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African countries are gearing up to supply carbon credits to the global aviation industry through the UN scheme called the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which requires airlines to balance out any increase in emissions from international flights.
A recent deal involving the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) highlights the shift. Econetix received government approval for 750,000 tonnes of carbon credits from two clean energy projects, improved cookstoves and solar lamps.
According to Jakob Zenz, CEO of Econetix, “750,000 tonnes from the DRC is the first major step, with Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, and Sierra Leone to follow shortly.”
CORSIA, introduced by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), began testing in 2021 and is moving toward strict enforcement, and more than 120 countries have signed on.
Airlines must buy approved credits to offset emissions, creating a structured market. Malawi issued over 1.5 million CORSIA-eligible credits in 2025 from a cookstove project, Tanzania updated its carbon trading regulations in 2023, and Kenya launched a national carbon registry in February 2026.
Furthermore, in March 2026, eight southern African countries formed an alliance to coordinate carbon market strategies.
“There is no doubt Africa’s carbon market is at a pivotal moment. Regional coordination… is creating a credible pathway for revenue,” said Maria Maina of the African Climate Institute.
However, there are challenges in navigating regulatory hurdles, as not all projects have done so. KOKO Networks, a Kenyan clean-cooking firm that generated 6 million Gold Standard credits annually, recently closed down after failing to secure government approval for those credits, highlighting how host-country regulations can make or break projects.
Market analysts predict carbon credit prices could exceed $60 per tonne after 2030, up from $21 in late 2025, offering a major revenue opportunity for Africa.
Bonface Orucho, bird story agency.
