The African Continent - 12 February 2026

Energy and strategic minerals are anchoring Africa’s economic momentum, with Libya, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, and Morocco advancing gas, refining, solar, and green hydrogen projects, while Mali, the DRC, and Zambia push forward lithium and copper development. At the same time, conflict risks in Sudan and security financing in Mali underscore persistent instability, even as fiscal reforms, privatisation plans, and new sovereign financing mechanisms across Egypt, Ghana, Angola, and Nigeria reinforce a broader shift toward macroeconomic resilience and long-term growth .

LIBYA

• Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh met Türkiye’s intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın in Tripoli to discuss support for the political process and regional security cooperation.

• Presidential Council Chairman Mohamed al-Menfi and Prime Minister Dbeibeh agreed to halt parallel public expenditures conducted outside the legal framework as part of budget discipline efforts.

• The Interior Ministry stated that national fuel stocks remain stable and that no supply disruptions are affecting distribution channels, denying speculation.

• The General Staff held operational cooperation meetings with the French Navy and AFRICOM officials to strengthen maritime border security.

• Libyan Investment Authority Chairman Ali Mahmoud met China’s Chargé d’Affaires in Tripoli to discuss redirecting frozen Libyan assets under UN Security Council Resolution 2769 (2025) toward reinvestment, focusing on preventing asset depreciation and strengthening management in line with international best practices including a potential Chinese support role.

• Kufra International Airport reopened to flights following the completion of runway maintenance works initiated on 15 January, confirmed through a newly issued NOTAM.

EGYPT

• President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi appointed Lieutenant General Mahmoud Adel Fawzy as the new Minister of Defense through a limited cabinet reshuffle.

• The Egyptian government approved a roadmap to transfer 40 state-owned companies to the sovereign wealth fund and list 20 companies on the stock exchange.

• B Investments Holding announced plans to invest up to EGP 3 billion over two years in the healthcare, education, and food sectors across Egypt and the Middle East.

• Egyptian banks updated daily ATM deposit limits and transaction fees ahead of Ramadan to support liquidity.

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources reported new discoveries in the Khalda fields in the Western Desert with production capacity of 34 million cubic feet of gas per day and 5,200 barrels of oil.

• New Cairo authorities decided to accelerate natural gas connection works to meet residential energy demand in the Beit El-Watan area.

ALGERIA

• Algeria and the European Union agreed to enhance coordination on natural gas and renewable energy during the 6th High-Level Energy Dialogue held under their strategic energy partnership.

• The Algerian government announced the construction of a new 200 MW solar power plant to supply sustainable energy to the Gara Djebilet iron ore project.

• The Russian government reaffirmed its commitment to providing military support to strengthen the combat capabilities and regional defence capacity of the Algerian Armed Forces.

• French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez is expected to visit Algeria at the end of February to revive cooperation in security and migration, with meetings planned with his Algerian counterpart and the President.

NIGERIA

• Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Heineken Lokpobiri stated that Nigeria is ready to help close the $5 billion funding gap in the operationalisation of the Africa Energy Bank.

• The Dangote Refinery reached its full design capacity of 650,000 barrels per day in crude distillation units, marking a historic milestone toward Nigeria’s fuel self-sufficiency.

• Air Force Chief Hasan Abubakar stressed that the military remains on alert against any subversive activities targeting the constitutional order and will not allow coup attempts.

MALI

• The Malian government approved a plan to mobilise 1.45 trillion CFA francs from regional financial markets to finance national security and development priorities.

• State mining company SOPAMIM completed a new operational review report aimed at strengthening state oversight over strategic mineral resources.

• India decided to withdraw from the Rosatom-backed lithium project in Mali due to security risks and political instability.

SUDAN

• UN Special Envoy for Sudan Ramtane Lamamra reaffirmed that the international community will continue supporting the Sudanese people toward a lasting ceasefire and an inclusive political process.

• The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted civilian infrastructure in Kadugli and Kurmuk with drones despite international calls to halt the fighting.

MOROCCO

• Morocco launched technical negotiations with the European Union to ensure strategic alignment on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

• The Moroccan government initiated the NexTerra green hydrogen project in the Tarfaya region under its energy sovereignty plan, advancing a major renewable energy investment.

KENYA

• Ecobank Kenya appointed Rebecca Mbithi as its new Managing Director to lead digital transformation and market expansion strategies.

• Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki reported a 40% decline in banditry and border security incidents in northern Kenya following security operations.

ANGOLA

• SADC member financial institutions launched feasibility studies to establish a joint development bank to finance regional infrastructure and trade integration projects.

• Angola’s Insurance Regulatory Agency (ARSEG) signed a strategic training protocol with universities to enhance professional standards and regulatory quality in the sector.

• GHANA

• The Ghanaian government announced the establishment of an independent fiscal council to institutionalise fiscal discipline and transparency under IMF-backed reforms.

• The Ministry of Finance approved a reform package to enable direct payments to cocoa farmers and reduce pressure from illegal mining activities.

ZAMBIA

• Zambia adopted a new national strategy to optimise copper sector output, increase mining revenues, and support sustainable economic growth.

TUNISIA

• The Ministry of Transport launched preliminary studies for a regional railway corridor linking Tunisia with Libya and Algeria, including a 10 million dinar feasibility study, rehabilitation of 190 km of phosphate lines, and expansion of cross-border rail connections by 2028.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

• Zijin Mining officially announced that first lithium production at the Manono project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will begin in June 2026.

NAMIBIA

• Namibia and Gabon launched a new bilateral investment diplomacy mechanism to establish joint ventures in mining technologies and sustainable energy projects.