s position as a top global steel producer. Beyond South Africa, Sekano will spotlight the IDC’s growing regional footprint. The corporation is considering a $16 million loan to Giyani Metals to advance the K.Hill manganese project in Botswana – an important development aimed at boosting supply chains for lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles.

As African governments increasingly focus on formalizing small-scale mining and empowering junior miners, AMW will also offer a platform for Sekano to discuss the IDC’s initiatives targeting these groups. In 2024, the IDC launched a R400 million Junior Mining Exploration Fund in collaboration with South Africa’s Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and the Council for Geoscience, aimed at addressing funding constraints that limit entry and scale-up of junior mining companies.

In addition, the IDC is driving synergies between the mining and energy sectors to foster energy resilience and decarbonization. In June 2025, it announced that four utility-scale energy projects it financed are now delivering a combined 219 MW to the national grid – powering mining operations and creating 442 annualized jobs. The agency also signed a EUR 17 million agreement with Germany’s KfW to support green hydrogen projects in South Africa, further enhancing the role of PGMs in electrolyzer technology. In March 2025, the IDC raised R2 billion through a sustainable bond issuance to scale up investments across both mining and energy.

At AMW 2025, Sekano will unpack these developments and more, reinforcing the IDC’s commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth in Africa’s extractive and energy sectors.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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President Boakai Launches Passport Centers in Bong and Grand Gedeh Counties

Source: APO – Report:

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In a landmark move to bring government services closer to the people, His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has officially launched the decentralization of passport services in Bong and Grand Gedeh Counties. On Monday, July 21, 2025, President Boakai inaugurated the new Passport Application Center in Gbarnga, Bong County. 

This launch marks a significant milestone in the Boakai Administration’s commitment to good governance, regional inclusion, and equitable access to public services. The initiative is a central feature of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ National Passport Decentralization Program, which aims to decongest the central passport bureau in Monrovia and reduce the travel burden on Liberians residing in remote areas.

President Boakai underscored the importance of the initiative, stating that the new centers will serve the needs of Liberia’s leeward counties and bring critical services closer to the people.

While Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, simultaneously unveiled the Passport Hub in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County on behalf of President Boakai. 

“In Zwedru, we proudly unveiled our new passport hub as part of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s launch of the National Passport Decentralization Initiative,” said Foreign Minister Nyanti. “This is more than a building it is a promise delivered. Citizens of Grand Gedeh and surrounding counties will no longer need to endure long journeys and extended wait times to access their constitutional right to travel.”

Foreign Minister Nyanti emphasized the government’s commitment to expanding passport services to additional regions in the near future. “We are determined to ensure that no Liberian is left behind, regardless of geography,” she affirmed.

The Zwedru center features state-of-the-art biometric equipment and is directly connected to the Ministry’s central database in Monrovia, ensuring secure, efficient, and timely processing of passport applications. The launch reflects the government’s ongoing investment in digital transformation and the modernization of public service delivery.

The Bong and Grand Gedeh centers are the first of several regional passport hubs to be rolled out under this decentralization initiative. Their launch is part of the official calendar of events celebrating Liberia’s 178th Independence Day, underscoring the government’s focus on tangible service delivery and national renewal.

Local leaders, traditional authorities, youth organizations, and citizens gathered in large numbers in Zwedru to witness the occasion. Many expressed gratitude to President Boakai and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for fulfilling a long-standing regional need for accessible identification services.

The Passport Decentralization Initiative is spearheaded by Foreign Minister Nyanti in collaboration with regional and local authorities and exemplifies the government’s broader vision for decentralized development and inclusive governance.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

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Gauteng Legislature urges swift action following mass shooting incident

Source: Government of South Africa

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has called for an intensified clampdown on illegal taverns following a shooting at a local tavern in Olievenhoutbosch.

Preliminary reports suggest that some five people were left dead and three others injured when ten people entered the tavern and fired indiscriminately at patrons.

“While the motive behind the attack remains under investigation, early indications suggest possible links to ongoing turf wars involving illegal foreign nationals allegedly connected to illicit mining operations. It has also been reported that the tavern was operating without the required licenses and that its owner is an undocumented foreign national.

“This incident underscores the urgent need for law enforcement and local authorities to intensify efforts to shut down illegal establishments operating outside the bounds of regulatory and legal frameworks,” the committee said in a statement on Monday.

Those with any information relating to Friday’s tragedy are urged to report it to police.
“The committee views this brutal attack as a direct assault on the rule of law and a grave threat to the safety and well-being of Gauteng residents and South Africans at large. It also evokes painful memories of previous mass shootings in the province, including the 2022 Orlando tavern massacre and the 2023 Daveyton tragedy.

“In light of this, the [committee]…appeals to members of the Olievenhoutbosch community and the broader public to assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The fight against crime cannot be won by the police alone. The more the community gets involved, the greater the chances of success.

“No piece of information is too small, and all tips will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. Anyone with information is urged to contact the South African Police Service immediately,” the statement read.

Furthermore, police were urged to prioritise the case and “ensure the swift apprehension of the suspects who continue to undermine public safety and the rule of law”.

“While acknowledging the complex socio-economic factors that contribute to migration, the Committee remains deeply concerned about the involvement of some undocumented foreign nationals in serious and violent crimes. 

“It urges law enforcement agencies to strengthen efforts to curb illegal activities perpetrated by individuals operating outside the country’s legal and immigration laws,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

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KZN steps up FMD fight with widespread vaccination drive

Source: Government of South Africa

While the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has made significant progress in containing the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in affected areas, non-compliance by some commercial farmers continues to undermine control efforts.

Speaking to SAnews on the sidelines of the national Foot and Mouth Disease Indaba, currently underway at the ARC-VIMP Campus in Roodeplaat, northeast of Pretoria, KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture and Rural Development Chief Director for Veterinary Services, Dr Themba Sikhakhane, said the province is on course in managing the outbreak.

“We have made great strides, especially in communal areas like Newcastle in the Amajuba District, where the initial outbreak occurred. There, we have vaccinated over 600 000 animals,” said Sikhakhane.

However, Sikhakhane expressed concern over the conduct of some commercial farmers, who hide their animals after seeing symptoms of FMD, and move them.

“When they [commercial farmers] see clear symptoms of FMD, they hide the animals, which is impossible to do because your neighbour and everyone will see it. We strongly believe that this is the reason we find feedlot that have animals coming up late on their management with the symptoms,” Sikhakhane told SAnews.

He added that effective containment will require active cooperation from the beef industry and farmer organisations, particularly in addressing these practices.

Hotspots and disease transmission

Sikhakhane said the Amajuba and uMzinyathi Districts remain the most affected by the outbreak, with recent cases also detected in one or two dairy operations.

He said investigations are underway to determine how the disease reached these facilities.

“We know FMD is spread by people [and] in communal areas, it is often due to lack of fencing and free movement of unvaccinated livestock. We know the permanent FMD sources around Hluhluwe Game Reserve and other smaller reserves, where animals test positive,” Sikhakhane said.

The department is expanding its containment measures, including the deployment of dip tank dip facilities.

Sikhakhane confirmed that 14 dip tanks will be completed this week in the King Cetshwayo District, with work beginning next week in Mtubatuba and Nongoma municipalities, where 76 additional dip tanks are planned.

“It is in control, only if we can get assistance from red meat producers to contain the spread with the commercial farmers. Our farmers in communal setup are cooperating, we just need these few commercial farmers to work with government and stop this problem,” Sikhakhane said.

Held under the theme: “Building a Resilient System to Fight FMD,” the FMD Indaba comes at a time when South Africa is grappling with widespread outbreaks across several provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and most recently, the Free State.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, alongside Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa, is leading the national effort in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC).

The Indaba has drawn participation from provincial leaders, including Free State MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs Elizabeth Cornelia Rockman, KZN Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, and Limpopo Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana.

Maintaining FMD-free zones 

In his opening address, Steenhuisen emphasised the need to confront the infrastructure deficit in the country’s protection zones.
He underscored the urgent need to address infrastructure gaps within the country’s FMD protection zones.

“As long as animals are forced to be moved illegally because of the absence of local abattoirs or feedlots, we will never be able to enforce movement control effectively,” the Minister said.

He stressed that the issue extends beyond veterinary science,

“This is not just a veterinary issue; it is a spatial planning and rural development issue. That is why we will be earmarking funds in this fiscal year to support the establishment of feedlots and abattoirs within the protection zones, particularly in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga.

“These facilities will provide alternatives to illicit trade. They will create rural jobs. Furthermore, they will help us enforce the very measures we need to maintain our FMD-free zones,” the Minister said – SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa’s police serve the ANC insiders, not the people: here’s how it happened

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ivor Chipkin, Professional Professor, GIBS, University of Pretoria

After South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, there was significant optimism about police reform in the country. Impressive steps were taken to bring the South African Police Service under civilian control and to create a service responsive to calls for assistance from the public.

During the apartheid period, South Africa’s police worked to preserve the political order and pursue political opponents. It did not focus on dealing with crime. This is why the achievements of the 1990s are so important. For the first time, black South Africans could call upon officers to respond to personal emergencies. This period also saw a drop in crime levels.

However, this promising early transformation was interrupted. The appointment of Jackie Selebi as national police commissioner in 2000 heralded a new era. Selebi was an African National Congress (ANC) insider. The ANC originated as a liberation movement and has governed the country since 1994.

Selebi had served as the head of the ANC’s Youth League in the 1980s, when it was banned. In 1987 he was appointed to the organisation’s national executive committee, its highest decision-making organ.

His appointment as police commissioner was the start of significant change in the purpose of policing. It marked the end of the focus on civilian control of the police force and prosecuting authorities. As an ANC insider, Selebi led efforts to establish party control over the police.

This politicisation gained momentum over the next two decades. In the early years it was exemplified by the suspension of the head of the National Prosecuting Authority, Advocate Vusi Pikoli,, by then president Thabo Mbeki, amid corruption allegations against Selebi himself.

Other telling developments ensued. The Scorpions were disbanded in 2009 by acting president Kgalema Motlanthe. The unit’s job was to pursue high-profile cases against senior ANC politicians (among others).

The police became increasingly entangled in the ANC’s internal political conflicts. At the same time the office of the national police commissioner experienced high turnover due to intense political manoeuvring. Between 2009 and 2022, there were seven national commissioners.

Recent developments have once again brought the intermingling of police work and power battles in the ANC to the fore. In early July 2025, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the commissioner of police in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, made some startling claims. He called a press conference and, wearing camouflage uniform, he implicated the minister of police, Senzo Mchunu, together with the deputy national commissioner for crime detection, in a scheme to close down investigations into political assassinations in the province.

President Cyril Ramaphosa rushed back from a meeting of the Brics countries in Brazil to attend to the matter. He announced that the police minister had been placed on leave with immediate effect. He also announced a judicial inquiry into the allegations.

I have conducted research into South Africa’s security apparatus over the last decade. Based on this work, and new research forthcoming in the Journal of Southern African Studies done with Jelena Vidojevic, co-founder of the New South Institute, it is clear that elite contestation in the ANC is intensifying.

In other words, the ability of internal party structures to manage gatekeeping is declining. Many of the people involved are indifferent or even hostile to South Africa’s democratic and constitutional order.

As the ability of some political elites to access state resources through the party declines, some are linked with organised criminal networks. Organised crime has been on the edges of South African politics. It now risks taking a more central role.

In this environment, the police service will often be the thin (blue) line between multiparty contestation according to constitutional rules and the criminalisation of politics in South Africa.

The shift

Large organisational changes within the police vividly illustrate this shift away from its core function.

The Visible Policing programme was meant to meant to deter crime through patrols, checkpoints and roadblocks. But, instead, there was a steady decline in resource allocation. Employee numbers dropped between 2015 and 2021.

Detective services and crime intelligence also experienced such declines.

Conversely, employee numbers in the Protection and Security Services programme, responsible for providing bodyguards to politicians, increased sharply between 2014 and 2016.

Evidence heard by the commission of inquiry into state capture suggested that some officers and budgets in the service were even used to supply President Jacob Zuma and other politicians with what amounted to a private militia.

This reorientation of resources coincided with a rise in crime across the country, a decline in arrests by 24.5%, and a drop in the police’s efficacy in solving crimes.

Furthermore, a politicised police leadership effectively stopped policing various categories of crime. This was particularly true of offences like fraud, corruption, and certain types of theft, and particularly when politically connected persons were involved.

The state capture commission heard extensive evidence about the failure of the police to pursue politically sensitive investigations. Investigations into senior officials were frequently frustrated or impeded, and cases at state-owned enterprises were abandoned.

This shows how police resources were actively redirected as weapons of elite competition, pursuing political enemies and protecting allies within the ruling party.

Mkhwanazi’s claims, if substantiated, suggest that this political policing remains entrenched.

What now?

Ramaphosa has announced the appointment of Firoz Cachalia as the acting minister of police. Cachalia, a well regarded legal academic, served as ANC minister for community safety. Between 2019 and 2022 he was part of the ANC’s national executive committee.

His appointment raises serious questions.

If the core problem with the police is that it has become embroiled in ANC internal politics, having an ANC insider head the ministry of police (even if only on an acting basis) threatens only to compound the problem.

Moreover, South Africans have already witnessed a long and expensive judicial inquiry into state capture. And despite extensive evidence of police failure to pursue politically sensitive investigations, nothing concrete has come of it.

How likely is it that this new initiative will be any different, especially if those investigating it and presiding over key institutions are themselves ANC insiders?

To depoliticise the police service and redirect its attention and activities towards crime and emergencies, a crucial first step is to reconsider the appointment processes for the national police commissioner and other top managers.

Under the current system the president has sole discretion. This bakes party-political considerations into the decision-making process.

Without structural changes, genuine democratic policing will remain an elusive ideal.

In 2024/25 the murder rate in South Africa stood at 42 per 100,000, among the highest in the world and close to levels not seen since the early 2000s.

At the very least, the minister of police must not be an ANC insider. Democratic renewal in South Africa requires bringing the police firmly under parliamentary control.

– South Africa’s police serve the ANC insiders, not the people: here’s how it happened
– https://theconversation.com/south-africas-police-serve-the-anc-insiders-not-the-people-heres-how-it-happened-261301

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Students’ Summer Work Program in Central Region

Source: APO


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Coordinators of the students’ summer work program in the Central Region reported that the 8,600 participants of the program, including 40% female students, are conducting commendable water and soil conservation activities.

Mr. Efrem Teklu, head of the students’ summer work program for development, indicated that since the program began on 7 July, approximately 14,000 terraces have been constructed, around 36,000 holes have been prepared for planting tree seedlings, and over 15,000 trees have been cultivated.

He also stated that 95% of the program participants are engaged in water and soil conservation, while the remaining 5% are involved in traffic safety, documentation, and other activities.

The students’ summer work program will continue until 16 August.

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

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Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Hydrocarbons Ministry to Lead High-Level Delegation at United States (U.S.)-Africa Energy Forum (USAEF) 2025

Source: APO

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is intensifying its focus on upstream development and strategic U.S. partnerships ahead of the U.S.-Africa Energy Forum (USAEF) 2025 (www.USAfricaEnergy.com) taking place on August 6-7 in Houston. Leading the effort is a senior delegation from the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, delivering a clear message: the DRC is open for investment, with exploration and downstream development as top priorities. 

As part of its hydrocarbons roadmap, the DRC is seeking partners to bring capital, technology, and expertise into its exploration efforts, with a focus on high-potential onshore and offshore blocks. Many of these basins – including the Cuvette Centrale and Coastal regions – remain underexplored. While the DRC currently produces around 18,000 barrels per day (bpd), the Ministry of Hydrocarbons is targeting a major production scale-up to 300,000 bpd. This growth is expected to be driven by new offshore discoveries and a forthcoming petroleum code designed to clarify investor terms and enable joint development ventures. 

The Ministry is also seeking to engage U.S.-based downstream and petrochemicals companies as part of a broader push to expand value-added processing and strengthen domestic energy infrastructure. USAEF 2025 offers a key platform for direct dialogue with U.S. investors, paving the way for new deals, technical partnerships and cross-regional energy trade. Current initiatives include the development of a new oil terminal in Goma to stabilize fuel supply in the east, along with upgrades to fuel storage and distribution networks nationwide. These projects create strong opportunities for U.S. engineering, technology and EPC firms to support infrastructure modernization, modular refining and local capacity-building. 

Under efforts to foster new technical partnerships and attract capital investment, the Ministry will hold meetings at USAEF 2025 with upstream operators, seismic and drilling service providers, and petrochemical firms interested in entering or expanding in the Congolese market. The DRC is positioning itself as a strategic partner for American energy companies seeking access to a frontier market with significant geological potential, a reform-minded government and growing regional demand for refined products and petrochemicals. 

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and more information, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com or visit www.USAfricaEnergy.com. Join us in Houston to connect with the leaders shaping Africa’s energy landscape and experience the momentum that drives ECP’s events worldwide. 

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

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Morocco: His Majesty the King Congratulates Belgian King Philippe, Queen Mathilde on National Day

Source: APO


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His Majesty King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to His Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians and Her Majesty Queen Mathilde on the occasion of their country’s national day.

In this message, His Majesty the King extends His heartfelt congratulations to the Belgian Sovereigns and their family, along with His warmest hopes for happiness and prosperity of the Belgian people.

“Rest assured, Your Majesties, of the esteem I hold for the deep bonds of friendship that unite Morocco and Belgium,” the Sovereign states in the message.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.