South Africa to Host AU Ministerial Session on Transport, Energy

The African Union Commission, in collaboration with the Government of South Africa, will convene the Fifth Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Transport and Energy from April 27 to 30, 2026, in Johannesburg.

The meeting comes amid renewed continental efforts to develop resilient and interconnected infrastructure systems to support sustainable growth, regional integration and economic transformation.

Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Lerato D. Mataboge, said preparations had been finalised to present a forward-looking agenda aligned with Africa’s most pressing infrastructure priorities. She stressed the need for stronger ownership of development strategies, improved intra-African trade and accelerated implementation of key projects.

She added that the session would provide a platform for member states to address implementation challenges, align national and continental priorities, and advance projects capable of delivering measurable economic impact.

As the African Union’s highest ministerial platform on transport and energy, the session is expected to set policy direction and strengthen governance across sectors critical to the continent’s development.

The meeting builds on resolutions from the 2023 session in Zanzibar, which called for faster project delivery and better alignment between continental frameworks and national execution.

Recent progress highlighted by the commission includes the advancement of strategic infrastructure corridors such as the Abidjan–Lagos Highway, a major regional project spanning over 1,000 kilometres under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa framework.

The AU also noted improvements in electricity access across the continent, with rates rising from about 51 per cent in 2017 to over 61 per cent in 2023, connecting more than 120 million people.

In addition, initiatives such as the African Single Electricity Market are driving cross-border electricity trade and system integration, while investments in aviation, ports, rail and road networks continue to strengthen regional connectivity.

The session is expected to deliberate on new initiatives, including the Ubuntu Legacy Initiative and a proposed Africa Ten-Year Infrastructure Investment Plan for Cross-Border Connectivity, aimed at scaling coordinated investments in key regional corridors.

Ministers will also consider measures to improve governance, enhance accountability and mobilise climate finance for infrastructure projects.

The event will further mark a transition in leadership, with a new bureau to be elected in line with AU procedures, as Ethiopia hands over its current chairmanship.