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African Countries Urged to Back Global Fossil Fuel Treaty at Climate Summit in Addis Ababa

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Sallu Kamuskay
By Sallu Kamuskay  - Journalist and Public Relations Expert 4 Min Read
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African Countries Urged to Back Global Fossil Fuel Treaty at Climate Summit in Addis Ababa
African Countries Urged to Back Global Fossil Fuel Treaty at Climate Summit in Addis Ababa

African countries are being urged to take a strong stand against fossil fuels at this year’s Africa Climate Week and Africa Climate Summit, which will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The events come at a time when Africa is facing worsening climate impacts, despite being one of the regions that pollutes the least. Many believe this is a key moment for African nations to lead the way in finding real solutions to the climate crisis.

A growing number of voices say that cutting down the use of coal, oil, and gas – the main drivers of global warming – must be at the centre of Africa’s climate plans.

One group making its presence felt during the summit is the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. The group wants African countries to join an international push to end new fossil fuel projects and support clean, renewable energy.

So far, 17 countries from the Pacific, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean have joined talks on the treaty. Supporters say the treaty would work alongside the Paris Agreement and help solve the climate crisis more directly.

“This is Africa’s chance to lead by example,” said campaigners from the treaty group. “We must stop false solutions and support a just transition to clean energy that works for all Africans.”

The week kicks off with a special art show titled “All Power to the People – Pan-African Artists’ Pledge”. The exhibition will open on 1 September at Studio 11 Art Gallery in Addis Ababa and run until 9 September.

The event will showcase artwork from across Africa and the diaspora, using creativity to call for climate justice. Organisers say the show highlights the power of art to both reflect the reality of climate change and inspire people to act.

Several important side events will take place on 9 September at the Addis International Convention Centre. These talks aim to bring together government officials, civil society groups, and experts to discuss how Africa can move away from fossil fuels and build a green, fair future.

Event Highlights Include:

  • Beyond Emissions: Addressing the Supply Side of Climate Change (9:30–11:00am): This event will look at how international cooperation – including the proposed Fossil Fuel Treaty – can help stop new fossil fuel production. It is hosted by groups such as Power Shift Africa and Fridays For Future Uganda.

  • Energy for Development: Financing Renewables for a Resilient African Future (11:30–1:00pm): This session will focus on how Africa can fund its switch to renewable energy and ensure energy access for all. Civil society, experts, and community leaders will take part.

  • Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (12:00–1:30pm): This discussion will explore how countries like Nigeria, Angola, and Kenya can shift their economies away from fossil fuels. Experts will share real-life examples of what’s working and what still needs to be done.

The outcomes of this summit will help shape Africa’s position at COP30, the next major global climate meeting. Many hope African countries will use this moment to send a strong message to the world: the time to act is now.

Campaigners from the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative say the path forward must include ending fossil fuel use and building clean, fair energy systems that benefit people across the continent.

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By Sallu Kamuskay Journalist and Public Relations Expert
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Sallu Kamuskay is a Sierra Leonean communication strategist, fixer, blogger, youth organiser, event manager, spokesperson, and public relations expert. His work has been regularly referenced and published by national and international media and public policy institutions. Sallu Kamuskay was a child during the brutal war in Sierra Leone. Growing up in the midst of conflict, Sallu witnessed unimaginable abuse of children and gross violations of human rights. The horrors he witnessed during the Civil War had a terrible impact on him at a very tender age. But despite the shock of the war, Sallu never lost hope. He started on a journey of recovery, studying, and working for a better future. At age 15, Sallu entered into the world of activism and advocacy. Sallu Kamuskay was the Vice President of the Young Leaders Organisation, a member of the National Youth Council. The Young Leaders is one of the oldest youth-led organisations in West Africa. The organisation was formed by a group of young leaders, and launched by the then Head of State/President of Sierra Leone. Sallu was part of the group of young leaders who participated in and contributed to the establishment of the National Youth Council. The Commonwealth supported the training for trainers programme with line ministries and youth stakeholders in which key, representatives of youth council, student union and civil society/private sector youth platforms were engaged and empowered in the effective engagement and inclusion of youth. Sallu is co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global multimedia and public relations firm based In Sierra Leone. Sallu has worked on various developmental and policy issues such as Poverty, Climate Change, Human rights, Child Rights, Education, Health, Gender Equality, Civic Engagement, Government policies, Information Communication Technology for Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and has also been contributing to various global events and advocacy campaigns. Sallu Kamuskay is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global Multimedia and Public Relations Firm based in Sierra Leone with the latest news and information, on top stories, business, politics, entertainment, and more. Sallu is working with a leading technology company in Africa, Techfrica, that has recently developed and launched a social media, messaging Supfrica with over 150,000 downloads on the Google play store in less than 4 days. He is the Adviser and Media coordinator for the App to give people the platform to connect and communicate to help shape their future with a very fast internet that allows users that live in deprived and hard-to-reach areas with poor internet facility to be able to communicate as it allows and stronger on 2 and 3 G network reception. Sallu has over 9 years of experience in youth engagement, inclusion, and coordination both at local and global levels, giving voice to young people and engaging young people to build a better world. He has served as coordinator for the Wave Alliance which brought together youth-led organisations who attended an international training in South Africa organized by the International Organization – Waves for Change. Sallu is working with the MLT, Waves For Change, and the Government to develop safe spaces for young people, with a view to contributing to the overall development goals of young people including health, as well as to community rebuilding. Sallu is currently the Programme Director for the Wave Alliance, which is a coalition of youth-led and community-based organisations that have successfully introduced evidence-based Surf Therapy programs to young people in communities, with a focus on mental health, peace building and sustainable development. Sallu is currently the focal point and face of Africa’s Faces Social media platform which is a global Social media platform that brings together people from across the world to share their moments, connect, share videos, and interact with friends giving more preference to excluded continents like Africa. Sallu Kamuskay has devoted his time to working for or contributing to a number of national and international organizations and companies, including the Techfrica Technology Company, United Nations, ECOWAS, European Union, Commonwealth Africa Initiatives. This work has led him to travel to a number of countries to contribute to global youth platforms. Sallu is the lead Coordinator for Peace Tour programme, an initiative supported by the European Union, Africa Union, ECOWAS focusing on uniting and empowering young people and local communities. Over the years, Sallu Kamuskay has been using his Techno phone to be able to tell stories, the phone he used to tell the story of Gbessay during Ebola who was admitted at one of the Ebola treatment centers after rumors that she had Ebola when the actual sickness was ulcer, she was almost abandoned at the treatment canter with no medication provided to her. She could have died. Sallu told the story via social media and was able to secure funding from the United Sierra Leone to buy her medication and advocated for her. She was later discharged and taken home, He did the same to a patient that died and was abandoned in the street, Sallu Kamuskay used his phone and shared the message across, the corps was later taken and buried. It could have been more disaster without his voice. The story of late America Stress 3-year-old daughter. The hero’s daughter was abandon after his father's death. He shared her sad story and was able to get a sister who has taken the child as her own and is currently providing her with educational support. The article of America Stress can be read on the link below http://ayvnewspaper.com/index.php/k2-categories/item/7350-america-stress-a-hero-to-recognize. Sallu Kamuskay feels the stories of Gbessay, America stress and that of many others need to be told. The media house we have cannot better tell these stories, they are better reporters than telling human interest stories. He created the Salone Messenger platform and brought together passionate storytellers to be able to tell these compelling stories.