AGP Executive Report

Ebola response surge: The UN has released $60m from its Central Emergency Response Fund to speed up Ebola containment in DR Congo and nearby countries, with money aimed at frontline care and contact tracing as cases rise. Health security pressure: DR Congo’s football team has rejected a US demand for a 21-day isolation “bubble” ahead of the World Cup, arguing training plans remain unchanged. Digital inclusion snag: A new study warns Africa’s informal economy (80% of jobs) makes broadband rollout harder, since fixed billing and traditional deployment don’t fit precarious incomes—though mobile broadband and prepaid fibre are gaining traction. Trade finance momentum: Afreximbank reported a strong Q1 2026 jump, with net income up 25%, as trade finance demand stays resilient. Food affordability hit: In Nigeria, Sallah shoppers are squeezed by soaring tomato and pepper prices, turning staples into luxury. Payments push: Ghana’s central bank governor called for integrated, interoperable payment systems across Africa to cut cross-border transaction friction.

Ebola in the DRC: The Red Cross says three volunteers died after apparently contracting Ebola while working in Ituri—an early, grim sign of how hard the outbreak is to contain. Humanitarian Relief in Chad: Qatar Charity sent 310 food baskets to Massaguet near N’Djamena, targeting about 2,170 people as acute food insecurity worsens ahead of the lean season. Community Climate Resilience in Zimbabwe: In Hwange, a Zimparks–IFAW village garden is turning water scarcity and conflict into livelihoods, with the environment minister praising the “Water is Life” model. Finance & Trade Infrastructure: Bank of Ghana Governor Johnson Asiama urged integrated African payment systems to cut the cost of cross-border trade, including work on digital settlement options. Energy Summit Momentum: A Nairobi summit highlighted new solar and wind deals aimed at easing power shortages and expanding access. Wildlife & Conservation: Angola’s “ghost elephants” are linked by DNA to Namibia, while Nigeria’s biodiversity advocates push grassroots, visual storytelling to protect ecosystems.

Workplace safety push: Kenya moves to ratify ILO Convention 190, aiming to prevent and tackle workplace violence and harassment after surveys show hundreds of millions have faced abuse at work. Lake Victoria protection: Tanzania’s PM urged EAC partners to tighten cooperation to safeguard Lake Victoria’s environment and livelihoods. Hydrogen to delivery: The World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam shifted focus from ambition to bankable demand, with leaders linking hydrogen to energy security and heavy-industry decarbonisation. Ebola and health alerts: Antigua confirmed imported malaria cases while strengthening defences as Ebola risk remains in the region. Maritime security: Nigeria’s Navy and NIMASA highlighted progress under the Deep Blue Project as piracy pressure eases. Green card shock: The US will require green-card applicants to leave the country to apply, raising legal and human-impact concerns. Food pressure: Rising poultry costs and chick supply disruptions are pushing eggs and chicken out of reach for many households.

Smart Packaging Push: A new forecast puts the smart packaging market on track to hit $38.6bn by 2030, driven by RFID and sensor-enabled product tracking. Textile Waste Governance: Ghana’s Landfills2Landmarks summit is pushing for a system-wide fix to second-hand clothing rules—its co-founder warns against blanket bans that could crush livelihoods tied to the trade. Ghana Courtroom Clash: A statement condemns the arrest, remand and prosecution of NPP figure Kwame Baffoe over public speech, arguing civil remedies were being turned into criminal punishment. Liberia Finance Boost: UBA pledges fresh investment to power Liberia’s development agenda, focusing on energy, ports, digital finance and SME support. Kano Political Realignment: A Gwale lawmaker defects from APC to NDC, signaling fresh grassroots pressure ahead of elections. South Africa Citrus Win: South Africa overtakes Spain as the top citrus exporter, shipping 2.9m tons in 2025. E-waste & Recycling Jobs: Tanzania moves to recycle solid and liquid waste to cut climate impacts and create employment. Health Alarm: WHO warns Ebola is spreading fast across central Africa, with preparedness gaps still a major concern.

Ebola Escalation: WHO says a new Ebola outbreak in the DRC is spreading fast, with hundreds of suspected cases and Uganda reporting confirmed infections—prompting airport alerts and travel advisories, while anger boils over in Congo after protesters torch Ebola tents. Public Safety on Campus: A review of UCLA policing data argues surveillance is replacing support, with Black and Hispanic students disproportionately stopped. Security in Cabo Delgado: Islamic State’s Mozambique wing is resurging in resource-rich northern Mozambique, where LNG investment and insurgent disruption remain tightly linked. Green Power Deals: Tiger Brands signs an electricity wheeling agreement to shift Gauteng manufacturing toward renewable power via the grid. Waste-to-Energy Push: Ghana signs a landmark deal to turn municipal waste into clean electricity and sustainable aviation fuel. Climate Equity Lens: A new study highlights how extreme heat hits women hardest—through work, home conditions, and unequal care burdens. Startup & Debt Watch (Namibia): Namibia stays No.2 in Southern Africa’s startup rankings, while Fitch flags debt rising to 66% of GDP in 2026.

Climate Research: A new international study argues men drive a disproportionate share of climate harm—higher carbon footprints from travel, transport and meat consumption, plus a link between climate denial and misogyny. Reparatory Justice: France’s President Macron faces mounting pressure to formally open talks on reparatory justice for slavery as he marks a key anniversary of France’s 2001 recognition of the slave trade as a crime against humanity. Energy Market Tech: South Africa’s virtual wheeling push gets a boost as Mezzanine and Open Access Energy sign a reseller deal to help corporate buyers and traders access grid-linked renewable power. Food & Farming: Tanzania forecasts record coffee output for 2026-27, while Nigeria signs a coffee revival partnership focused on research, climate-smart farming and better processing. Health & Safety: South Africa’s weather outlook is cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers, with no impact-based warnings. Ebola Watch: An Air France flight to Detroit was diverted to Canada after an Ebola-related passenger was found onboard, as central Africa outbreak figures keep rising. Xenophobia Response: Nigerian lawyer Femi Falana petitions the African Commission over recurring xenophobic violence in South Africa.

Logistics & Integration: Hellmann and MAS Holdings broke ground on a new fashion logistics hub in Sri Lanka, betting the island can act as a gateway between Asia, Africa and Europe. Energy Security: South Africa’s Eskom is in exploratory talks with the World Bank on financing a nuclear buildout, while Exxaro’s New Matla Mine 1 locks in coal supply for Eskom’s Matla station. Climate Stress: Kenya’s June–September outlook warns of below-normal rains and hotter temperatures, raising food, water and hydropower risks. Regional Water Watch: The EAC released its first Lake Victoria Basin report, flagging worsening pollution and urban dumping that threaten fish and ecosystem recovery. Digital Trust: Visa launched its “Agentic Ready” programme in the UAE to help issuers test AI-driven transactions with trust and controls. Health Preparedness: Two outbreaks—Andes hantavirus and Congo Ebola—highlight how slow detection can turn remote travel into major international emergencies. Trade Links: Bangladesh and Morocco agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, investment and agriculture.

Durban Xenophobia Flashpoint: Human-rights groups say refugees and migrants were driven from homes and then violently dispersed at Durban Central Police Station, prompting urgent calls for intervention from the SA Human Rights Commission and Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia. Zimbabwe Police/Cyber Case: Opposition ally Temba Mliswa blasted the arrest of Sonja and Tabitha Madzikanda, arguing a dispute tied to Wicknell Chivayo should not have turned into a criminal matter. South Africa Energy Tech: Landis+Gyr launched a smart prepayment electricity meter at Enlit Africa, pitching it as a tool for tighter control amid grid constraints and rising demand. Climate & Health: A South African actuaries team is set to share research linking extreme weather to measurable changes in healthcare visits and hospital admissions. Infrastructure Push: PwC forecasts South Africa’s spending to top $582bn through 2050, led by transport, resources and power. Ebola Watch: Africa CDC again flags the Bundibugyo outbreak as a continental public health emergency of security. Illegal Mining Crackdown (Cameroon): Nearly 200 illegal gold firms were ordered to stop work after export-import mismatches raised smuggling fears.

Ebola Emergency: WHO has declared a public health emergency of international concern as a rare Ebola variant spreads in eastern DRC, with hundreds of suspected cases and at least 130 suspected deaths reported, and an American doctor among the infected after lab confirmation of Bundibugyo virus disease. Urban Waste Cleanup: In Nairobi, Zoomlion says it has evacuated over 55,000 tonnes of waste since March 27, finding 109 illegal dumpsites and pushing legacy removal toward Dandora while upgrading Ruai’s planned processing and resource recovery facility. Digital Infrastructure: DRC’s Africa Congo Internet Exchange (ACIX) is expanding into a distributed model, adding a second datacentre presence in Kinshasa to strengthen regional connectivity. Climate-Health Link: South African actuaries are sharing new findings on how extreme heat and cold are shifting healthcare visits and hospital admissions, using long-term medical scheme data. Energy Access Pressure: Africa’s electricity gap is again flagged as the blocker to AfCFTA trade and industrial growth—“no nation industrializes in the dark.”

Ebola & health security: WHO has sounded the alarm as Ebola spreads in Central Africa, warning outbreaks can turn global fast—while a separate report flags how infectious diseases are getting more damaging, not just more frequent. Climate-health link: South African researchers are set to share new findings on how extreme heat and cold shift healthcare visits and hospital admissions, using long-running medical scheme data. Energy transition momentum: South Africa’s green hydrogen–ammonia project in Coega is advancing with key engineering work and major electrolyser selection, while smart-grid firms like ACTOM push smarter metering and substation automation across Africa. Trade & digital push: China’s zero-tariff move for 53 African countries is boosting Kenya’s export prospects, and Kigali’s AISCA Foundation launches to tackle Africa’s AI compute and skills gaps. Conflict & aid fallout: A study links the abrupt end of USAID to rising violence in parts of Africa—aid withdrawal can remove livelihoods and fuel instability. Security flash: Russia’s Africa Corps reportedly used upgraded Shahed-type drones in Mali for the first time.

AI & Enterprise Infrastructure: Dell says it’s now the on-premises channel for OpenAI’s Codex, pushing frontier-model coding into customer-controlled data platforms. Public Health Preparedness: WHO warns the world isn’t keeping up with pandemic risk, as Ebola in Central Africa and funding cuts raise the stakes. Climate Extremes: Europe braces for a swing from Arctic cold to heat arriving from Africa, while scientists report 1,121 new marine species from deep-ocean surveys. Health & Safety Under Pressure: South Africa-focused research links extreme temperatures to measurable healthcare strain, and Lagos’ LASTMA trains officers in trauma-informed mental health. Transport & Food Security: Fertiliser shipments are stuck as conflict disrupts the Strait of Hormuz, with UK officials warning of a looming global food crisis. Africa on the Move: Cameroon finally secures CFA130.4B for the long-delayed Ebolowa–Kribi highway, and South Sudan launches a Chinese-built air traffic system to upgrade safety. Environment on the Ground: Togo reports major primary forest loss and rising fire alerts, while dead pigs in Gqeberha point to African swine fever.

Data Centres Under Fire (Cape Town): Equinix is facing community and NGO opposition over plans for two large data centres, with critics saying the city lacks key details on water use, power demand, diesel backup pollution, and noise—an especially sensitive issue after Cape Town’s near “Day Zero” drought. Wildlife Conservation: South Africa’s bluebuck is back in the spotlight as a genetic study and de-extinction plans spark fresh debate on what “revival” means for species protection. Public Health Pressure: Ebola and hantavirus concerns are rising across the region, with experts warning outbreaks are becoming more frequent and more damaging—just as measles worries grow ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Jobs & Skills (Ghana): Ghana’s government is preparing a “New Economy” programme aimed at shifting from stability to faster growth and youth job creation, with a major focus on private-sector-led development. Labour & Society (South Africa): A TVET director pushes back on stigma around vocational training, while a labour-law explainer tackles workplace appearance rules. Roads for Growth (Gambia): President Barrow launches 385km of all-weather roads in URR and 395km in CRR, funded domestically to cut transport costs and open markets.

Ebola Alarm: WHO has declared the DRC’s Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, with confirmed cases now reported in Uganda and warnings that the real scale may be larger than detected. Methane Accountability: New “fingerprint” analysis suggests Asia’s hidden fossil-fuel methane emissions are higher than previously estimated, tightening the hunt for major sources. Cyber Pressure: Africa’s financial and government sectors saw a sharp rise in cyber attacks in April, with Nigeria and Angola among the hardest hit. Birth Inequality Exposed: Ghana’s maternity “bags” campaign spotlights two-tier childbirth conditions—clean water, toilets, and hygiene are still missing in many facilities. Green Industrialisation Watch: Civil society backs the Africa Forward Summit’s climate goals but warns they could repeat extractive models unless communities lead implementation. Lake Chad Insecurity: Analysts say ISWAP and Boko Haram are reshaping violence dynamics in the basin as attention shifts between factions. Ghana Tech Push: A Ghanaian startup won a spot to pitch at London’s Africa Tech Summit, signaling growing investor interest in African innovation.

Climate-Health Link: South African actuaries using Discovery Health data (3.48m insured lives, 2014–2024) are set to show how extreme heat, cold and flooding shift healthcare visits and admissions—turning climate variability into a measurable health risk. Low-Carbon Energy Diplomacy: Uzbekistan energy officials joined China’s low-carbon seminars, signaling wider regional push toward renewables, efficiency and decarbonisation. Maritime Security: The U.S. Navy deployed unmanned surface vessels during Exercise Obangame Express in Douala, Cameroon, to detect and intercept threats in contested coastal waters. Flood Relief & Disaster Toll: South Africa confirmed 18 deaths from early-May extreme weather; the WPCA and Gift of the Givers launched a Western Cape flood relief drive at Newlands. Ebola Update: WHO declared the DRC and Uganda Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Oil Pipeline Oversight: Tanzania-Uganda’s EACOP cleared a regulatory progress check, with construction reported above 70%. Invasive Species Enforcement: Ireland found banned invasive plants (including Spanish bluebells) sold online, urging stronger enforcement.

France–Africa Summit Fallout: Nairobi’s France–Africa “Africa Forward” summit (Macron and Ruto) is drawing fresh scrutiny as France leans into innovation, green industry and security while critics question whether it’s a reset or just a new pitch after the Sahel rupture. Clean Cooking Crisis: In Nairobi, lawmakers and health experts warned household air pollution from firewood and charcoal is a “silent pandemic,” killing about 27,000 people in Kenya each year and pushing calls for faster clean-cooking rollouts across Africa. South Africa Flood Recovery: Western Cape officials say major routes are reopened and electricity restoration is underway after severe weather, but clean water and shelter needs remain. Counterterrorism Debate in Nigeria: South Africa-linked regional attention also hit Nigeria’s ISWAP leader claim—state officials say doubts over Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki’s death are premature. Climate + Health Research: South African actuaries are set to share new findings on how extreme temperatures are shifting healthcare use, using long-run medical scheme data.

Climate & Health: South African actuaries are linking extreme heat, cold and flooding to measurable changes in healthcare visits and admissions, using 10 years of day-level data from 3.48m insured lives—an early push to make climate risk a core health planning issue. Insurance for Resilience: Zimbabwe’s regulator IPEC and FSD Africa launched an insurance regulatory sandbox to test new products and widen coverage, aiming to close the protection gap. Extreme Fire Warning: Researchers warn 2026 could bring a particularly severe wildfire season, with Africa already seeing record burn areas as “wet-to-dry” swings and El Niño-style conditions set up new fire risk. Africa-France Power Shift: France’s Africa Forward Summit lands in Nairobi with Macron and dozens of African leaders, but critics question whether “partnership” is masking a return to dependency. Digital Commerce: New research finds WhatsApp is becoming operational infrastructure for women entrepreneurs across Kenya and Nigeria—turning chat into sales, coordination and customer service. Youth Jobs Pressure: South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis is driving anxiety and depression as job seekers face silence and rejection.