--- title: "Activists protest new oil and gas exploration at African Energy Week" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/climate/activists-protest-new-oil-and-gas-exploration-at-african-energy-week" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/activists-protest-new-oil-and-gas-exploration-at-african-energy-week" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/climate/activists-protest-new-oil-and-gas-exploration-at-african-energy-week.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/activists-protest-new-oil-and-gas-exploration-at-african-energy-week" category: "Climate" area: "Africa" published: "2026-10-13T15:46:02.929Z" source_reported: "2026-10-13T14:43:43.000Z" updated: "2026-10-13T15:46:02.929Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-14T06:15:16.908901+00:00" --- # Activists protest new oil and gas exploration at African Energy Week *Protesters called for an end to fossil fuel development, citing climate change concerns.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. One outlet published a full report, corroborated by 20 digests, with named sources and specific details. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. The report clearly separates fact from comment and includes quotes from affected parties. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is measured and proportionate, with no sensationalism or manufactured urgency. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Climate activists protested outside the African Energy Week conference in Cape Town, South Africa. - Protesters called for an end to new oil and gas exploration across the continent. - Activists cited the Paris climate agreement and warned of worsening climate change impacts. - South Africa is seeking to expand oil and gas development to attract investment and bolster energy security. Climate activists picketed outside the African Energy Week conference in Cape Town, South Africa. The protesters, including groups like Greenpeace Africa and Extinction Rebellion, called for an end to new oil and gas exploration on the continent. They argued that further investment in fossil fuels would worsen climate change and harm communities already affected by its impacts. The activists challenged the positioning of Africa as a new frontier for fossil fuel development. They stated that expanding fossil fuel use runs counter to commitments made under the Paris climate agreement to reduce emissions. Protesters also accused energy companies of prioritizing profits over people and the environment. South Africa is pursuing expanded oil and gas development as a means to attract investment and strengthen its energy security. The government has presented natural gas as a complement to renewable energy sources, suggesting gas-fired plants could provide electricity during periods of low wind and solar output. British energy giant Shell has plans to drill up to five deepwater wells off South Africa’s west coast to explore for oil and gas deposits. ## Disagreement on protestor's specific claims Washington Top News reported that Siya Myeza, a climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace Africa, stated that "Oil companies from overseas have made billions in profits this year alone at the expense of people’s lives, at the expense of ecosystems, at the expense of African lives." Myeza also branded the gathering “Africa Exploitation Week.” Other reports did not include these specific claims or quotes. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated, centre-rated, or right-rated digests mention the specific claims made by Siya Myeza of Greenpeace Africa, including the statement about oil companies making billions in profits and branding the event "Africa Exploitation Week." The full report from Washington Top News included these details. ## Who covered it Shares of the 22 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 50% (11) - Centre: 45% (10) - Right: 5% (1) 2 of 24 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-14T06:15:16.908901+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 60 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-14T06:45:11.522Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on the activists' demands for an end to new oil and gas exploration and their arguments against fossil fuel development. These reports highlighted that Greenpeace Africa and Extinction Rebellion campaigners challenged efforts to position Africa as a new frontier for fossil fuel development, arguing that further investment would worsen climate change. The left-rated reports also mentioned the activists' accusations that energy companies prioritize profits over people and the environment, and that expanding fossil fuel use contradicts Paris climate agreement commitments. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports highlighted the protest outside the African Energy Week conference and the activists' call for an end to new oil and gas exploration. These reports noted that the activists accused energy companies of prioritizing profits over people and the environment. The centre-rated reports also included information about South Africa's efforts to expand oil and gas development for investment and energy security, and Shell's plans for deepwater drilling. ### Right - The right-rated report mentioned that climate activists picketed outside the African Energy Week conference and demanded an end to new oil and gas exploration across the continent. It also stated that Greenpeace Africa and Extinction Rebellion campaigners accused energy companies of prioritizing profits over people and the environment. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 10 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 11 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [mediatalkafrica.com](https://mediatalkafrica.com/304801/climate-activists-protest-african-energy-week-oil-gas-exploration) — Climate activists protest African Energy Week oil gas exploration - [Africa News](http://africanews.com/2026/10/13/environmentalists-protest-at-african-energy-week-in-cape-town) — Environmentalists protest at African Energy Week in Cape Town - [EHN](https://ehn.org/climate-activists-protest-african-energy-week-in-south-africa) — Climate activists protest African Energy Week in South Africa - [dailyclimate.org](https://dailyclimate.org/climate-activists-protest-african-energy-week-in-south-africa-2678078681.html) — Climate activists protest African Energy Week in South Africa - [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/africa/11217597/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration.html) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [Santa Maria Times](https://santamariatimes.com/ap/international/ambientalistas-protestan-en-conferencia-sobre-energ-a-en-sud-frica/article_311848bd-36f9-54a6-a8f3-193d120d610c.html) — Environmentalists Protest Energy Conference in South Africa · Global Voices - [Independent Español](https://independentespanol.com/noticias/medio-ambiente/ambientalistas-protestan-en-conferencia-sobre-energia-en-sudafrica-b3065903.html) — Environmentalists Protest Energy Conference in South Africa · Global Voices - [WBAL](https://wbal.com/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/10/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration – WTOP News - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/business/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/africa/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration/article_b89bb25f-13df-5dca-be16-8972df6070c9.html) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/south-africa-cape-town-shell-oil-companies-greenpeace-b3065865.html) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-climate-change-protest-d545a8457f4c4cbbdd45757baa8d133a) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [WPLG](https://local10.com/business/2026/10/13/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/business/2026/10/13/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/south-africa-cape-town-shell-oil-companies-greenpeace-b3065865.html) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [The Northern Virginia Daily](https://nvdaily.com/associated_press_national/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration/article_6736c492-ce83-570e-8f81-5b5f32bb6f7a.html) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [Madison Courier](https://madisoncourier.com/ap/news/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration/article_85f0ed5f-904d-5a3e-a6c3-6642ffa1cd3b.html) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [Beloit Daily News](https://beloitdailynews.com/news/national-news/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration/article_a9bf2da9-e960-5685-b1ca-fc211d8dd4ff.html) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [coasttv.com](https://coasttv.com/news/international/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration/article_03c40767-578b-5fdc-87f2-118ed3e1172a.html) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [Daily News-Record](https://dnronline.com/associated_press/national/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration/article_15c547a4-f9e0-5526-9a5d-d518c0f90627.html) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [The Record](https://therecord.com/business/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration/article_a0963555-d09a-581d-8090-f933f4990a44.html) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [NiagaraFallsReview.ca](https://niagarafallsreview.ca/business/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration/article_dd22e5f1-cafc-5ae7-883c-7606b739261d.html) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/business/2026/10/13/environmentalists-picket-african-energy-week-urging-an-end-to-new-oil-and-gas-exploration) — Environmentalists picket African Energy Week, urging an end to new oil and gas exploration ## Questions **Why did climate activists protest at African Energy Week?** Activists protested to call for an end to new oil and gas exploration across Africa. They argued that expanding fossil fuel use would worsen climate change, contradict Paris climate agreement commitments, and that energy companies prioritize profits over people and the environment. **What are South Africa's plans for oil and gas development?** South Africa seeks to expand oil and gas development to attract investment and bolster energy security. The government views natural gas as a complement to renewables, potentially powering plants when wind and solar output is low. **What specific actions did the activists take?** Activists picketed outside the conference venue. Some wore T-shirts with the slogan "Make polluters pay." Police were reported to have removed the protesters. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/climate/activists-protest-new-oil-and-gas-exploration-at-african-energy-week. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Activists protest new oil and gas exploration at African Energy Week", https://mediabias.news/climate/activists-protest-new-oil-and-gas-exploration-at-african-energy-week