African Civil Society Rejects African Energy Week and its Neo-Colonial Agenda

We, the undersigned members of African civil society and a range of African social and environmental justice organisations, unequivocally reject African Energy Week (AEW) and its host, the African Energy Chamber (AEC), for perpetuating fossil fuel-driven neo-colonialism. AEW serves the interests of multinational corporations and imperial nations abroad, using Africa’s energy resources to line the pockets of an international elite, fuel the war machine of Western imperialism and drive the economies of the Global North, while leaving our communities impoverished. The policies pushed by AEW—free-market economics, deregulation, and privatisation—are designed to entrench debt, underdevelopment, and exploitation, while accelerating climate collapse and environmental degradation across the continent.

African Energy Week Cements an Unholy Alliance Between Finance Capital, the Fossil Fuel Industry & African Governments in Pursuit of Oil, Gas & Profit

For the last three years, Africa Energy Week (AEW) has positioned itself as a supposed solution to Africa's energy crisis and to the crippling conditions of energy poverty. Yet, the reality is starkly different and the model and policies pursued by the host institution, the African Energy Chamber (AEC), do nothing to provide for the 600 million Africans still lacking access to electricity and nearly a billion without clean cooking means. AEW is, in fact, a stage where major international fossil fuel companies, global financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank, private investors, and African government officials come together to prioritise the profiteering interests of global capital, multinational corporations, and national elites, at the expense of the African people.

The 2024 AEW event is set to feature proponents of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), including the CEO from Uganda’s National Oil Company and executives from TotalEnergies and Standard Bank, positioning EACOP as one of many examples of how blatantly destructive projects could be enabled by the deals made between African governments, the fossil fuel industry and financial institutions at AEW without regard for the catastrophic social, environmental, and economic consequences and without any representation from directly impacted communities. 

African Energy Week Encourages Policies of Deliberate Underdevelopment for Africa

Fossil fuel projects like those promoted at AEW, underpinned by policies of deregulation and privatisation, are part of a system of deliberate underdevelopment. Across the continent, African countries are trapped in debt cycles, burdened by loans from international financiers for projects that benefit corporations and elites and systematically exclude and harm ordinary people. Despite decades of “fossil fuel oriented growth” since the liberation era, African nations remain cheap resource suppliers for industrialised countries, exporting unprocessed fossil fuels and minerals while importing finished products at higher costs. This model, which is firmly rooted across the continent and is pursued and reproduced by the African Energy Chamber and its many multinational fossil fuel industry partners, barely differs from that of direct colonial subjugation. Importantly, its results are all the same, leaving Africa impoverished, with no prospects for industrialisation or diverse people-centered economic growth.

Nigeria and Angola offer stark warnings. Despite being major oil producers, these nations remain impoverished, with Nigeria importing refined petroleum and Angola mired in debt. Profits flow to multinationals, while local communities endure pollution, displacement, and economic inequality. Ignoring all the evidence, AEW 2024 is set to host numerous panels and discussions on “investment opportunities” in fossil fuels in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Angola, Algeria, Namibia, Libya, Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa, to name a few. These elements of AEW’s programme, coupled with its events on “collaborative approaches for the financing of oil and gas projects” and on “gas monetisation strategies”, among many other events on equally sinister topics, underscore AEW’s primary goal: accelerating oil and gas extraction to benefit elites and imperial countries abroad while African communities bear the full cost—pollution, displacement, and environmental destruction. AEW, sponsored by corporate giants like TotalEnergies, BP, and ExxonMobil, is a stage where decisions are made that lock African governments into debt, and deepen corporate control over African resources.

African Energy Week Provides a Forum for Corporations to Perpetuate Structural Violence in Africa and the Violence Against Oppressed People Across the World

Beyond its role in locking Africa into a future defined by dependency, ecological harm, and continued underdevelopment, AEW also plays a role in propping up, entrenching and reproducing the global systems of horrific violence and oppression which underpin the imperialist world order. This is made clear by the participation of corporations like Glencore, a notorious commodities trading giant which epitomises the role of corporate imperialism in Africa, at AEW. Glencore will be driving its insidious agenda at AEW as a key player in the Critical Minerals Africa (CMA) event which will platform figures like Marie-Chantal Kaninda, the President of Glencore DRC's Kamoto Copper Company. AEW will give Glencore the platform to lead the discourse on critical minerals extraction in Africa despite the fact that its operations in the DRC have been linked to devastating socio-economic harm, exacerbating conflict and fuelling violence. The company’s extraction of critical minerals like copper and cobalt, has contributed to displacement, environmental degradation, and the continued exploitation of Congolese workers. These operations further entrench structural inequality, with profits funnelled to corporate elites while the Congolese people remain impoverished and beset by conflict. 

Additionally, Glencore has come under fire for supplying coal from the Mpumalanga coal fields in South Africa to the state of Israel which is unapologetically carrying out a protracted campaign of mass killing and ethnic cleansing in occupied Palestine. Despite widespread opposition from Palestine solidarity movements, Glencore continues to facilitate Israel’s onslaught against the Palestinian people in its steady supply of coal to fuel the murderous Israeli regime.

Through platforming corporations like Glencore, and many other heartless entities like it, all under the guise of energy and minerals development, AEW stands as a dangerous weapon in the arsenal of the global imperialist order, providing a forum for corporations to exercise their influence and expand their operations, thus perpetuating the conditions which uphold structural violence in Africa and the violence against oppressed peoples the world over.

Our Demands: A Just Energy Future for Africa, Boycott African Energy Week and Sever Ties with the African Energy Chamber!

We demand an end to Africa’s debt slavery and call for reparations for centuries of extraction and exploitation. Africa’s energy future must be rooted in democratic social ownership of renewable energy, with frontline communities at the centre. Governments must reject fossil fuel expansion and prioritise public investments into renewable energy systems that provide electricity for all, create jobs, and foster diverse, sustainable economic growth.

We call on African leaders to boycott AEW and sever ties with the AEC. AEW’s agenda serves only multinational elites and international corporations and perpetuates neo-colonial control over our resources and sovereignty. Africa must reclaim its energy future by investing in renewable energy solutions that are just, equitable, and locally controlled.

Cancel African Energy Week Now!

Together, we demand the cancellation of AEW and the establishment of an energy system that serves African people—not corporations, not imperial powers, and not profit-hungry elites. Let’s build a future where energy is a public good, democratically controlled, and used to power development that is socially just, environmentally sustainable, and economically empowering for all our people.

List of signatories:

  • Centre for Social Change, South Africa

  • Right2Protest Project, South Africa

  • Climate Clock, Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Fridays for Future Uganda, Uganda

  • OFFRUITY/VARSITY SOCIAL HUB, Zimbabwe

  • Save Our Sacred Lands, South Africa

  • The deCOALonize Campaign, Kenya

  • Serapeng sa Ditlhare and Environment NPC, South Africa

  • African Coalition on Green Growth, Africa

  • Somali Bantu community, Somalia

  • Palestine Solidarity Alliance, South Africa

  • Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance, South Africa

  • The Green Connection, South Africa

  • Bridge That Gap Hope for Africa Initiative, Nigeria

  • Extinction Rebellion université de Goma, RDC

  • Kopano formation committee, South Africa

  • Odeibea Foundation, Ghana

  • Batlhabine Foundation, South Africa

  • Lamu women alliance, Kenya

  • ORGANIZATION FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (OCE), Tanzania

  • Izimbhokodo revolution, South Africa

  • Women for Green Economy Movement Uganda, Uganda

  • Justice & Peace (FBO), South Africa

  • Laudato Si’ Movement Africa, Africa

  • AbibiNsroma Foundation, Ghana

  • GO GREEN SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT, Malawi

  • Climate Action Network (CAN) Zambia, Zambia

  • Sukumani Environmental Justice, South Africa

  • Extinction Rebellion South Africa, South Africa

  • The Green Youth Movement Denmark, Denmark

  • Association des Jeunes visionnaires pour le développement du Congo AJVDC, DRC

  • Peace Point Development Foundation-PPDF, Nigeria

  • Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment &Managent (CECIC), Uganda

  • Sisonke Revolutionary Movement

  • The Joinery, South Africa

  • Working for climate, South Africa

  • OilWatch Africa

  • Quest For Growth and Development Foundation, Nigeria

  • African Initiative on Food Security and Environment (AIFE), Uganda

  • Westside Park Community Crisis Committee, South Africa

  • Mt. Kenya Network Forum, Kenya

  • SAVE MY WORLD, DRC

  • Kiima foods, Uganda

  • Somali Bantu community, Somalia

  • Climate Change Task Force, Cameroon

  • Center for Conservation and Ecoenergy Initiative (CCEI), Uganda

  • Africans Rising, Africa

  • ZOmWIKA CBO, Kenya

  • Green Conservers, Tanzania

  • Fridays for future Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone

  • Marikana youth development organization, South Africa

  • Voices of the poor concerned Residents

  • Ekurhuleni Environmetal organisation (EEO), South Africa

  • Home of hope, South Africa

  • Mathapelo, South Africa

  • Environment Governance Institute, Uganda

  • Youth for Green Communities, Uganda

  • GreenFaith, Tanzania

  • East African Crude Oil Pipeline Host Communities, Uganda

  • Ekurhuleni Environmental Organization, South Africa

  • Green leaf Advocacy and Empowerment Center, Nigeria

  • Greater Whange Residents Trust, Zimbabwe

  • Mathias Lyamunda, Tanzania

  • Youth for Environment and Sustainable Development, Malawi

  • Mfidikwe Bokamoso Community Development forum, South Africa

  • Serapeng sa Ditlhare and Environment NPC, South Africa

  • Appui aux Initiatives Communautaire de Conservation de l’Environnement et de Développement Durable, AICED, RDCongo

  • Intouch Youth Development and Community Justice, South Africa

  • Center for environmental research and Agriculture Innovations (CERAI), Uganda

  • Lesedi la lethabo community center Npo, South Africa

  • GIWUSA, South Africa

  • Waterberg Women Advocacy Organisation, South Africa and Botswana

  • Ocean Tree Studios, USA

  • Oil Refinery Residents Association, Uganda

  • Cercle des Grands Pionniers CGP, Benin

  • Be the future foundation, South Africa

  • South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, South Africa

  • National Youth Parliament of Liberia, Liberia

  • Enongene Ewane Hilary, Cameroon

  • African Coalition on Green Growth, Africa

  • Global Platform The Gambia, Gambia, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, Kenya, Denmark, Sierra Leone etc

  • Wahenga Youth Group, Kenya

  • Human Rights Education for Schools (HURIES), Kenya

  • Awadi Hamid Hashim, Uganda

  • Nairobi Recyclers, Kenya

  • Sinatsisa Lubombo Women and girls Empowerment organization, Eswatini

  • CENTER FOR EXTRA EDUCATION, Tanzania

  • Radio Gbehzohn, Liberia

  • Climate Clock, DRC

  • Global Youths Biodiversity Network Gambia Chapter, Gambia

  • Africans Rising Movement, Nigeria

  • Sanitized Communities Konnect(SANCOK) foundation, Ghana

  • Abanikazibendawo, South Africa

  • Gladys Nester Ndebele, South Africa

  • The African child, Nigeria

  • Peace Point Development Foundation-PPDF, Nigeria

  • Friends of Franbarnie International, Liberia

  • Association des Jeunes Arc-en-ciel pour la Stabilité Sociale en Afrique (AJASSA), Chad

  • WOMEN NEEDED PEACE, RD Congo

  • Aboudi Ngono Alain Bertrand, Cameroon

  • Association des Jeunes Dynamiques pour le Développement Durable, Coordinateur national

  • Blyvoor Butterflies, South Africa

  • Africans Rising, Ghana

  • Fossil Free South Africa, South Africa

  • Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA), Nigeria

  • Climate Clock, DRC

  • 350Africa.org, Africa

  • EarthCare, Gambia

  • Human Rights Media Trust, South Africa

  • Nairobi Recyclers, Kenya

  • Sustainable Actions for Nature, Nigeria

  • Rassemblement de la jeunesse Nigerienne pour l'Eau/ Niger Youth Parliament for Water, Niger

  • Network for Youth Led activism, Gambia

  • Extinction Rebellion, South Africa

  • Global platforms, Gambia

  • Adama Jarra, Gambia

  • Africa Coal Network, Africa

  • Action 24, Zimbabwe

  • Green Rwanda Initiative, Rwanda

  • Partnership For Green Future, Tanzania

  • Zero Waste Durban, South Africa

  • Mowana Environmental Network, South Africa

  • Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia, South Africa

  • Palestine Solidarity Campaign, South Africa

  • One Voice Of All Hawkers Association, South Africa

  • Fossil Free SA, South Africa

  • Yamua LGBTQAi+, South Africa

  • Society Helping against Woman Abuse, South Africa

  • Association des Jeunes visionnaires pour le développement du Congo AJVDC/Brigade Verte, DRC

  • Center for Conservation and Ecoenergy Initiative (CCEI), Uganda

  • Shuka and Hide PTY LTD, South Africa

  • Home of hope, South Africa

  • Quest For Growth and Development Foundation, Nigeria

  • Enviro Vito, South Africa

  • Zama zama, South Africa

  • Justice and Peace, South Africa

  • Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC), Uganda

  • Bambani co oporative, South Africa

  • Magamba Network, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, Zambia, Uganda, Somalia, South Africa

  • Sisonke Climate Justice Project, Zimbabwe

  • Climate Clock, Benin

  • KOPANOFORMATION COMMITTEE, South Africa

  • Women In Need Organisation - WIN, South Africa

  • Palestine Solidarity Alliance, South Africa

  • Marxist Workers Party, South Africa

  • Youth Affected By Mining United in Action, South Africa

  • Project 90 by 2030, South Africa

  • Botswana Climate Change Network, Botswana

  • Wahenga Youth Group

  • Snake Park Bambanani, South Africa

  • Cooperative Young Christian Students movement, South Africa

  • Hilary, Cameroon

  • LIBERATION MOVEMENT, UGANDA

  • Barnabas Charity Outreach, Nigeria

  • Kitron Green Initiatives (KGI), Nigeria

  • Mindshare for Research and Consulting, Somaliland, Somalia

  • AUWAL GARBA DABO, Nigeria

  • Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC), Uganda

  • Population and Development Initiative, Tanzania

  • African Coalition on Green Growth, Africa

  • Legal Assistance Centre, Namibia

  • Youth ambassador democray, Nigeria

  • Center for Conservation and Ecoenergy Initiative (CCEI), Uganda

  • PEOPLES FEDERATION FOR NATIONAL PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT (PEFENAP), Malawi

  • Mpulungu Youth Vision Center, Zambia

  • Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource Center, Kenya

  • Gbolekekro Women Empowerment And Development Organization (GWEDO), Nigeria

  • Sinatsisa Lubombo Women and girls Empowerment organization, Eswatini

  • Human Rights Reporters, Ghana

  • Foundation for environmental Management and Campaign Against Poverty-FEMAPO, Tanzania

  • TLP-Malawi

  • GCEC Cameroon

  • Moses Julius Muganga, Tanzania

  • Mayssoun Bennani, Tunisia

  • Daughters of Mekatilili Hub, Kenya

  • Hamzat Olawale Duroorike, Nigeria

  • MDC HOLDINGS, Cameroon

  • Mzalendo Halisi Foundation, Kenya

  • Hope for Street Children and Vulnerable people Foundation, Nigeria

  • Peace Point Development Foundation-PPDF, Nigeria

  • Tribeless Youth Kenya

  • Amis des Etrangers au Togo (ADET), Togo

  • Solidarity Network for Workers right, Nigeria

  • African Coaching Network, Africa

  • Economic Fighters League (EFL), Ghana

  • Radio Gbehzohn, Liberia

  • Nkori Rural Women Development Initiative - NRWDI, Nigeria

  • Wong'an women initiative, Kenya

  • Isiolo Gender watch, Kenya

  • Africa Institute for Energy Governance, Uganda

  • Climate Action Network, Uganda

  • Friends of Franbarnie International, Liberia

  • Wote Youth Dvelopment Projects CBO, Kenya

  • Arbor Aegis, Switzerland

  • Global SDGs Brigade, Ghana

  • Jamaa Resource Initiatives, Kenya

  • Réseau des jeunes pour le développement communautaire, Côte d'Ivoire

  • Emonyo Yefwe International, Kenya

  • Association des Jeunes Arc-en-ciel pour la Stabilité Sociale en Afrique (AJASSA), Chad

  • Bargny Coast Waterkeeper, Senegal

  • Forum des Engages pour le Developpement Durable, RD Congo

  • Igenous AfRAka RESTORATION, Côte d'Ivoire

  • Climate Action Network(CAN), Zambia

  • Earthlife Africa, Côte d'Ivoire

  • KHORD Foundation, Uganda

  • Trust&goodwill Co Ltd

  • Manka Menga Poetry, Tanzania

  • Inspired Generation Leadership Initiative, Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic, USA

  • Good Health Community Programmes, Kenya

  • Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance, South Africa

  • African Network of Young leaders for peace and sustainable development, Kenya

  • Society for Women and Youths Affairs, Nigeria

  • Réseau d'Appui au Développement Local (RESADEL), Guinea

  • Health Of Mother Earth Foundation, South Sudan

  • GENDERCC SA - Women for Climate Justice, South Africa

  • Cameroon Women's Peace Movement, Cameroon

  • Resilient40, Africa

  • Nguzo Africa, Kenya

  • Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nigeria, South Sudan

  • North American Climate Conservation and Environment (NACCE), USA

  • Earth Action, Inc., USA

  • No REDD in Africa Network, Africa

  • Community And Family Aid Foundation, Ghana

  • Sauti Community Environment & Development Communication, Kenya

  • Human Rights Education for Schools huries, Kenya

  • Justice Institute, Guyana

  • Green Society, Egypt

  • Jeunesse Unie pour le Progrès et le Développement (JUPD), Benin

  • UNITED NATIONS, Nigeria

  • Nairobi Recyclers, Kenya

  • Union of Kenya Civil Servants, Kenya

  • Organization for Women Empowerment Justice and Empowerment Initiatives, Nigeria

  • Consortium of Indigenous Peoples & LOcal Community Organizations-CIPLCOs, Liberia

  • Ahmed Sékou DIALLO, ONG AFAD, Mali

  • Youth for human rights Freetown chapter, Sierra Leone

  • Lower Nyakach Pamoja Youth Organization (LOPYO), Kenya

  • National Security Council Secretariat Change Creatives, Liberia

  • Balanta B'urassa History & Genealogy Society in America, Guinea Bissau and United States

  • NAC - Núcleo dos Activistas de Cabinda, Angola, Congo Brazzaville

  • Youth Global Movement (Youglo) Uganda

  • United Youth Social Symposium for Education and Development (UYSSED) Liberia

  • JendaGbeni Centre for Social Change Communications, Sierra Leone and Ghana

  • One More Percent, Kenya

  • Pastoralists Alliance for Resilience and Adaptation Across Nations (PARAAN), Kenya

  • A Common Future, Cameroon

  • Shujaa-Initiative Centre for human rights and civic education, DRC

  • Haki Nawiri Afrika, Kenya

  • Society for the Promotion of Initiatives in Sustainable Development and Welfare (SOPISDEW), Cameroon

  • Tanzania Wote Equality Alliance, Tanzania

  • Finders Group Initiative (FGI), Cameroon

  • University of Kordofan, Sudan

  • Cameroon Journalists Trade Union, CJTU, Cameroon

  • Climate Resilient Catalysts Association, Zimbabwe

  • Youths Advocacy for Good Governance, Nigeria

  • Peter, South Africa

  • Environment Governance Institute, Uganda

  • Environment Governance Institute, Uganda

  • Africa coal network, Africa

  • Africa Climate Movement Building Space, Africa

  • Mt. Kenya Network Forum, Kenya

  • Friends of the Earth, Africa

  • Mwale Subi Bertin, DRCongo

  • Center For Protection And Development, Mozambique