Discovered in 2022, Venus-1 is set to revolutionise Southern Africa’s energy landscape. As TotalEnergies’ most significant discovery in two decades, Venus-1 is the largest Sub-Saharan oil find in history at an estimated 1.5 to 2 billion barrels of oil. Following "very positive" results of appraisal drilling at the Venus-1 site, an offshore oil field located in Namibia’s Orange Basin, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné asserted that his “priority is Namibia," underscoring Total’s strategic focus on the country's burgeoning oil and gas sector. With an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil reserves confirmed so far following subsequent explorations in the nation, commercial production is forecasted to begin as early as 2029. As a consequence, Namibia has catapulted to the forefront of Africa’s energy revolution and, based on firsthand observations in April 2024, has responded by rapidly accelerating infrastructure development to meet the growing demands of the oil and gas sector. However, questions remain about this resource-rich nation’s ability to harness her newfound oil wealth sustainably amidst global energy transition pressures, governance challenges, and the need to balance foreign investment with local economic empowerment. This article will examine and make recommendations to relevant stakeholders on how to effectively and equitably maximise the benefits of Namibia’s newfound oil deposits by navigating a path toward sustainable development, while minimizing the associated costs of dependency, ensuring the country does not succumb to the resource curse.

“Our country may be small, but our people think big. Our ideas will not be limited by the limits of our borders," said Rwandan President Paul Kagame, a statement that perfectly encapsulates Rwanda’s bold approach to its role on the African continent. Since the accession of Kagame in 1994, the tiny central African nation has developed an outsized role in the region, evermore seeing itself as 'Africa's Policeman'. Rwanda's decisive intervention in Mozambique’s conflict has sparked intense debate, with its actions raising pressing questions about the true nature of its involvement. Whilst Rwanda’s forces have indeed stabilised the insurgency ravaged Cabo Delgado province, where both Mozambique’s own military, private military contractors (PMCs), and even the Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces struggled to regain control, there remains a more malevolent undertone, with their intervention serving its own selfish political and economic interests. This article examines both sides of Rwanda’s involvement from a cooperative ally to a neo-imperialist intervention, while ultimately exploring what the Mozambican government as well as international corporations operating in the region, such as Total Energies, can do to enhance their security and development strategy.