APPO started in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) on November 15, 2026, the 29th Ordinary Meeting of its Executive Board. The opening ceremony was held under the chairmanship of the representative of the current President of APPO H.E. Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly.
The Members of the Executive Board of APPO met on November 15, 2026 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire for the launch of the organization’s end-of-year statutory meetings. Organized on Ivorian soil due to the fact that the current Presidency of the Organization is held in 2026 by Côte d’Ivoire, the meeting began on November 14, 2026 with preparatory meetings. Thus, the Audit Committee and the Finance and Budget Committee met to examine the essential points relating to the Secretariat’s internal audit for the year 2026 as well as the 2026 and 2027 budgets. The main conclusions of this work were then submitted for examination to the Executive Board for approval by the Ministerial Council.
The launch of the AEB welcomed
The SG of APPO H.E. Farid Ghezali, delivering the welcome speech at the opening ceremony, said that while APPO was created to defend the interests of African oil-producing countries, it must now go beyond this initial mission to work on the transformation of resources into industries, skills, infrastructure, jobs, income and opportunities for the people. He then welcomed the progress made over the past year, with the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) and the strengthening of cooperation between the APPO SNHs. Finally, he indicated four strategic priorities, namely local content, gas, refining and regional logistics and training.
Strengthening the Organization’s financial governance and procedures
Member of the Executive Board for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chairman of the APPO Executive Board, Mr. Karrol Kadiata Leta, for his part, highlighted the important items on the agenda of the Meeting, in particular the one relating to the long-term strategy of APPO and those relating to the strengthening of the follow-up to the decisions of the Executive Board. He also indicated that while the credibility of APPO is based on the quality of its governance and its ability to effectively manage the resources entrusted to it, the items relating to the reports of the Audit Committee and the Finance and Budget Committee are essential elements on the agenda. `
Setting the course for the next steps forward for APPO
The solemn opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Soro Souleymane, Deputy Chief of Staff representing H.E. Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and President of APPO who, in turn, welcomed the holding of the inaugural General Assembly of the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) on October 31 in Abuja, Nigeria. On behalf of the APPO President, who was unable to attend, he took stock of the presidency of Côte d’Ivoire at the head of APPO, indicating that, overall, the various objectives set out in the roadmap at the beginning of the mandate have been achieved by APPO. The actual work of the Executive Board concerns the examination of the reports of the Technical Committees of the Executive Board: APPO Long-Term Strategy Committee, Audit Committee of the Executive Board, Finance and Budget Committee and the Executive Board and Forum of Legal Focal Points on proposals for amendments to the APPO Statutory Documents, Charters and other initiatives. The Members of the Executive Board also evaluated several reports of the Secretariat, including an update on the completion of the APPO Tower and another on the 1st Summit of Heads of State of APPO Member Countries. The various conclusions of the Executive Board will be submitted to the 50th Ministerial Council of APPO scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2026, also in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Le SG de l’APPO S.E. Farid Ghezali, prononçant le mot de bienvenue lors de la cérémonie d’ouverture, a indiqué que si l’APPO a été créée pour défendre les intérêts des pays africains producteurs de pétrole, elle doit désormais aller au-delà de cette mission initiale pour œuvrer à la transformation des ressources en industries, en compétences, en infrastructures, en emplois, en revenus et en opportunités pour les populations. Il s’est ensuite félicité des avancées enregistrées l’année écoulée, avec la mise en place de la Banque Africaine de l’Énergie (AEB), le renforcement de la coopération entre les SNH de l’APPO. Il a, pour finir, indiqué quatre priorités stratégiques, à savoir le contenu local, le gaz, le raffinage et la logistique régionale et la formation.
La cérémonie d’ouverture solennelle a été présidée par M. Soro Souleymane, Directeur Adjoint de cabinet représentant S.E. Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, Ministre des Mines, du Pétrole et de l’Énergie de la République de Côte d’Ivoire et Président de l’APPO qui s’est, à son tour, félicité de la tenue de l’Assemblée Générale inaugurale de la Banque Africaine de l’Énergie (AEB) le 31 octobre dernier à Abuja au Nigéria. Au nom du Président de l’APPO empêché, il a dressé le bilan de la présidence de la Côte d’Ivoire à la tête de l’APPO, indiquant que, globalement, les différents objectifs retenus dans la feuille de route de début de mandat ont été atteints par l’APPO. Les travaux à proprement parler du Conseil Exécutif portent sur l’examen des rapports des Comités techniques du Conseil Exécutif : Comité de Stratégie à Long Terme de l’APPO, Comité d’Audit du Conseil Exécutif, Comité Finances et Budget et du Conseil Exécutif et Forum des Points Focaux Juristes sur les propositions d’amendements aux Documents Statutaires de l’APPO, les Chartes et autres initiatives. Les Membres du Conseil Exécutif ont aussi évalué plusieurs rapports du Secrétariat, notamment un point sur l’achèvement de la Tour APPO et un autre sur le 1er Sommet des Chefs d’État des Pays Membres de l’APPO. Les différentes conclusions du Conseil Exécutif seront soumis au 50ème Conseil des Ministres de l’APPO prévu pour le mardi 17 novembre 2026, toujours à Abidjan en Côte d’Ivoire.
