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As energy major TotalEnergies expands its footprint across Africa's oil and gas sector, the company is placing stakeholder engagement, local content development and sustainable investment at the center of its growth strategy. From Namibia and Angola to Uganda, Mozambique and the Republic of Congo, TotalEnergies is strengthening partnerships with governments, communities and industry stakeholders to support long-term project delivery and shared economic value.

These priorities will be a key focus at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place October 12-16 in Cape Town, where Marieme-Sav Sow, Vice President of Engagement & Advocacy for TotalEnergies, will share insights into the company's approach to stakeholder relations and sustainable development across the continent.

Based at TotalEnergies’ headquarters in Paris, Sow was appointed Vice President of Engagement & Advocacy for Exploration & Production Africa in 2025, taking responsibility for the company’s pan-African stakeholder relations platform. In the role, she oversees engagement with governments, industry partners and communities while supporting local content development, sustainability programs and long-term investment frameworks across some of Africa’s most significant oil and gas markets.

Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for African energy development, with TotalEnergies advancing major projects spanning Namibia, Mozambique, Uganda, Angola and the Republic of Congo. As the company expands its footprint across frontier and established markets, stakeholder alignment, community participation and sustainable development have become increasingly important components of project delivery and long-term value creation.

Sow has emerged as a leading voice on Africa’s energy future, advocating for pragmatic approaches to energy access, industrial development and economic growth. Through engagements at international forums and industry events, she has consistently emphasized the importance of balancing energy security, investment and sustainability while ensuring African countries maximize the benefits of resource development.

Prior to her current position, Sow served as Managing Director and Country Chair of TotalEnergies in Madagascar between 2022 and 2025. During her tenure, she oversaw the company’s downstream operations and commercial growth strategy. Her leadership earned widespread recognition, including a Medal of Honor from the government of Madagascar and the Women CEO of the Year award at the CEO Summit Madagascar.

Earlier in her career, Sow served as Commercial Network Director for TotalEnergies Tanzania, where she managed business-to-business operations and retail network expansion during a period of significant growth in East Africa’s energy sector. Her broader career spans leadership assignments across Africa, Europe and North America, covering commercial operations, customer engagement, corporate governance and strategic management.

In recognition of her impact on African business and industry, Sow was named a Choiseul 100 Africa Leureate in 2025 and has been recognized among Africa’s leading women executives. Beyond her corporate responsibilities, she serves as President of Fondation MAM, supporting community development initiatives and social impact programs across Francophone Africa.

“Marieme-Sav Sow represents a new generation of African energy leadership. Her work at the intersection of stakeholder engagement, sustainability, local content and energy development reflects many of the priorities shaping Africa’s energy future. We are delighted to welcome her to AEW 2026,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

At AEW 2026, Sow joins a large delegation of representatives from TotalEnergies and is expected to share insights on stakeholder engagement, local content development, sustainable investment strategies and the role of industry partnerships in accelerating Africa’s energy growth agenda.