Brazzaville, [20 July 2026] — The Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) H.E. Mr. Farid Ghezali and the Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) H.E. Dr. Philip Mshelbila signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 20 July 2026, with the aim of strengthening the cooperation framework of the GECF-APPO energy dialogue. The solemn signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of the APPO Secretariat in Brazzaville (Republic of Congo), in the presence of H.E. Stev Simplice Onanga, Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo.
The agreement aims to carry out activities and share experiences, convergences of views, information, data and best practices in areas of common interest through various means. During the ceremony, the Secretary General of APPO praised the leading role played by GECF as a platform for the exchange of experiences and information between the world’s leading gas producing countries, stressing the concrete aspect of this protocol which will make it possible to go beyond speeches to aim for a concrete impact for the benefit of the African continent.
The Secretary General of GECF, for his part, recognized the initiatives of APPO to address the challenges facing oil and gas producers in Africa. He did not fail to indicate the full commitment of the Organization he heads, with a view to transforming this Memorandum of Understanding into cross-studies and publications, bilateral meetings and joint conferences, with a view to achieving the set course.
Guest of honor at the ceremony, the Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo, H.E. Stev Simplice Onanga welcomed the pooling of efforts of APPO and GECF through this historic signing. He did not fail to invite everyone to preserve in this logic of coordination and cooperation which, according to him, is the ideal solution to move forward on the various projects related to the energy autonomy of Africa.
Based in Doha, Qatar, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) represents the world’s leading gas exporting nations, and its action aims to foster a constructive dialogue between producers and consumers in order to improve the stability and security of global gas supply and demand.
Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, 20 July 2026
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