The African Continent - 18 February 2026

This daily brief provides a concise, intelligence-driven overview of key political, security, energy, and economic developments shaping the regional and international landscape. It synthesizes verified reporting and strategic signals to highlight emerging trends, policy shifts, and risk indicators relevant to decision-makers, analysts, and stakeholders. The brief is designed for rapid consumption while preserving analytical depth, enabling timely situational awareness and informed assessment of evolving dynamics.

LIBYA

• At the Port of Tripoli, installation began for new Kone Crane-type equipment supplied by the Turkish branch of Portunus. Commissioned under the Libya Ports Company’s plan to strengthen infrastructure and handling capacity, the equipment aims to improve operational efficiency and align with international logistics standards.

• In 2025, bilateral trade with France increased by 12.8% to €2.7 billion. French exports to Libya rose by 49.8% to €448 million, while imports from Libya increased by 7.5% to €2.2 billion, resulting in a €1.8 billion trade deficit for France. Cooperation expanded across transportation, water infrastructure, banking, healthcare, construction, and digital transformation, while the Sadada solar power plant project, in partnership with TotalEnergies, stood out in the energy sector.

• Egypt’s General Intelligence Chief, Major General Hassan Rashad, met with Libyan National Army Commander Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi, conveying a message of strengthening political and security coordination with eastern Libya. Key agenda items included joint border security, combating arms and human trafficking, and managing risks originating from Sudan, while Cairo reiterated its support for a comprehensive political solution based on elections.

EGYPT

• Shell began drilling operations in the Mediterranean using the STENA IceMAX drillship as part of a four-well program. The initiative aims to develop the West Mena field, forming part of the country’s largest offshore gas drilling campaign in 2026. The first well, scheduled to come online by year-end, is expected to produce 160 million cubic feet of gas per day and 1,900 barrels of condensate. Shell holds a 60% operating stake in the program, alongside Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) with 40%, and is also planning the Sirius and Velox exploration wells.

• The Cabinet approved four solar energy projects by Kemet in Bahariya and Nag Hammadi, with a total capacity of 2,720 MW of solar power and 2,000 MWh of battery storage, to be implemented by 2027. Power purchase and grid agreements will be signed with state institutions, and payments will be made in Egyptian pounds.

• Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi inspected the drilling of the first development well at the West Mena gas field in the Mediterranean. The four-well program, conducted with the STENA IceMAX drillship, aims to bring new gas resources online as part of the largest Mediterranean drilling campaign of 2026.

• Minister of Local Development and Environment Manal Awad instructed the expansion of biogas units in Upper Egypt to increase energy production from agricultural and animal waste. During the 2025/2026 period, 1,932 biogas units produced 2.1 million cubic meters of gas annually. New projects will prioritize sustainable operation, maintenance-financing models, and feasibility studies on using biogas as an alternative industrial fuel.

• The Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES 2026), scheduled for 30 March–1 April 2026, is expected to host more than 50,000 participants, over 550 companies, and more than 350 speakers across 96 sessions. The organizing committee, chaired by Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi, announced that discussions will focus on artificial intelligence, hydrogen, LNG, renewables, public-private integration, and investment agendas.

• On 14 February 2026, the Ministry of Transport launched the commercial trial operation of the “Tahya Misr 1” container terminal at Damietta Port. Operated by a consortium led by Hapag-Lloyd, the facility features a quay length of 1,970 meters and a depth of 18 meters, capable of accommodating mega-ships with a capacity of 13,177 TEU, aiming to position Egypt as a regional transit trade and green port hub in the Mediterranean.

ALGERIA

• On 7 February 2026, Sonelgaz-Services successfully transported a massive electricity transformer weighing over 155 tons and measuring 8.85×3.23×4.6 meters by sea from the Port of Jijel to the Port of Algiers, where it arrived on 14 February. The operation, carried out aboard the vessel “Saoura” for Sonelgaz-Production Electricity, strengthened the company’s logistics capacity in heavy and exceptional cargo transport.

• During two days of ministerial-level talks between the energy and petroleum ministers of the two countries, cross-border strategic cooperation was launched in exploration and refining, electricity generation and transmission (particularly solar PV), and phosphate-fertilizer sectors, drawing on the expertise of Sonatrach and Sonelgaz. The parties agreed to move toward investment and field projects, alongside capacity-building and technical training support.

• Following a meeting hosted by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the two countries agreed to reactivate a high-level security coordination mechanism. The process will encompass judicial cooperation, police coordination, and intelligence sharing. Both sides announced that agreements would be swiftly implemented on the ground and that coordination would be enhanced on security matters, including migration.

SOUTH AFRICA

• SOLA Group has begun construction of the 300 MW (435 MWp) Naos-1 Hybrid Solar and Battery Project near Viljoenskroon in the Free State province, featuring a 660 MWh battery energy storage system. The project will transmit electricity via the national grid to private industrial customers and is backed by long-term power purchase agreements with Sasol and Air Liquide. Financing is provided by a consortium led by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, alongside Absa, Nedbank, RMB, and Investec.

• Although the Lion ferrochrome plant, operated by the Glencore–Merafe Resources joint venture, has partially resumed operations, it was stated that the temporary electricity tariff of 87.74 cents/kWh approved by Nersa is not sustainable in the long term. A level of 62 cents/kWh was deemed necessary, and if a permanent solution is not found by 28 February for the Boshoek and Wonderkop facilities, a retrenchment process may be initiated.

• Pan African Resources announced that, following gold prices rising to $3,368 per ounce, interim profit increased by 192%. The company will distribute a dividend of 12 South African cents per share (totaling 280 million rand) for the first time. In line with its annual production target of 275,000–292,000 ounces, the firm plans to accelerate growth through expansion investments, including the Nobles mine in Australia and the Mogale tailings project.

• In Pretoria, ambassadors of Arab countries met with Masibulele Xaso, Secretary-General of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), to discuss political and economic cooperation. Somalia’s Ambassador to Pretoria, Muhammed Sheikh Ishak, who attended the meeting, emphasized the importance of support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

• Eco Wave Power completed a feasibility study for the establishment of an approximately 8.3 MW wave energy power plant at the Port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape, operated by Transnet. Conducted in partnership with Africa Great Future Development, the study confirmed the suitability of wave resources and breakwater infrastructure. If implemented, the project aims to become the first wave energy facility on the African continent.

• The partnership-based mining model seeks to unite the state, local communities, technology providers, and financial institutions within a single governance framework to promote risk-sharing and multi-stakeholder value creation. This approach aims to ensure sustainability through social license, revenue sharing, infrastructure investment, and employment guarantees, while simultaneously strengthening economic efficiency and societal benefit.

• The United States’ new Ambassador to Pretoria, Brent Bozell, assumed office on 17 February 2026. Nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate, Bozell has drawn attention for his strong support for Israel, his call for South Africa to withdraw its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and his emphasis on a refugee program for white South Africans. It remains uncertain whether dialogue between the two countries will be restored amid 30% tariffs and geostrategic tensions.

KENYA

• Gulf Energy E&P BV committed to a $6 billion investment for the South Lokichar Oil Project in Turkana, targeting first production on 1 December 2026. Discovered in 2012 by Tullow Oil, the project regained momentum after the company transferred its Kenyan assets for $120 million in September 2025, enabling the new operator to advance development.

• Renewvia Energy is expanding its portfolio in Kenya by developing seven new 0.25 MWp solar mini-grids in Turkana, increasing its total capacity in the country to 3 MWp of PV and 8 MWh of battery storage. The company has invested $10 million in distributed renewable projects in Kenya to date. Its EPRA license application also covers Kajiado and Homa Bay, and in 2023 the firm received a $4.2 million grant from CEI Africa to enhance access in the Kakuma refugee camps.

• Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui announced that the two countries will resume bilateral trade agreement negotiations in Washington next week. In 2024, Kenya exported $737 million worth of goods to the United States, accounting for 10% of its total exports. The process began in 2020 during the Donald Trump administration and continued under the Joe Biden administration within a trade and investment partnership framework but was not finalized.

• President William Ruto aims to increase exports of coffee, tea, and macadamia to New Delhi under preparations for a new trade agreement, while strengthening domestic processing capacity. In addition to engagement with the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a draft agreement is also on the agenda covering the attraction of healthcare and automotive investments, as well as medical education and specialist doctor exchange programs.

ETHIOPIA

• President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed discussed support for Addis Ababa’s peaceful access to the sea, emphasizing that crises in the Horn of Africa should be resolved by regional countries. The parties also signed two agreements in the fields of energy and economy, setting a roadmap for joint projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and hydroelectric equipment production.

• During his meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that Israel’s recognition of “Somaliland” would benefit neither the region nor the Horn of Africa, warning against external interventions. Erdoğan announced that more than 200 Turkish companies operating in Ethiopia have invested $2.5 billion and provided employment to approximately 20,000 people.

MALI

• Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga met with the European Union’s Special Representative for the Sahel, João Gomes Cravinho, in Bamako to discuss reviving political dialogue and strengthening security cooperation. The EU emphasized its intention to enhance cooperation in human security, counterterrorism, and socio-economic resilience under its “New Approach to the Sahel,” while the Malian side stated that it is open to partnership on the basis of respect for sovereignty.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

• Glencore signed an additional land and licensing agreement with the state mining company Gécamines, aiming to increase production at the Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) site to approximately 300,000 tons annually by 2028 and extend the mine’s lifespan into the 2040s. The company stated that production, which stood at 189,000 tons in 2025, will gradually increase, while it continues restructuring its African copper assets valued at approximately $9 billion.

NAMIBIA

• With discoveries in the Orange Basin, the country is implementing its energy diversification strategy by simultaneously advancing oil and gas, green hydrogen, and nuclear initiatives. TotalEnergies’ Venus field is moving toward a final investment decision in 2026, while Shell and Galp’s activities aim to finance infrastructure and long-term transformation through export revenues.

• The Kombat Copper Mine aims to resume operations in the fourth quarter of 2026 following the restart of construction in February 2026. Operated by New Horizon Copper and with a production history dating back to the 1960s, the high-grade site seeks to reactivate the country’s strategic copper production capacity after prolonged closures.

NIGERIA

• The country, which failed to meet OPEC’s 1.5 million barrels per day quota during the first nine months of 2025 and in January 2026, lost approximately $1.31 billion in revenue due to a production shortfall of 18.12 million barrels. Non-compliance with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries quota, structural production disruptions, and operational inefficiencies are putting pressure on 2026 budget assumptions and investor confidence.

• National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu will co-chair the first “Peace and Security Dialogue” meetings with the European Union in Brussels. The agenda includes Sahel–Gulf of Guinea security, maritime security, and counterterrorism. Ribadu is also expected to discuss cybersecurity, disinformation, and strengthening police cooperation with Europol, including talks with EU officials such as Kaja Kallas.

MOZAMBIQUE

• The Council of Ministers approved the legal framework for Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and Industrial Free Zones (IFZ), clarifying investment, infrastructure, and regulatory conditions. The regulation aims at economic diversification, clustering, and employment growth. During the same meeting, it was also decided to establish the Advisory Committee of the Mozambique Development Bank.

MOROCCO

• Gerald Group initiated contacts with miners in the kingdom to supply Chinese customers and signed its first contract with Kharrouba Copper Mining for antimony exports. Shipments, targeted to reach 400 tons per month (approximately $2.5 million), will source raw material from Hadiconcept’s sites around Oued Zem.

RWANDA

• In 2024, foreign private capital inflows increased by 23.9% to $1.098 billion, with foreign direct investment accounting for the main share at $872.9 million. Led by finance ($299 million), manufacturing ($267 million), and construction ($150 million), rising inflows—alongside private sector external debt flows reaching $543.6 million—reflect investors’ expectations of stability and long-term growth.

MADAGASCAR

• Sumitomo Corporation announced that the Ambatovy nickel-cobalt project remains closed due to damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Gezani, with the restart timeline uncertain. The facility, operated in partnership with Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation (KOMIR), produced approximately 28,000 tons of nickel and 2,500 tons of cobalt in 2024. It is noted that a prolonged shutdown could affect battery metal prices.

• Junta leader Michaël Randrianirina is expected to meet Vladimir Putin and Sergey Lavrov in Moscow ahead of his visit to Paris to discuss military and diplomatic cooperation. Talks are also expected to address the future of the Diego Suarez base and strategic issues in the Mozambique Channel.