Central Africa in May 2026: the most important developments in economy
In Central Africa in May 2026, the economic news centred on oil and energy. Angola's first new refinery in 50 years shipped its first fuel cargoes, a milestone for the country's oil sector. Separately, the Democratic Republic of Congo's economy was reported to be holding steady despite the ongoing war, with key reforms still pending. A billionaire Qatari family placed bids for an airport in Ethiopia and a road project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Much of the month's energy reporting concerned France and the oil company TotalEnergies. The French government considered a windfall tax on the company while fuel prices strained households, and Marine Tondelier accused its chief executive of blackmail. By 8 May, reports said TotalEnergies was likely to avoid the tax. A French MP proposed nationalizing the company, and on 18 May TotalEnergies offered new gas and electricity customers a 10% discount.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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