MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO – Report:

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Pan-African financial institution the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is bringing strategic financing solutions to the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference & Exhibition through a dedicated Local Content Forum designed to mobilize capital for Angolan companies. The platform will provide local entrepreneurs and businesses with an opportunity to engage directly with African business leaders who have successfully scaled their companies through Afreximbank-backed financing.

Taking place as part of the main conference agenda, the forum reflects the bank’s broader strategy to strengthen indigenous participation across Angola’s oil and gas value chain by expanding access to finance and supporting business growth. Through practical case studies from Nigeria and direct engagement between entrepreneurs and financiers, the forum will demonstrate how tailored financing solutions can enable Angolan businesses to acquire assets, expand operations and compete for larger projects.

Afreximbank has played a central role in supporting the growth of Nigeria’s indigenous energy companies. In December 2025, the bank established a landmark $750 million financing partnership with Heirs Energies to optimize the company’s capital structure and unlock liquidity for working capital as it pursues new exploration and production opportunities.

The bank also expanded its reserve-based lending facility for Oando to $375 million, supporting the company’s ambition to increase production to 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day. By highlighting these and other success stories, the forum will provide Angolan entrepreneurs with practical insights into how tailored financing solutions can accelerate the growth of local companies.

Afreximbank has already established a strong financing presence in Angola, supporting national oil company Sonangol’s growth through a range of strategic financing solutions. Most recently, the bank closed a $1.75 billion syndicated receivables purchase facility in January 2026 to support Sonangol’s operating and capital expenditure requirements. Structured alongside multiple mandated lead arrangers, the facility monetizes future export contracts while helping mitigate exposure to oil price volatility.

Beyond the upstream sector, Afreximbank continues to finance strategic industrial infrastructure across Angola. In 2024, the bank signed on as Mandated Lead Arranger for the development of the AMUFERT-led fertilizer and ammonia plant. In this capacity, the bank committed $1.4 billion in debt funding alongside other financial partners. The $2 billion project will produce 4,000 metric tons per day, with operations expected to start in 2027.

The bank also mobilized $335 million through a project financing facility alongside Africa Finance Corporation and a consortium of international lenders for the development of the Cabinda Refinery – now operational with a first phase capacity of 30,000 bpd. Developed by Gemcorp, the project is Angola’s second refining facility, with a planned second phase set to increase capacity to 60,000 bpd.

Stepping into this picture, the AOG 2026 Local Content Forum builds on Afreximbank’s long-standing commitment to Angola and aims to position local companies at the center of the country’s next wave of oil and gas investment. By connecting Angolan entrepreneurs with financiers and successful African operators, the forum will help unlock new sources of capital while supporting the growth of the next generation of indigenous operators and service providers. The bank is also an Elite Sponsor of the upcoming conference.

Visit www.AngolaOilandGas.com for more information.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO – Report:

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The attack destroyed more than 50 metric tons of WFP food – including cereals, yellow split peas, vegetable oil and salt – enough to provide lifesaving assistance to 5,800 people for one month. 

In Kadugli, WFP is supporting nearly 58,000 people facing emergency levels of food insecurity or worse through in-kind food assistance. 

This attack is the latest example of the complex operating environment facing WFP and other humanitarian agencies in Sudan. Since the beginning of the year, WFP has recorded eight aerial attacks that have damaged its premises and disrupted operations.

WFP urges all those engaged in hostilities to respect international humanitarian law by protecting civilians, humanitarian personnel and humanitarian assets. Attacks on aid workers and humanitarian operations are unacceptable and must stop.

– on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Source: APO – Report:

By Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice-President, Intra-African Trade & Export Development Bank at African Export-Import Bank (www.Afreximbank.com)

Boosting trade flows amongst African countries remains a key economic priority. There is significant opportunity to accelerate the growing intra-African trade in order to unlock investment, catalyse industrialisation, especially processing and adding value to our natural resources.

According to the Africa in Figures 2025 (https://apo-opa.co/4ygFkXY) report released by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), intra-African trade grew by 5.4 percent in 2024 to stand at US$206.6 billion, with continued implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) expected to further enhance it. It is imperative to persist in closing long-standing gaps in trade, investment, and market intelligence that continue to constrain business growth. Across the continent, enterprises are held back by limited knowledge of market opportunities, as well as unclear regulatory information and restricted access to trade finance, all of which hamper their ambitions to expand across borders.

Enter the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), Africa’s premier trade and investment marketplace and a driving force behind the continent’s economic integration agenda. Building on the success of the record-breaking fourth edition, IATF2025 in Algiers, which generated US$50 billion in trade and investment deals, the Fair continues to cement its position as a catalyst for intra-African commerce. IATF’s true impact lies in its ability to connect businesses, unlock opportunities, and translate ambition into tangible commercial outcomes.

IATF2025 highlighted the growing momentum of trade within Africa, with significant increases in participation, deal volume and transaction value. More than a showcase, the Fair proved its effectiveness as a platform for expanding market access, promoting African products and services, attracting investment, and connecting businesses to new opportunities. It continues to deliver tangible results by facilitating partnerships, fostering and strengthening regional and continental value chains.

IATF has firmly established itself as one of Africa’s most influential engines for trade, investment and economic integration. The spotlight now shifts to Nigeria. Lagos will host IATF2027 from 5–11 November 2027, bringing together businesses, investors, policymakers, researchers, creatives and innovators from across the continent. The ambition for the 2027 edition in Lagos reflects the sheer scale of Africa’s opportunity. With targets of over US$50 billion in trade and investment deals, more than 100,000 visitors, and 2,500+ exhibitors, IATF2027 is set to be the largest edition yet. Anchored by the theme “Global Africa, Smart Trade: From Market Access to Market Power,” it signals a bold shift, positioning Africa not just as a participant, but as a decisive force shaping its own economic future

Beyond the headline figure, more than 180,000 participants, 6,600 exhibitors from 132 countries, and over US$167 billion in cumulative trade and investment deals across its first four editions the message is clear: African businesses are ready to scale, compete, and lead, and the continent is rich with opportunity. The real constraint is not demand, but access specifically, the need for structured and efficient pathways that enable businesses to identify opportunities, connect with the right partners, and execute transactions at scale. IATF is at the forefront of breaking down these barriers and unlocking Africa’s full trade potential.

According to, ‘The Impact of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) on Development and Trade, 2018–2024’ report, an impressive 62.4 percent of concluded deals directly supported intra-African trade, amounting to more than US$8.5 billion for each edition of the trade fair since 2018. Nearly 360,000 small businesses and SMEs are benefitting, including thousands of women and youth-led enterprises. The positive impact on employment is also significant. For every US$1 million invested into IATF, roughly 42 jobs are created – meaning each fair supports more than half a million direct employment opportunities across the continent. What this tells us is that Africa’s challenge is not capacity but connecting with each other. The priority for the continent in sustaining the trade and investment momentum is ensuring businesses continue to access the intelligence, partnerships, and support systems they need.

This is why platforms like IATF Virtual, designed to keep engagements amongst businesses alive, maintain visibility for exhibitors, enable governments and corporates to follow up on leads, and support year-round dialogue across sectors matter. The platform has potential to serve as the continent’s permanent marketplace. For SMEs that often face cost, travel, and logistics barriers, such platforms bridge these issues.

As Nigeria prepares to host IATF2027, it could not be timelier. The country is central to the AfCFTA’s success, not just because of its market size, but due to its vast resource base and industrial potential. As a leading producer of oil and gas, solid minerals, including lithium, iron ore, and gold so critical to future value chains, and key agricultural commodities, Nigeria is uniquely positioned to drive the industrialisation the continent needs.

It is essential for Nigerian and African businesses to fully seize opportunities presented by the continental free trade area. The good news is that the continent is already moving in the direction of addressing this. In Nigeria, for example, capacity-building programmes, export readiness clinics, certification support and partnerships with institutions like the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria are helping equip SMEs with the knowledge and tools needed to trade across African borders. Lagos State, for instance, is strengthening foundations for success from investments in the Lekki Deep Sea Port and logistics corridors, to the development of industrial clusters and support through business development hubs.

Looking ahead, the message is clear. Africa is primed and ready to increase intra-African trade, but momentum must not be lost. The continent has showcased the concept, proven there’s appetite, and seen the results. With one of Africa’s largest economies and most populous nation now hosting the continent’s biggest marketplace, the challenge is to transform the current success into exponential progress.

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

Source: APO – Report:

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bp Supply, Trading & Shipping – the distribution business of energy major bp – has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Conference and Exhibition as a Gold Sponsor, bringing the expertise of one of the world’s leading energy marketing, operations and trading businesses to discussions around Angola’s position in global oil and gas markets.

Connecting producers and suppliers with customers and markets worldwide, bp Supply, Trading & Shipping sits at the intersection of energy production, transportation and consumption. The company’s participation at AOG 2026 comes as Angola seeks to strengthen its position as a competitive oil and gas producer while maximizing the value generated from its resources.

As one of Africa’s largest oil and gas producers, Angola has set clear objectives to sustain production above one million barrels per day (bpd) while increasing natural gas development and exports. Monthly crude production measured approximately 31 million barrels in June 2026 – equivalent to 1.039 million bpd – while gas production averaged 2,663 million cubic feet per day. During the same period, Angola’s total crude liftings were 34.16 million barrels, of which 33 million barrels were exported and 1.07 million barrels made available for the Luanda refinery.

Looking ahead, Angola strives to bolster output through enhanced recovery and infill drilling at mature assets alongside forays into frontier exploration basins. Recent developments include TotalEnergies extending the life of the prolific Block 32, enabling the continuous development of the assets; Etu Energias advancing appraisal drilling at Block 2/05; Sonangol progressing a redevelopment program at Blocks 3/05 and 3/05A; and Afentra targeting 2026/2027 FID on its Block 3/24 discoveries.

As crude production stabilizes and gas output rises, Angola is gradually positioning itself to play an increasingly central role in global supply chains. As a strategic player in the global market, bp Supply, Trading & Shipping is well-positioned to support this next phase of growth. The business integrates bp’s oil, gas and lower-carbon value chains while providing capabilities spanning commodity trading, supply, logistics, pricing and risk management.

AOG 2026 will examine this entire value chain. The conference brings together policymakers, operators, financiers, service companies and other industry stakeholders to discuss investment opportunities spanning exploration and production, gas, infrastructure, logistics and downstream development.

For bp Supply, Trading & Shipping, the event provides a platform to engage stakeholders around the commercial systems underpinning international energy trade. As Gold Sponsor, the company is expected to contribute a global market perspective to conference discussions, reinforcing the importance of trading, shipping and integrated supply chains to Angola’s continued development as a major African energy producer.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO – Report:

On the afternoon of September 2 local time, President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan visited the Grand Egyptian Museum accompanied by President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and First Lady Mrs. Entissar El-Sisi.

The magnificent museum stands a short distance away from the millennia-old pyramids on the Giza Plateau. 

Upon arrival, President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan were warmly greeted by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his wife. Inside the museum, the two couples posed for a group photo in front of the statue of Ramesses II and listened to a briefing on the museum and the ancient Egyptian history. Taking the escalator up, they admired with keen interest the exquisite and monumental stone statues, inscribed stone columns, and pyramidion from a temple, before stopping at the viewing area to take in the distant view of the pyramids from the window. Then the two presidents entered the Tutankhamun Galleries where they appreciated prize collections such as the golden throne of the Pharaoh, the golden mask, and the royal chariot.

President Xi Jinping noted that China and Egypt each has a time-honored civilization and are both home to a great deal of world heritage. The two great civilizations have long engaged and connected with each other across time and space, and the friendship between the two peoples have continued from generation to generation. The two sides should carry forward the vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between civilizations, put to practice the Global Civilization Initiative, jointly promote inclusiveness, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations, and pool greater strength of diverse civilizations for building a community with a shared future for humanity. 

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi thanked President Xi Jinping for his congratulatory letter on the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum last year. He noted that the characteristics of inclusiveness and harmony in diversity shared by the ancient Egyptian civilization and the Chinese civilization are highly aligned with the vision of the Global Civilization Initiative President Xi Jinping has proposed. Egypt stands ready to pursue closer people-to-people exchanges with China, and promote mutual learning between civilizations, to make the world a more harmonious and inclusive place.

Cai Qi and Wang Yi, among others, were present at the visit.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.

Source: APO – Report:

The UN agency strongly condemned the attack which occurred on 30 August outside the city of Dilling.

The trucks carried 50 metric tonnes of WFP food including cereals, yellow split peas, vegetable oil and salt—enough to provide lifesaving assistance to 5,800 people for one month.

They were heading to Kadugli, where WFP is supporting nearly 58,000 people facing emergency levels of food insecurity or worse, and were clearly marked with its banners and flags.

End ‘unacceptable’ attacks

WFP said the attack was the latest example of the complex operating environment facing it and other humanitarian agencies in Sudan.

The UN has repeatedly called for an end to the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and former allies the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which erupted in April 2023.

As a result of the conflict, some 30 million people required humanitarian assistance last year.

Since January, WFP has recorded eight aerial attacks that have damaged its premises and disrupted operations.

“Attacks on aid workers and humanitarian operations are unacceptable and must stop,” WFP said, urging all sides to uphold international humanitarian law by protecting civilians, aid workers and humanitarian assets.

– on behalf of United Nations (UN).

Source: APO – Report:

African Collaborations Group (ACG) (www.ACGafrica.com), the leading strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa through the origination of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems, today announced the appointment of Fatma Samoura to its Advisory Board.

Recognised as one of the most distinguished sport administrators of her generation, Ms Samoura brings more than three decades of international leadership experience spanning sport, development, humanitarian affairs and global governance.

Ms Samoura served as Secretary General of FIFA from 2016 to 2023, becoming the first woman and the first non-European to hold the position in FIFA’s history. During her tenure, she oversaw FIFA’s global administration across its major operational and institutional functions, including the delivery of two FIFA World Cups and two FIFA Women’s World Cups. She also played a leading role in strengthening FIFA’s governance, member association services and international development programmes.

Before joining FIFA, Ms Samoura spent more than 21 years with the United Nations, holding senior leadership positions in humanitarian and development operations, including with the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Her UN career took her across Africa, Central and South America and Asia, giving her extensive experience working with governments, international institutions and development partners.

She has served as a Senate Member of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) since February 2022.

Her appointment strengthens the ACG Advisory Board with exceptional expertise in global sport governance, institutional leadership, international development, federation relations and the delivery of major sporting events — capabilities directly relevant to originating and structuring large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the African continent.

“Fatma Samoura is one of the most distinguished sport administrators of her generation. Her unique experience at the intersection of global governing bodies, national federations, governments and international institutions is precisely the calibre of expertise ACG needs as we originate a new generation of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems across the African continent. Her presence on our Advisory Board is a genuine strategic asset,” said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), Founder and Executive Chairman of ACG.

The ACG Advisory Board provides strategic guidance as ACG originates and structures large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the continent, aligning governments, development finance institutions (DFIs), investors, sport bodies and infrastructure partners to support the development of financially sustainable, mixed-use district ecosystems.

Africa’s sport economy is projected to reach $20 billion by 2035, yet the continent continues to lack the integrated district ecosystems required to support large-scale development. ACG addresses this gap by originating bankable sport and entertainment district projects, moving beyond single-venue development models towards mixed-use, revenue-generating and financially sustainable district ecosystems.

Through its collaborative model, ACG convenes governments, PPP authorities and regulators, development finance institutions, private investors, developers, designers and engineers, legal and transaction advisors, operators, sport federations and leagues, event promoters, media and broadcast partners, academic institutions and host communities, creating structured pathways from concept to feasibility, bankability and delivery.

– on behalf of African Collaborations Group (ACG).

Media contact:
marie@apo-opa.com

About African Collaborations Group (ACG): 
African Collaborations Group (ACG) (www.ACGafrica.com) is the leading strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa through the origination of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems. By convening governments, private-sector partners, development finance institutions, sport and entertainment stakeholders, and academic institutions, ACG creates structured pathways that transform concepts into investable and deliverable district projects across the continent.