The 5th Ordinary Session of the AU Specialised Technical Committee on Transport and Energy (STC-T&E) marked an important milestone in advancing Africa’s continental energy agenda. Convening ministers and senior technical experts in Johannesburg, South Africa from 27–30 April 2026, the session delivered key outcomes including approval of the African Energy Transition Strategy and Action Plan (ETSAP), progress on the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), and endorsement of continental frameworks on energy transition and security.

The Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) Secretariat and European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) co-organised a session on “How Europe’s Energy Security is intertwined with Africa’s Green Industrialisation” on Thursday 11 June 2026 at the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW 2026) in Brussels. As the flagship event for European energy policy, EUSEW offered a critical platform to investigate the narrative of interlinked fates between Africa and Europe.

AEEP enters 2026 on a reflective note, where we look back at the developments, milestones, and the challenges of 2025 through the lens of our Steering Group (SG) members. In conversations with Philipp Knill, Deputy Director General Africa at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and General. Mohamed Ossama Eissa, Head of Central Administration for International Cooperation & Agreements with the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the AEEP delves into questions of what are the key achievements?, what are the challenges that remain?, and what’s the way forward?.

The AEEP extends a warm welcome to Ms. Lerato D. Mataboge, who has been appointed as the new Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission (AUC). Her appointment signifies a pivotal moment for Africa as it continues to strive towards enhancing energy access, promoting renewable energy solutions, and strengthening energy infrastructure across the continent.

As every year, the conference will enable side events by different stakeholders to showcase initiatives, share knowledge and position crucial topics in the programme. We have collected some of the side events to keep an eye out for that will feature energy-related discussions relevant for Africa and Europe.