Editorial of the APPO SG – March 2026

Africa: A strategic pivot of the new energy chessboard

Dear partners, dear peoples of Africa,

The global energy market is experiencing a historic disruption. Since February 28, 2026, the Strait of Hormuz — a vital artery transporting 20% of the world’s oil (17 million barrels/day) and a third of the world’s LNG — has been paralyzed by the conflict in the Gulf. The recent incidents at the Saudi refinery of Ras Tanura (550,000 b/d shut down) and Qatar Energy’s facilities (LNG production suspended) are aggravating an unprecedented supply crisis.

The figures speak for themselves: Brent at 80-82 USD/b (+13% in 72 hours), WTI at 71-72 USD/bbl, European TTF gas at 45 €/MWh (+45% post-Qatar), JKM Asia at 14.5 USD/MMBtu. Goldman Sachs forecasts 110-150 USD/b if the blockade lasts more than a month, with a likely global recession (-2% of global GDP). OPEC+ has advanced its quotas (+206,000 b/d from April), but Aramco cannot export due to a lack of Hormuz, and freight via Cape Town is exploding (+300% insurance).

These shocks are not cyclical. They are redrawing the geopolitical and commercial balances of energy for the coming decade.

In turmoil, opportunities for Africa

In this turmoil, Africa became the central element. Our Atlantic exports — Nigeria (1.8 Mb/d), Algeria (1 Mb/d), Angola (1.2 Mb/d), Gabon, Congo — escape the Persian chaos. Our 715 Tcf of gas reserves (8% worldwide) and 125 billion barrels of oil position the continent as an essential adjustment variable.

The APPO figures illustrate our advantage:

These opportunities are a historic lever for transformation.

APPO: one voice, one strategy, one continent

APPO carries a clear and unifying message: united, we will become indispensable.

Faced with a Europe affected (TTF stocks at 75% capacity), Asia in need of products (China +20% urgent imports), and the USA mobilizing 600 million strategic barrels, Africa must speak with one voice. Our strategic priorities are defined by:

1. Enhanced OPEC+ coordination

JMMC meeting on 5 March: the APPO Member Countries present in the organisation will defend the stabilisation of the markets.

2. Critical Infrastructure Acceleration

3. Transforming opportunities into sustainable development

100% of 2026-2028 surplus revenues (estimated USD 150 billion) in:

Africa will not be a supplier. It will be the architect.

We will not just sell barrels and methane. APPO orchestrates pan-African energy sovereignty:

Message to Global Partners

To Europe: “Your successful diversification depends on our pipelines and reliable LNG.” 
To Asia: “Our Atlantic cargoes are replacing the Gulf in the long term.” 
 “Africa coordinates, does not suffer.” 

Call for African unity

In this turbulent century, our time has come. The Gulf crises reveal to us as never before: united behind APPO, we hold the keys to global energy. Every Nigerian barrel, every Algerian cubic meter, every Angolan cargo must build roads, schools, hospitals, factories — the prosperous future of our children.

APPO is not a bureaucracy. It is your unified voice, your collective strategy, your visionary beacon.

On the world stage, Africa is no longer suffering. It decides.