Africa’s Next Wave of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Investment Set to Converge at Paris Energy ForumWith governments and operators from across Africa’s gas frontier confirmed to participate, the Invest in African Energy Forum (Paris, April 22–23, 2026) arrives as the continent’s LNG sector enters a new phase of growth. Together, these developments are shaping where capital, partnerships, and infrastructure investment will flow across Africa’s next wave of LNG and gas opportunities. Nigeria’s Domestic LNG&Gas-to-Power Build-OutNigeria is accelerating gas monetization through supply growth, LNG expansion and downstream utilization. Congo LNG – Fast-Track Floating Liquefaction GrowthThe Congo LNG development has rapidly positioned the Republic of Congo as a new LNG exporter. Built around floating LNG units and modular upstream tie-ins, the project demonstrates a replicable, lower-cost commercialization model – reducing timelines compared with traditional onshore terminals.

confidentially speakingThe Africa Confidential Blog19th February 2026The rise and rise of electric vehicles in AfricaAfrica ConfidentialFiscal pressures more than green energy ambitions are tilting Ethiopia’s transport system towards electric vehicles. South Africa, Uganda and Rwanda have similarly amended tax codes and other laws to promote EV imports and production. In Nairobi, a fast-growing number of motorbike taxis is electric. Its EV production has overtaken South Africa as the continent’s largest vehicle producer. Now South Africa has cut taxes on EVs to secure its share of Chinese production.

News ServicesEnergy transition consultants work as specialists who assess an organization’s energy needs, design efficiency strategies, and guide shifts toward cleaner and more competitive energy sources. Daily responsibilities are diverse, including energy audits, renewable project assessment, low-carbon strategy design and advisory work on green financing. The RES4Africa Academy offers technical and project management training to professionalize energy transition actors. Professional certifications in energy auditing, carbon reporting and renewable project management further enhance credibility with employers. According to FSD Africa’s Forecasting Green Jobs in Africa 2024 report, with appropriate training and locally grounded experience, energy transition consulting offers significant national and international opportunities, strengthening Africa’s role in the global energy transition.

In yet another sign that irony is dead, President Donald Trump on Thursday used the first meeting of his “Board of Peace” to discuss the prospect of starting a war with Iran. Trump noted that talks are ongoing, but said “bad things will happen” if the two sides fail to reach an agreement. Regarding the possibility of a military attack against Iran, Trump said, “You’re going to be finding out probably over the next 10 days.” That roughly matches up with the outcome of the latest round of negotiations in Geneva earlier this week, after which the Iranian side asked for up to two weeks to come back with a specific set of proposals that would form the basis for further discussions. All of this comes as Trump has ordered the biggest build-up of military assets in and around the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. U.S. officials are warning that, unlike the limited U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities that Trump ordered last summer in coordination with Israel, a new wave of attacks could spark a conflict that lasts for weeks.

There's a blood Moon total lunar eclipse visible on March 3, 2026, and viewers in North America will be among the best-placed to see it. Read on for our full guide to this total lunar eclipse, why the Moon will turn 'blood red' and how to get ready for it. Full Moons happen about once every month, so why don't we get a lunar eclipse once a month? Photo by JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty ImagesBlood Moon explainedA total lunar eclipse is often known as a 'blood Moon' because the Moon turns a dark, rusty red colour. The good thing about a lunar eclipse compared to a solar eclipse is that, for a lunar eclipse, no eclipse glasses are required.

Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News, London, UK"Since the demise of reporting on Africa in Western newspapers, and especially in the UK, in recent years, Africa Confidential has become ever more indispensable to anyone trying to make sense of the continent. Karl Maier, Africa & Middle East Editor, Bloomberg News"We regard Africa Confidential as one of our best and most reliable sources of information and analysis." Intelligence Assessment Service, Privy Council Office, Government of Canada"You are the best reporter on Africa alive. Also well organised and easy to browse through and access to the different articles." Lt. Col. Daniel Martella, Military Planning Service, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations

Marcos returned in 1539 with news: Estéban had sent a cross “as tall as a man.” They had reached Cíbola. Fun Fact The expedition to find gold cost a literal fortune in silver: 10 tons. Coronado returned to Mexico City two years after he’d left, with no gold but plenty of blame. The expedition laid the foundation for the missionary campaigns that would follow as European settlement spread. Related LinksBy the Numbers1,500: Livestock animals Coronado brought along20 men (out of 1,000+): Total Total casualties of Coronado’s men during the expeditionAbout 29: Coronado’s age at the time of the expeditionAlso On This Day

The posters constitute an expression of political speech and cannot reasonably be regarded as discriminatory or antisemitic. This petty act of censorship violates Professor Kahf’s academic freedom and freedom of speech, and it also betrays the avowed values of your university. MESA was founded in 1966 to promote scholarship and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. MESA is committed to ensuring academic freedom and freedom of expression, both within the region and in connection with the study of the region in North America and outside of North America. We must wonder if the University of Arkansas will next insist on examining and censoring the stickers on students’ laptops.

- Advertisement -The pan-African organisation United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) held its Regional Caucus for North Africa from February 9 to 10, 2026, in Tangier, Morocco. Members of the Regional Caucus for North Africa of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa)Regional caucuses further enable each region to nominate candidates for various governance bodies within UCLG Africa and UCLG World. The President of UCLG Africa praised the commitment of the members from the North Africa region. North Africa is required to nominate nine candidates to the Pan-African Council of UCLG Africa, three candidates to the Executive Committee, one candidate to represent the region on the Financial Management Committee, and one candidate for the position of Vice-President of UCLG Africa for the North Africa Region. The next UCLG Africa caucus will be the Southern Africa Regional Caucus, to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from February 27 to 28, 2026.

Shock in Morocco and AlgeriaIn Morocco , where Leveugle lived until his arrest in 2024, he is suspected of abusing more than a dozen boys, Grenoble Prosecutor Etienne Manteaux told The Associated Press. A teacher who never raised suspicionNeighbors said Leveugle moved in the early 2000s to Khenifra, settling in the Lassiri neighborhood. He said Leveugle’s victims in Morocco date back to at least 1974. The prosecutor told The AP that French investigators are expected to travel to Morocco to gather evidence. The French prosecutor did not say whether an investigation had been opened in Algeria, where Leveugle taught at three schools.

Kim is expected to outline the next phase of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme when he opens a rare congress of the ruling Workers' Party in the coming days. The 600 mm multiple-launch rocket system took centre stage as preparations intensified for the once-in-five-years gathering, widely regarded as North Korea’s most important political event. Kim ordered the expansion and modernisation of missile production in the months leading up to the Workers’ Party congress. The political showcase is expected to outline North Korea’s foreign policy, war planning, and nuclear ambitions for the next five years. Kim said in late January that the gathering would detail “next-stage plans” for developing North Korea’s nuclear forces.

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2026 is set to be a sensational season in WorldSBK, so find out where and how you can watch it throughout the yearAs the 2026 season approaches, WorldSBK enters a new phase in its broadcast strategy. In Belgium, RFTB Auvio will carry WorldSBK, while RTL will have the coverage in neighbouring Luxembourg. In the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, ViaPlay will have all the WorldSBK action. WorldSBK VideoPass: Live coverage, no ads, historical archiveFans from around the world can also subscribe to the WorldSBK VideoPass. With these broadcasters and partnerships, the 2026 WorldSBK season promises to deliver unparalleled excitement and coverage to fans around the world.

In January 2025, Goma was captured by the M23 militia group. 21 million people requiring aidIt has resulted in a major humanitarian crisis with more than 21 million people in DR Congo alone requiring humanitarian assistance. On Thursday, Lahbib was due to be at the Busuma refugee camp in Burundi which currently hosts more than 65,000 people. He also said that the Congo River Alliance was not seeking to secede from DR Congo but to have autonomy as part of a confederation. Prior to Lahbib’s visit, EU officials had conceded that assistance was only just starting to scale up in Burundi.

Mega-Exports Accelerate as Sub-Saharan Output RisesThe Mozambique LNG restart signals renewed confidence in large-scale African gas. The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline continues FEED studies, promising a long-term West African energy corridor linking 13 countries to Morocco and onward markets. As Africa’s LNG exports and domestic gas networks expand, African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 – taking place in Cape Town from 12–16 October – offers a key forum to align investment, policy and project execution. “Africa’s gas sector is entering a transformative era, where LNG exports and domestic pipelines will determine industrial growth and energy security for decades. Strategic investment and infrastructure alignment are essential to turn these resources into sustainable economic prosperity for the continent,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.