The Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2026) opened in Kigali on 19 May, bringing together heads of state and international energy experts to chart a continental path toward nuclear power.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan joined IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossed at the opening ceremony, alongside representatives from the UN Economic Commission for Africa and financial partners.
Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé delivered a keynote address centred on strategic clarity, arguing that renewable energy alone cannot sustain Africa’s industrialisation.
He called for credible institutional frameworks, citing Togo’s creation of its Atomic Energy Commission in 2025, and urged collective action on regulations, standards, and financing.
“The continent does not ask for technology handouts,” Gnassingbé declared. “Africa offers partnership, a market, and an adult vision of its energy future.”
Kagame announced that Togo will host the next NEISA edition, recognising the nuclear sector efforts of the country.
The summit aims to produce a nuclear financing framework, establish regional cooperation mechanisms, and define a post-2026 action plan.
On the sidelines, Gnassingbé and Kagame discussed security in the Great Lakes region, where the Togolese leader serves as African Union mediator.
