Central Africa in April 2026: the most important developments in economy
In Central Africa in April 2026, the economic news centred on the French energy company TotalEnergies and the effects of the Middle East war on energy markets. Reports said the company's traders had profited from the conflict, and in mid-April TotalEnergies flagged a strong quarter and said it had been able to maintain production despite the war. Its chief executive defended the company's oil production against criticism on 22 April. Around the same time the company reported that attacks had shut units at Saudi Arabia's Satorp refinery.
In Congo, TotalEnergies announced a discovery of hydrocarbons near its existing production facilities. Elsewhere in the region, the Brazilian state-owned company Petrobras acquired an oil block in São Tomé and Príncipe, described as its expansion into Africa.
By 24 April, TotalEnergies and French officials were warning that France could face an energy shortage if the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continued, while small and medium-sized businesses in the Democratic Republic of Congo reported difficulties linked to the disruption of global trade. In France, TotalEnergies workers went on strike over fuel prices. In Angola, flooding halted traffic on the Lobito rail corridor and disrupted exports.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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