Author: James Wambua

• Africa’s vast untapped oil and gas reserves have the potential to reshape the continent’s energy landscape and stimulate sustainable economic growth.
• At the same time, Europe is charting a course toward renewable energy sources, driven by escalating environmental concerns.
• These divergences in priorities necessitate a strategic approach to simultaneously achieve progress, address energy security and tackle climate change challenges.

The global energy landscape stands at a defining moment where Africa and Europe are confronted with parallel challenges and shared aspirations in their pursuit of sustainable development.

As the countdown to the African Energy Week (AEW) begins, the spotlight shifts towards pivotal talks which aims to harmonize Europe’s renewable energy vision with Africa’s drive towards oil and gas-powered industrialization.

Africa-Europe intertwined priorities

The forthcoming Africa-Europe Roundtable Discussion, set for October 16-20 in Cape Town, South Africa, offers a platform to unravel the intricacies of these intertwined priorities, underlining the essential role …

• Aggressive marketing campaigns targeting the younger demographic are significantly driving the choice of drinks.
• Health consciousness is not just a buzzword; it’s a lifestyle shift that’s influencing the beverage market.
• The influence of social media and global trends have heightened consumer awareness of new products and flavours.

Innovation and cultural heritage intersect as Africa’s beverage market evolves in response to shifting consumer tastes and socio-economic currents.

From the cherished rituals of traditional tea and coffee to the burgeoning popularity of carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices, Africa’s beverage market is evolving, reflecting its diverse society and changing preferences.

The Middle East and Africa Functional Beverage Market Size & Share Analysis – Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 – 2028) report captures this dynamic evolution. It underlines key trends that are reshaping the way Africans quench their thirst.

Health benefits influencing Africa’s beverage market

One significant trend driving the beverage scene is …

• COP28 President-Designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber says Africa is a leading force in energy transition and there is a need for increased finance.
• Dr Al Jaber calls on the international community to unite on international climate finance, citing progress at a recent meeting of major global economists in Abu Dhabi.
• Dr Al Jaber held meetings with African leaders in Ethiopia to discuss the COP28 climate finance and energy transition agenda. He called on the leaders to share their priority outcomes and key contributions for COP28.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the President-Designate of COP28, delivered a compelling address at the nineteenth session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), outlining his vision for the upcoming COP28 and emphasizing the critical need for adaptation of climate finance and an accelerated energy transition in Africa.

Climate finance critical in energy transition

AMCEN, a vital partner to COP28, convenes environment ministers from …

• South Africa is desperately reaching out to Putin, persuading him to stay away from BRICS Summit in August.
• “It’s a big dilemma for us. Of course, we cannot arrest him”—South Africa Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
• US is accusing South Africa of providing Moscow with military hardware for the Ukraine war.

Authorities in Pretoria are stuck in a political quandary as South Africa weighs security risks emanating from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plans to attend BRICS summit in Johannesburg next month.

South Africa’s reluctance to arrest Putin is increasingly casting a shadow on the August summit in South Africa.

Media reports say South Africa is desperately reaching out to Putin persuading Putin to stay away. This as the country seeks to avoid triggering legal and diplomatic fallout over his international warrant of arrest, South Africa’s deputy president was quoted last week.

“It’s a big dilemma for us. Of course, we cannot …

• Patrice Lumumba was a spokesman in the struggle for progress in Africa in the early years of African independence.
• Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) is one of best universities in Russia.
• During Sputnik’s dialogue on Russia-Africa cooperation speakers focuses on training highly qualified personnel.

Sputnik International Multimedia Press Center in Moscow hosted a roundtable discussion on Russia-Africa: Media Cooperation and Media Sovereignty.

Sergei Kochetkov, the first deputy editor-in-chief of the Rossiya Segodnya International Media Group, took part in the conversation. Oleg Ozerov, Head of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Secretariat and Ambassador-at-Large for the Russian Foreign Ministry, was also present. Additionally present was Svetlana Kukava, an observer for the global TV BRICS network.

Dialogue on improving Russia-Africa training

Najesh Missaoui, director general of the TAP News Agency (Tunisia), Roland Lumumba, president of the Patrice Lumumba Foundation and son of Patrice Lumumba, a national hero of the Democratic Republic …

• In West Africa, half of the 11.6 million individuals, who were set to receive food aid between June to August, will not get any support.
• Only about 6.2 million people will get support. They are mainly refugees, displaced individuals, malnourished children under the age of 5, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and girls.
• Populations at risk as spread across Burkina Faso, Chad, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and north-eastern Nigeria.

Millions of people grappling with West Africa’s hunger crisis will not receive emergency assistance between June and September due to limited funding. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), almost half of the 11.6 million individuals, who were set to receive food aid between June to August, will not get any assistance.

The shock revelation comes as WFP and authorities in the Sahel region struggle with the worst hunger crisis in 10 years.

Populations in Mali and Chad will …

• Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Felix Tshisekedi agree on exploring electric batteries deal during a bilateral business forum in Kinshasa.
• Another agreement will see the revival of the 11GW Inga 3 hydropower project on the Congo River.
• President Ramaphosa terms DRC as the “beating heart” of Africa in a meeting with Tshisekedi and hundreds of industrialists.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has won big in his talks with his Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) counterpart where a deal on the manufacture electric batteries will be explored.

Presidents Felix Tshisekedi and Ramaphosa undertook to ensure the implementation of various agreements concluded during the 12th session of the Joint Grand Committee.

DRC’s lithium vital in electric batteries

In light of the DRC’s abundant lithium mineral reserves, the production of electric batteries is an excellent area of cooperation between South Africa and the DRC.

Lithium helps make lithium-ion batteries, which are key cog of the …