Author: Victor Olayiwola

WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, April 20, 2026 The Government of Italy, through the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) have signed a bilateral co-financing agreement strengthening their strategic partnership to support priority projects across key sectors in Africa, including energy, agriculture, water, infrastructure, and human capital development. The agreement was signed by the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, and Italy’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti, in Washington D.C., marking a significant milestone in the implementation…

PARIS, France, April 20, 2026 African energy markets are advancing a diversified pipeline of renewable energy projects that reflect a broader shift from fragmented national planning toward integrated, investment-ready power systems. At the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris on April 22–23, countries including Senegal, the DRC, Djibouti, Zambia and Guinea-Conakry are expected to showcase opportunities spanning solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower, each offering distinct entry points for developers, financiers and institutional investors. Senegal’s Grid Expansion Push Senegal continues to position itself as one of West Africa’s most structured renewable energy markets, supported by its Just Energy Transition…

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 20, 2026 While the world debates a path towards reducing carbon emissions and addressing the climate crisis, Africa continues to face one of its most consequential challenges yet: energy poverty. Across the continent, more than 600 million people lack access to electricity, while over 900 million live without clean cooking solutions. This is not a marginal issue – it is a systemic constraint on industrialization, healthcare delivery, education and economic growth. Compounding this challenge is a massive financing gap: Africa requires approximately $190 billion annually to meet its energy and climate goals, yet current investment flows…

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 17, 2026 Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz – a critical artery for global trade that handles about 30% of the world’s fertilizer shipments – are sending shockwaves through fertilizer markets, driving prices up and raising serious questions about food security. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations warns that if these supply chain disruptions persist, global fertilizer prices could climb 15–20% in the first half of 2026 alone. The impact is already being felt, with granular urea prices in the Middle East jumping 19%, while in Egypt, March 2026 saw urea costs…

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 17, 2026 Enlit Africa’s 2026 programme convenes decision-makers from utilities, private sector, government, industry and finance to tackle the business of delivering power across the continent – at a moment when system constraints, reform and investment urgency are converging. In South Africa, transmission constraints are limiting new connections and generation evacuation, municipal distribution and tariff reform is reshaping incentives and financial sustainability and the need for digitalisation is accelerating, raising both opportunity and operational risk. Across Africa, these same pressures show up in different forms: grid expansion and interconnection readiness, utility performance and collections, bankable…

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 17, 2026 MSMEs are the backbone of South Africa’s economy, contributing over 60% of employment and a significant share of GDP, yet many still face barriers to market access, funding, and digital integration. As Africa’s digital economy continues its rapid expansion, the next phase of growth will be driven not only by large enterprises, but by the scale, resilience, and innovation of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Recognising this, the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) has partnered with Converge Africa 2026 as the official sponsor of the MSME Pavilion, reinforcing its commitment…

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States of America, April 16, 2026 The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) and The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise and strengthen cooperation between the two institutions. The signing took place on Wednesday 15 April, on the margins of the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Washington DC. Cooperation under the agreement will focus on capacity building, knowledge sharing and research, as well as cooperation through technical dialogue, information exchange, joint seminars, and staff‑level interactions, subject to the internal rules and procedures of…

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 16, 2026 Canadian-based oil and gas company Sintana Energy has announced its intention to list the company’s shares on the Namibian Securities Exchange, signaling a shift toward inclusive growth and early-stage local participation in one of Africa’s most promising frontier oil and gas markets. The move reflects the company’s overall strategy to explore options to provide and develop liquidity for local investors, ensuring Namibians are not merely spectators to the country’s hydrocarbon boom, but active participants in the value chain from the outset. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) welcomes the listing as a strategic and forward-looking…

WINDHOEK, Namibia, April 16, 2026 Namibia’s President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has announced a major push to accelerate petroleum reforms, including progress on a Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill, as the country moves to fast-track governance and investment frameworks ahead of first oil. Speaking at the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) 2026 in Windhoek on Wednesday, the President said the reforms are central to improving regulatory efficiency, strengthening investor confidence and ensuring that the country’s emerging offshore oil sector delivers broad-based national benefits. The announcement comes as Namibia intensifies efforts to convert its Orange Basin discoveries into production, with policymakers…

LAGOS, Nigeria, April 16, 2026 Africa’s energy challenge is not a shortage of resources. It is a shortage of governance that works. The continent holds some of the world’s richest solar potential, vast wind corridors, major gas reserves, hydropower capacity, and critical minerals. Yet Africa still consumes less electricity per capita than in almost any other region. Millions of homes remain unconnected. Industries depend on diesel. Hospitals ration power. Geology cannot explain this contradiction; only institutions can. A fair energy transition for Africa will not be decided by how quickly we install solar panels or sign climate commitments. It will…