Stop Africa Energy Week: A Call to Reject Fossil Fuels and Demand Justice
Africa Energy Week (AEW) is just a month away, and the event is gearing up to prop up fossil fuels as the solution to Africa’s energy crisis. Now in its third convening, AEW remains a thorn in Africa’s sustainability agenda because the fossil fuel industry has hijacked it to lock the continent on a fossil fuel path.
Their website highlights that speakers will discuss ways to accelerate upstream projects, inviting some of the most outspoken supporters and developers of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). This underscores the agenda being advanced—a troubling alliance between the fossil fuel industry, financial capital, and certain African governments that prioritize profit over people.
High-profile speakers include the leader of the Communication Task Force and Spokesperson for the Tilenga and EACOP projects at TotalEnergies, the Managing Director at TotalEnergies, the Global Head of Energy and Infrastructure at Standard Bank, the CEO of the Ugandan Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, the Vice President of Exploration in Africa from TotalEnergies, and the CEO of Uganda's National Oil Company, among others.
Their participation, combined with other activities aimed at fostering partnerships between African governments, foreign oil companies, and financial institutions, suggests that these polluters and profiteers would almost probably use AEW to raise funds for the disastrous EACOP project. This is despite the documented protests that have led to violent arrests and violation of human rights. This push is despite the environmental and climate concerns. For this group, it’s profits above everything.
We have already seen EACOP disrupt local communities by desecrating graves along the pipeline's route. The associated Tilenga oil field also places undue strain on a critical biodiversity resource - the Murchison Falls National Park. The destructive impact of this controversial pipeline is extensive, and the fact that its proponents are now being invited to speak about Africa’s energy future at this event is reason enough to demand its cancellation.
We demand transparency and accountability. A thorough investigation into the dealings of the African Energy Chamber (AEC) and its partners is long overdue. It’s not lost on us that AEC has hijacked the language of frontline communities when calling out neocolonial projects and are now using it to guilt trip the global north into funding fossil fuel projects that only profit them and their friends in the industry while giving no thought to the frontline communities whose farmlands and fish landing sites are destroyed, losing livelihoods so that the elite can continue making profits. In a sense, AEC is an enabler of neocolonial projects like EACOP.
They’re threatening a joint lawsuit against the Global North financial institutions under this pretext, but we want the world to know they don’t speak for Africans.
African leaders must prioritize their people's needs over corporate interests. We strongly urge them to boycott African Energy Week and cut connections with the African Energy Chamber. Our governments must reject fossil fuel expansion and instead invest in public renewable energy networks that benefit everyone.
We also invite all concerned citizens of the world to join us in demanding the cancellation of this event that no longer serves the people but lines the pockets of the elite.
Engage with us online to amplify our message and support our actions on the ground. Follow @Polluters_Out, @DontGasAfrica, and @stopEACOP on X (Twitter) for updates and ways to participate.
It's time to rewrite Africa's energy narrative – one that puts people and planet first. Join us in demanding a just and sustainable future for Africa. The time for change is now.
