AGP Executive Report

US-Africa Relations: African analysts say Washington must rethink its role as trade shifts, aid changes and geopolitical rivalry push countries to diversify partners. Regional Aviation Costs: ECOWAS meets in Lomé to cut airfares by removing aviation taxes and lowering passenger and security charges by at least 25%. Togo’s Income Upgrade: Togo becomes lower-middle-income after World Bank reclassification, driven by growth and updated census data. Trade & Industry: India and Mali launch an export promotion forum as bilateral trade jumps 55% to $326.6m. Nigeria Finance Push: EBRD plans $1.5bn in Nigeria over three years, prioritising power sector investment; CBN also urges banks to deploy recapitalisation funds into SMEs, agriculture and infrastructure. Somalia Funding Shock: The AU calls emergency talks after the US ends key funding for Somalia’s mission, raising fears for Aussom’s future. Culture & Media: African Hair & Beauty Magazine tops 1m downloads; Namibia’s MTC hands NAMAs IP to the education ministry. Sports: CAF opens bids for AFCON 2028/2032/2036 hosting rights.

Ebola Response: WHO is stepping up Ebola control in the DRC with a new drug trial (PARTNERS) testing remdesivir and an investigational antibody therapy, alongside a rollout of BVD diagnostics as the outbreak has killed hundreds. Somalia Security: The AU called an emergency meeting after the US said it will end critical funding and block UN logistics for the AU mission, raising fears AUSSOM could be wound down. Nigeria Security: The US has withdrawn most troops from a joint counter-ISIS operation in Nigeria, saying it will continue intelligence support. Governance & Politics: Nigeria’s opposition ADC demands an independent judicial probe into the PFIPC controversy, while ECOWAS chair Julius Maada Bio urges leaders to deliver results after commissioning the new ECOWAS HQ in Abuja. Health Systems: ESAMI launched AfriCHEG in Arusha to strengthen health economics, governance, and technology use to speed progress toward universal health coverage. Business & Appointments: Diageo named John Musunga Africa Managing Director, and ECOWAS HQ was commissioned in Abuja with China-Africa support. Environment & Courts: Kenyan activists filed a case to stop further luxury lodge expansion in Maasai Mara, warning it threatens the Great Migration.

Cocoa Crisis: West Africa’s smallholder cocoa farmers are getting crushed as world prices plunge from near $13,000/ton in 2024 to about $3,000 by April 2026, forcing Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to cut farmgate prices and raising fears of widespread hardship. Trade & Insurance: Kenya’s new mandatory local marine cargo insurance rule (effective July 1) is pushing importers to review contracts to avoid paying twice and to adjust to locally underwritten coverage. Politics & Courts (Nigeria): Nigeria’s Federal High Court affirmed David Mark-led leadership of the ADC, dismissing a suit over party leadership and stressing internal party disputes should be handled first. Health (DRC/Ebola): UN warns the DRC Ebola outbreak could cost Africa up to $3.6bn and put over 300,000 jobs at risk, with poverty impacts expected to deepen. Security (Nigeria): Troops in Borno repelled an ISWAP attack on a forward base in Guzamala, killing two soldiers and a CJTF member while recovering weapons. Business & Jobs (Nigeria): Bank of Industry says it disbursed N644.9bn in 2025, supporting 1.68m jobs, with a focus on MSMEs, youth and gender. Regional Integration (Nigeria): ECOWAS opens its new Abuja headquarters as leaders renew calls for manufacturing-led growth and deeper regional peace. Aviation Connectivity: Ethiopian Airlines launches Lyon service via Addis Ababa, while Qatar Airways adds Port Sudan flights, boosting Africa-Europe travel links.

Sports Diplomacy: Uganda backed a single East African entry visa for the 2027 AFCON, aiming to let fans, teams and officials move across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania for up to four months. Infrastructure & Jobs: Tanzania’s Zanzibar is seeing local benefits from a new China-built port at Fumba, with improved water access and new small businesses around construction work. Nigeria Governance & Integrity: Nigeria inaugurated the Technical Board of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre, a step meant to strengthen sports integrity under the National Anti-Doping Act. Courtroom Politics: Nigeria’s ADC hailed a Federal High Court ruling affirming David Mark-led leadership and striking out a challenge, calling it an end to “judicial manipulation.” Ebola Response: Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola breakthrough is edging toward rapid antigen field trials, as manufacturers line up to speed up testing. Agriculture & Food Security: Nigeria launched distribution of 1 million hybrid cocoa seedlings to revive output and farmer incomes. Business Expansion: Dangote Cement targets 80m tonnes capacity and 10m tonnes exports by 2030 as it accelerates pan-African growth. Digital Inclusion: Dubai’s Digital School programme is expanding across several African countries to support 500,000+ learners and teachers over three years.

World Bank & Jobs: Nigeria got a new seven-year Country Partnership Framework (2026–2032) plus $1.25bn to speed private investment, competitiveness and job creation. Ebola Response: DRC’s Ebola death toll passed 400 as Uganda reported an isolated Marburg case, raising pressure on Africa CDC and partners. Energy Transition: Morocco won $265m for a pumped hydropower storage project to stabilize renewables and cut outages; Zimbabwe urged faster baseload build-out to tackle chronic power shortages. Trade & Integration: Nigeria was elected AfCFTA Trade Council chair, with priorities on value chains, digital trade and trade finance. Security & Trade Costs: Sahel insecurity is disrupting cross-border movement and investment, while maritime insecurity in West Africa is draining economies by over $500m a year. Digital & Youth Innovation: Wema Bank launched Hackaholics 7.0 to back young African tech founders with grant prizes. Elections Prep: Nigeria’s ADC uploaded Atiku and Amaechi to INEC’s portal as parties collect access codes for 2027. Cyber Scams: A study warns messaging scams move fast, with many losses happening within minutes.

World Bank & Jobs: The World Bank approved Nigeria’s 2026-2032 Country Partnership Framework and a $1.25bn policy package aimed at private sector-led growth, job creation, and reforms, including plans to expand electricity, broadband, health and support for farmers. Transport Connectivity: The EIB backed Morocco with €365m for road and rail resilience, including €300m for highways and €65m for rail upgrades with climate-resilience support. Public Health Shock: UN warnings say the DRC Ebola outbreak could cost Africa up to $3.6bn and push nearly a million more people into poverty, while Africa CDC also flags Marburg risks in Uganda. Water & Energy Reality Check: A World Bank report says 2.1bn people still lack safe drinking water, and global gas flaring wastes huge value—highlighting missed opportunities for power and jobs. Digital Skills & Inclusion: ILO and Microsoft launched a digital skills programme for refugee and host youth in Kenya, training 1,700 learners with certifications. MSME Digitisation: MTN Ghana partnered with the Ghana Enterprises Agency to launch an MSME Digital Gateway and boost digital empowerment. Security & Peace: A Catholic priest known for peace initiatives in the Central African Republic was shot and killed, underscoring fragile local security. Economy & Trade: Burkina Faso broke diplomatic ties with France, while Nigeria and EU financiers signaled deeper investment cooperation. Agriculture Pressure: Cocoa price crashes are squeezing West African smallholders, with delayed payments and lost schooling costs.

Ebola Crisis: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has climbed to 1,333 confirmed cases with 399 deaths, and WHO warns the response is still below what’s needed to stop transmission—raising fears of wider social and economic fallout. Somalia Security: Somalia’s war with Al-Shabaab remains a stalemate, with Mogadishu urged to strengthen military training, involve federal states, and expand humanitarian access while pursuing a political solution. Nigeria Elections Integrity: ADC presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi alleges politicians steal polling result sheets, risking the safety of INEC ad hoc staff, and urges voters to stay through counting. Energy & Industry: Dangote says it plans to raise Africa refining capacity to 2.1m bpd (including a Kenya complex) and invest $46bn from 2026-2028, while seeking partnerships such as with Congo’s SNPC. Regional Development: Bukola Saraki argues foreign aid can’t close Africa’s $130–$170bn infrastructure gap, pushing for AfCFTA urgency, domestic resource mobilisation, and stronger institutions.

Courtroom Showdown in Nigeria: Omoyele Sowore’s bail was restored by a Federal High Court in Abuja, but with fresh, tough conditions including N200m bonds, surrender of his international passport, and sureties tied to a traditional ruler and property in the FCT—sparking renewed claims of bias and political pressure. Flood Disaster in West Africa: Ghana’s Accra and parts of Togo and Côte d’Ivoire were hit by severe flooding, with at least 13 deaths in Accra and reports of deaths elsewhere, as residents blame poor drainage and illegal encroachment. Ebola Shock to Central Africa: UN warns an Ebola outbreak in DR Congo could cost Africa up to $3.6bn and threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs, as cases and health-worker infections rise. Productivity Push in Ghana: Ghana unveiled its first Productivity, Employment and Growth Report, arguing growth has relied more on labour and capital than efficiency, and calling for innovation and better skills. Regional Business Expansion: Hanlink Mobility launched in Dar es Salaam, signaling deeper East African industrial investment, while Diageo named John Musunga managing director for Africa. Atlantic Africa Vision: Morocco highlighted its Atlantic Africa framework at a Banjul conference, pitching the Atlantic as an economic and human bridge.

Egypt Startup Finance: Egypt plans to revamp startup funding rules, including convertible securities and valuation methods, while studying a sovereign fund mechanism to bridge late-stage financing gaps. Counter-Terror Gains: Nigeria’s Operation Hadin Kai says top ISWAP leaders and 76 foot soldiers surrendered after sustained pressure, with profiling and debriefing underway. West Africa Deportation Fight: Rights groups filed an ECOWAS court complaint for people deported from the US to Ghana, seeking compensation and warning against similar deals. Ghana Aluminium Push: GIADEC and Italy’s Danieli signed an MoU for a €300m aluminium foil rolling plant in Tema, aiming to deepen Ghana’s value chain. Regional Trade Pressure: SACU’s 9th summit saw King Mswati III challenge the bloc to reform and deliver jobs, investment and modernised borders. Nigeria Energy Strain: NECA says energy costs, inflation and taxes are still undermining business growth. Libya–Italy Gas Boost: Eni and Libya’s NOC started the Sabratha Compression project to sustain gas output and support power and exports. Heritage Jobs: Zimbabwe and Zambia are training communities around Victoria Falls to turn heritage into entrepreneurship and income. Elections Tech: INEC issued access codes for parties to upload 2027 candidates, while Nigeria’s opposition parties trade allegations over sabotage and deregistration.

Port & Trade Resilience: St Helena’s port in Rupert’s Bay has commissioned new UK-funded cargo-handling equipment to protect its once-a-month supply lifeline. Middle East Shockwaves: Germany pledges €250m to help Africa and Asia cope with the Hormuz blockade’s fallout. Energy Access & Finance: IFC backs CrossBoundary Access with $10m equity to scale mini-grids and battery-as-a-service across sub-Saharan Africa. Solar for Speed: LONGi debuts its containerized mobile solar “BLOCK” in Europe, targeting fast-deploy power where grid connections lag. Elections & Media Freedom: Nigeria’s ADC running mate Rotimi Amaechi alleges politicians steal unit result sheets, while Uganda’s editors guild condemns Museveni-linked shutdowns of Nation Media Group outlets. Conflict & Humanitarian Need: Sudan’s peace government and UN-linked efforts push for safe corridors in El Obeid as fighting continues. Security Gains: Nigeria’s Operation Hadin Kai reports 76 ISWAP fighters and top commanders surrendering in Borno. Regional Integration: Angola validates its AfCFTA strategy to unlock intra-African market access. Health & Rights: UNFPA and Pathfinder deliver free care in rural Sokoto; Kenya calls for ethical AI use to protect cultural identity. Tourism & Culture: WTTC says Africa’s tourism is accelerating in 2026, while Seychelles-China ties deepen with people-to-people exchanges.

State Police Debate in Nigeria: The Senate has passed a Constitution Amendment Bill to create a Federal Police Service and allow states to set up their own police units, triggering fresh pushback over fears of governor abuse and politicisation. Security in the Sahel: In Mali, Human Rights Watch says Islamist and allied forces have committed serious abuses against civilians as fighting escalates again. Counterterrorism Update: Nigeria’s Interior Ministry says seven Boko Haram/ISWAP commanders were arrested at Katsina airport after returning from Hajj, enabled by improved digital identity and border systems. Terror Group Rift: ISWAP commanders reportedly clashed in the Timbuktu Triangle, with several fighters feared dead. Aviation & Connectivity: United Nigeria Airlines is admitted as a full member of AFRAA, strengthening Nigeria’s role in regional air links. Youth & Finance: Nigeria’s Youth Futures Fund says it has backed 456+ youth-led groups nationwide. Energy & Investment: The IEA projects Africa’s energy investment at $110bn in 2026, with Nigeria among the biggest destinations despite declining upstream spending. Health & Research: Eastern and Southern Africa faces an estimated 29m children with developmental delays, with calls for more African-led brain research.

Energy & Development: Zimbabwe’s push for upper-middle-income growth is spotlighting geothermal as a reliable baseload power option to complement solar and wind. Capital Markets & Fintech: Zimbabwe’s Finsec is set to launch a regulated tokenised-asset market, with Kuva positioning tokenisation as a way to unlock liquidity and fractional ownership. Governance & Courts: South Africa’s Ramaphosa reportedly ordered the ANC to withdraw its court intervention in the Phala Phala impeachment process, underscoring internal ANC legal strategy tensions. Security & Rights: Uganda’s army chief ordered the shutdown of major media outlets, tightening control over free speech amid succession talk. Politics & Regional Stability: Ethiopia’s election results confirm the Prosperity Party’s dominance as debate continues over regional security in the Horn. Food & Biosecurity: Philippines provinces Aklan and Guimaras tightened border controls against African swine fever, banning swine and pork from affected areas. Investment Pitch: Ghana’s opposition and central bank leadership are both selling recovery and ESG progress, while an investor forum in Chicago urged capital into Ghana via AfCFTA access. Health & Research: Qatar’s Hamad Medical Corporation signed an MoU with Boehringer Ingelheim to expand clinical research capacity. Trade & Diplomacy: India’s Modi told Seychelles it wants an “ocean of opportunity,” linking maritime security with economic cooperation. Nigeria Blue Economy: Rivers State warned against illegal foreign trawlers stripping sea food without compensation. Sports: Nigeria named para powerlifter Folashade Oluwafemiayo Team Nigeria captain for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

World Cup Knockout Setup: DR Congo stunned Uzbekistan 3-1 with Yoane Wissa’s side now set to face England in the last-32, ending a 52-year World Cup absence and booking a BBC-televised clash. Nuclear Monitoring Milestone: Namibia will host CTBTO’s Integrated Field Exercise (IFE26) in October 2026, testing on-site inspection readiness across Erongo with no nuclear materials or blasts. Energy Access Push: Africa’s Mission 300 has pulled in about $1.4bn in co-financing for electricity connections, with the EIB, AfDB and climate funds among top backers. Food Security Under El Niño: Zimbabwe says it will reopen food imports and allow imports using foreign currency to protect supplies if drought bites. Democracy Under Pressure: Nigeria’s opposition parties and diaspora groups are reacting to court moves affecting the NDC’s registration ahead of 2027, warning of shrinking opposition space. Health Equity: Northern Nigeria’s human capital suffers from healthcare gaps, with AHBN pointing to high child and maternal mortality and low immunisation coverage. Climate & Mobility: Angola reaffirmed plans to integrate human mobility into climate and environmental policy as droughts, floods and livelihood loss intensify. Animal Health Alert: Cebu activated African Swine Fever task forces and tightened borders despite remaining ASF-free.

Nigeria Opposition Court Fight: Nigeria’s Federal High Court ruling setting aside an order to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has triggered fresh backlash, with parties and diaspora groups warning it could shrink opposition space ahead of 2027. Democracy & State Police Debate: Opposition figures also criticised the hasty passage of Nigeria’s State Police Bill, arguing it risks political misuse without safeguards. Regional Justice Upgrade: ECOWAS Court launches an Electronic Case Management System to speed up and modernise digital justice across West Africa. Refugees Underfunded: UNHCR warns East Africa faces a severe funding gap threatening refugee operations amid conflict and climate shocks. Ethiopia’s Peace Role: Germany praises Ethiopia’s contribution to Horn of Africa peace and integration, citing its involvement in Somalia. SME Push in Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe reaffirms support for MSMEs and trains entrepreneurship coaches to boost jobs for women and youth. Banking for SMEs in Tanzania: NMB and Mastercard launch an SME credit card offering short-term financing and cash-flow support. Creative Economy Momentum: AFRIMA’s music business conference in Morocco calls for more unity and investment to grow Africa’s global creative industry. Kenya Rights Probe: Kenyan protesters arrested during the Gen Z memorial march were reportedly found dumped and tortured. Ghana Labour Protection: Ghana’s Vice President calls for stronger protections for informal workers, urging reforms through labour policy and social dialogue.

Ebola Response: Africa CDC warns DRC’s eastern Ebola outbreak could become the largest ever as contact tracing lags badly, with tracking at about 30% versus the 80% needed to stop spread. Regional Integration & Trade: East Africa’s push for a single digital market took centre stage at the EAC Digital for Development forum in Arusha, aiming to turn digital plans into cross-border trade projects. Infrastructure & Fiscal Space: In Nigeria’s South-East, rising FAAC allocations are driving a new wave of federal-backed roads and social infrastructure, with state revenues up sharply since 2023. Agriculture & Livelihoods: Bohol (Philippines) released ₱2.68m to ASF-affected hog raisers, while Negros Occidental urged tighter disease and pest controls to protect farmers and prevent youth violence linked to economic shocks. Security & Governance: US sanctions eight people and entities over alleged support that fuels Sudan’s civil war. Health Tech: Nigeria’s President approved a National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office to coordinate the digital health agenda. Corporate & Industry: Lafarge Africa rebranded as HBM Nigeria Plc, signaling a continued focus on building solutions and infrastructure growth.

Climate & Disaster Risk: The UN’s weather agency says extreme weather has killed over 2 million people and caused $4.3tn in damage in the past half-century, even as early warnings cut deaths—now the push is to strengthen alert systems by 2027. Ebola Response: The US will ship experimental Ebola treatment doses and deploy 2,500 diagnostic tests to the DRC and Uganda as the Bundibugyo outbreak worsens, with no approved vaccines or treatments yet. Cybersecurity: IGAD is running a regional cyber drill in Addis Ababa to boost cross-border defenses and coordination against shared cyber threats. Africa–UAE Ties: The UAE–Africa dialogue in Addis Ababa stressed deeper strategic partnerships across trade, renewable energy, critical minerals, and youth empowerment. Nigeria Security Debate: Nigeria’s opposition ADC backs state police in principle but says the Tinubu administration is rushing the bill without the institutional safeguards needed for accountability and effectiveness. Morocco Anti-Drugs Crackdown: A Casablanca court sentenced 29 people, including politicians and sports figures, to up to 12 years in a major drug trafficking and corruption case.