AGP Executive Report

Ebola Alarm: WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus warned that Ebola and other outbreaks show the world is still unprepared, as Uganda confirmed new Bundibugyo-strain cases and Congo suspended flights to Bunia amid overwhelmed contact-tracing. Cross-Border Response: Regional health bodies in East Africa pushed joint border surveillance and “one plan” coordination, while the Gates Foundation pledged $15m to speed regional coordination, frontline support, and surge logistics. Dubai Corruption Fallout: A new tally says over $7bn in Dubai property is linked to Nigerian politically connected figures, with investigators tracing thousands of assets through hard-to-access ownership structures. Horn of Africa Diplomacy: Indonesia and other Muslim-majority states condemned Somaliland’s reported plan to open an embassy in occupied Jerusalem, while Somalia suspended Egypt travel clearance for citizens after passenger complaints. Sports & Youth: Uganda Cubs qualified for the U-17 World Cup after a penalty win over Ghana; Rwanda’s Hamza Khan hit 164* in T20I action. Morocco-Senegal Relief: King Mohammed VI granted royal pardons to Senegalese football supporters jailed after AFCON clashes.

Ebola Response Escalates: The CDC expanded Ebola screening for travellers entering the U.S., adding Atlanta and Houston airports to the list for people coming from the DRC, South Sudan and Uganda, as WHO warns the outbreak’s true scale is likely larger. West Africa Politics: Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye sacked PM Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government, deepening a crisis amid mounting debt pressures. Regional Diplomacy: Nigeria’s VP Kashim Shettima flew to Cotonou to represent Tinubu at Benin President-elect Romuald Wadagni’s inauguration. Trade & Digital Reform: Nigeria’s civil service push for digital reforms gained momentum, while a Ghana study found mobile money works best when it becomes part of daily business operations—not just for payments. Public Health Partnerships: WHO and the African Medicines Agency signed a framework to harmonise regulation and improve access to quality-assured health products across Africa. Youth & Values: Zimbabwe’s VP Mohadi launched a family values initiative urging churches to lead the fight against social ills, as youth leaders called for young people to drive Africa’s industrialisation.

Ebola Watch: Uganda confirmed three new Ebola cases, bringing the total to five, with WHO urging “high vigilance” as response teams monitor contacts and treatment continues. Politics & Party Unity: Nigeria’s ex-Katsina governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema urged APC primary winners to reconcile with losers to strengthen party unity ahead of future elections. Democracy Narrative: Ethiopia’s election drew praise for “wide public participation,” with EIPD arguing the democratic trajectory reflects national will rather than external pressure. Creative Economy Push: Namibian filmmakers and industry leaders met in Kenya to explore market access and AI opportunities, including plans to expand distribution across East Africa. Digital Transformation: Lagos highlighted GIS mapping and house numbering as a boost for PropTech, but said adoption is still early due to limited verified land data. Regional Trade: Tanzania moved to cut non-tariff barriers with neighbors, citing progress with Kenya on duties and road charges. Security & Shipping: UKMTO warned of suspicious activity in the Gulf of Aden, advising vessels to transit with caution.

Ebola Emergency Escalates in DRC: WHO says the outbreak in eastern DR Congo has rapidly spread, raising the national risk to “very high” as Bunia bans wakes and gatherings over 50; confirmed cases and deaths are rising, with hundreds more suspected and no vaccine for this strain. Public Health Response: WHO says Uganda’s situation is steadier after travel-linked cases, while international teams and emergency funds are being pushed into the region. Workplace Safety Push: Kenya moves to ratify Convention 190, aiming to prevent and tackle violence and harassment at work. Energy & Industry Delivery: Hydrogen leaders meet in Rotterdam as the sector shifts from ambition to deployment; Abu Dhabi’s Masdar signs for storage and Egypt’s Nefer Benban solar-plus-storage gets module supply. Trade & Connectivity: flydubai and Cyprus Airways launch an interline deal via Dubai; Togo’s AfCFTA border-post push spotlights Cinkassé. Politics & Governance: Senegal sacks Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolves government, deepening a power struggle.

Ebola Escalation: WHO says Congo’s Ebola risk is now “very high” as cases and suspected deaths climb, with supplies rushing to conflict-hit Ituri and response efforts colliding with local customs and misinformation. Health Security at Home: Canada’s chief public health officer is set to update on Ebola and hantavirus after a Canadian test case linked to travel. Ghana Legal Tensions: Ghana’s Abronye DC faces charges over public speech, with critics calling it persecution and a misuse of criminal law. Tax Cooperation: WATAF and ECOWAS deepen ties to strengthen West Africa’s tax administration and revenue mobilization. Banking Push: UBA pledges new investments to power Liberia’s development agenda, from ports and energy to digital finance and SME support. Trade & Sustainability: Ghana’s second-hand clothing summit hears calls for a system-wide fix instead of blanket bans, arguing livelihoods depend on a workable framework. Digital Payments Growth: Market reports project card and cross-border payments surging globally, reflecting fast-moving fintech adoption.

Ebola Alarm, Cross-Border Controls: WHO says Ebola risk is high in central Africa but still low globally, warning the DRC outbreak likely spread for months; the US is tightening entry rules with enhanced screening at Dulles for travelers from the DRC, Uganda and East Sudan, while India postpones major India-Africa events over the outbreak. AI Governance & Digital Safety: Nigeria’s University of Ilorin and Russia’s RUDN push a rights-based national AI strategy and stronger cybersecurity, as FG and Meta roll out GovGuide Nigeria for multilingual public services. Trade & Industry Shifts: China’s zero-tariff policy for 53 African partners boosts coffee imports, while the China-Africa corridor is moving toward industrial and green cooperation. Energy & Waste-to-Value: Ghana signs a waste-to-energy and sustainable aviation fuel MOU with Portage Energy, and solar remains highlighted as Africa’s most scalable power source. Regional Integration: ECOWAS deepens cross-border cooperation to boost trade and security.

Gulf of Guinea Security: Nigeria’s Navy says sustained patrols are cutting piracy and crude-oil theft, citing better intelligence, drones, surveillance and closer work with communities and oil firms as it marks 70 years. Port Costs Fight: Ghana’s freight forwarders want Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s container administrative charges scrapped, arguing the fee’s original purpose no longer applies even as a regulatory cap is rolled out. Ebola Diplomacy: India and the African Union postponed the India–Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi due to Ebola concerns, with new dates to be set after consultations. AI Push: Kenya is pitching itself as Africa’s next AI innovation hub, with leaders arguing the real win is enabling African entrepreneurs to build with AI, not just consume it. Namibia Politics: Namibia’s PM Elijah Ngurare says President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah should be allowed two full terms, calling early succession talk premature. Digital Government: Ghana’s Revenue Authority gets a nationwide rollout of a digital tax and MSME formalisation platform via a Trident-Aliska joint venture.

Ebola Border Clampdown: The US DHS is tightening entry rules for travelers linked to Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, routing them to Washington-Dulles and boosting screening and monitoring—while Kenya also faces tougher Ebola scrutiny at US airports. DR Congo World Cup Shock: Congo’s return to the FIFA World Cup is now tangled with the same Ebola travel restrictions, putting plans for the Leopards’ summer in North America at risk. Humanitarian Response: Catholic Relief Services warns the DRC-Uganda outbreak could take over a year to contain, citing scarce resources, conflict-driven movement and misinformation. AI Push in Kenya: Nairobi’s governor backs “AI EVERYTHING KENYA x GITEX KENYA,” pledging long-term support to make the city a permanent tech hub. Digital Trade for AfCFTA: Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria are set to pilot a new AfCFTA digital trade system to cut friction in cross-border payments and data exchange. Logistics Investment: Hellmann and MAS Holdings break ground on a new fashion logistics hub in Sri Lanka, betting on the island’s gateway role between Asia, Africa and Europe.

Digital Governance Push: Nigeria’s Tinubu ordered MDAs to digitise workflows and move to paperless systems, saying 38 ministries are already on secure end-to-end e-workflow. AI in Education: Ghana’s Education Ministry signed an MoU with Google for Education to bring AI into teaching, learning, teacher training and digital literacy. Security & Peacebuilding: Ghana MP Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings met UNDP on security sector reform, maritime awareness and youth-focused peace efforts. Ebola Watch: The EU says Ebola infection risk inside the bloc is “very low” while monitoring the DRC/Uganda situation and coordinating with WHO. Health in Conflict: A UK-led project launched to deliver advanced care for 1,000+ wounded Palestinian children in Gaza. Investment & Industry: Lagos targets $2.5bn in deals at Invest Lagos 3.0, while Nigeria unveiled a Net Zero Investment Plan to turn climate goals into bankable projects. Regional Diplomacy: Haiti’s embassy reopened in Benin, signaling renewed ties.

Ebola Emergency Escalates: WHO and Congo’s health ministry report Ebola deaths and suspected cases rising fast, with Tedros warning about the “scale and speed” of the outbreak—while the U.S. funds up to 50 treatment clinics and urges Americans to avoid travel, and Africa CDC pushes back on broad travel bans that could slow cooperation. Counterterror Strike: Nigeria and the U.S. say joint operations in the northeast killed 175 Islamic State fighters, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the group’s global second-in-command, as officials describe the strikes as hitting checkpoints, weapons caches and financial networks. Energy Push: Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan urges Africa to build reliable, affordable power systems for industrial growth at a nuclear energy summit in Kigali. Digital Identity Wins: Cabo Verde reports near-universal birth registration after linking civil registration and national ID systems. Trade Momentum: AfCFTA implementation is being urged as UN projections point to major gains in intra-African trade.

Ebola Emergency in DRC and Uganda: Congo’s Ebola outbreak is worsening fast, with officials reporting at least 131 deaths and 513+ suspected cases across Ituri, while Uganda confirms cases too; WHO has flagged it as a public health emergency, and the US is limiting entry from the affected region after an American tested positive. Public Health vs Borders: Africa CDC is pushing back on travel bans, warning fear-driven restrictions can damage economies without stopping spread. Kenya Revenue Leadership: Kenya appoints Adan Mohamed as KRA Commissioner General in a move framed as merit-based governance. China Trade Boost: China’s zero-tariff exports for 53 African countries is set to start from May 1, aiming to lift competitiveness for exporters. Digital Africa Push: AISCA Foundation launches in Kigali to tackle Africa’s AI compute and skills gap. Energy Industry Move: WEG Africa expands local manufacturing to cut delays and strengthen power supply reliability.

Ebola Escalation: The WHO has declared the DRC and Uganda Ebola outbreaks a public health emergency, and the US is tightening airport screening and temporary entry rules after an American missionary doctor tested positive; health officials are also weighing tougher border measures as cases and suspected deaths rise. Security Crackdown: In Nigeria’s northeast, fresh US–Nigerian airstrikes target ISIS strongholds, days after the reported killing of ISIS/ISWAP leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. Tech & Finance: Dell is moving OpenAI’s Codex into hybrid/on-prem enterprise setups, while Citi and BlackRock’s HPS launch a €15B private lending push across Europe, the Middle East and Africa; Tether also backs LemFi to speed stablecoin remittances. Trade & Diplomacy: Rwanda courts Pakistani investors as a gateway to East Africa, and Somalia’s opposition deadlock triggers new international talks. Local Governance & Safety: Oyo State faces outrage after a teacher’s beheading following school abductions, while cities are warned not to build skylines without the sewage, drainage and water systems underneath.

Counterterrorism in Nigeria: US Africa Command and Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters carried out fresh airstrikes in Borno’s Metele area, killing more than 20 ISWAP militants, as joint operations intensify after the recent killing of ISIS’s global second-in-command. Security shock in Yobe: Hours before that landmark strike, Islamist militants attacked Nigeria’s Special Forces training school in Buni Yadi, killing 17 police trainees and some soldiers. Health sovereignty under pressure: Africa CDC and partners warn that Ebola outbreaks in Congo (and alerts tied to Uganda) are colliding with a sharp drop in donor support, pushing countries to fund and respond themselves. Digital safety and inclusion: Zimbabwe’s Potraz says it will regulate AI so it “does not weaken humanity,” while tackling online abuse at events aimed at girls in ICT. Trade and services integration: UNDP and ECOWAS wrapped a Liberia AfCFTA trade-in-services regulatory audit workshop in Monrovia. Agribusiness finance: Ghana’s Access Bank, with IFC, disbursed about GH₵1bn to boost cocoa production and purchases via licensed buying companies.

India-Africa & Big Cat summits traffic plan: Delhi Traffic Police is coordinating with Google Maps to block VIP routes and reroute commuters for the India-Africa Forum Summit and the first International Big Cat Alliance Summit at Bharat Mandapam (May 28–June 1). Terror crackdown: Trump says U.S. and Nigerian forces killed ISIS second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in the Lake Chad Basin, with Tinubu calling it effective counter-terror collaboration. Ebola alarm: WHO declared the Congo–Uganda Ebola outbreak a public health emergency; Nigeria says it has no confirmed cases but is tightening surveillance at entry points. Business & food security: Dangote says investment in Ethiopia has topped $4bn, including fertiliser and power projects, while Museveni confirms talks with Dangote on a regional refinery. Trade & integration: Mo Ibrahim Foundation warns only four AU states have ratified the free movement protocol; Local governance & justice: Ghana’s ECOWAS Court adjourns a case tied to the suspended chief justice’s removal. Payments push: FirstBank and Visa launch a Naira Visa debit card to accelerate Nigeria’s cashless drive.

Counterterror Strike: Nigeria and the U.S. confirmed the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, IS’s global second-in-command, in a Lake Chad Basin operation, with Tinubu calling it a major breakthrough and Nigeria’s defence forces stressing the mission was intelligence-led after months of surveillance. Ebola Emergency: The WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern over a Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo, with cases also flagged in Uganda and Congo’s capital—warning the true scale and spread remain uncertain. Maritime Security: The U.S. Navy tested unmanned surface vessels during Exercise Obangame Express in Douala, Cameroon, aiming to boost rapid coastal threat detection and interception with African partners. Energy Dealmaking: Kenya and Azerbaijan held talks in Baku on oil, gas and renewables, including interest in a regional refinery plan. Business & Finance: The AfDB approved a $200m facility for Nigeria’s Bank of Industry to back SMEs, while Prudential agreed to buy a controlling stake in Bharti Life Insurance for Rs 3,500 crore. Regional Politics: AU and UN warned Somalia’s election talks have collapsed, deepening a constitutional crisis.

Counterterrorism Shock: U.S. and Nigerian forces killed ISIS’s global second-in-command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki/Abu-Bakr al-Mainuki, in a joint operation in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin, with Trump calling it a “meticulously planned” strike and Tinubu praising it as effective collaboration. Identity & Trust: Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters says there’s “no ambiguity” over the commander’s identity after earlier 2024 confusion, while DHQ and the Presidency push back on claims he was killed before. Health Alert: Africa CDC is coordinating an Ebola response as cases rise across eastern DR Congo and Uganda, with the U.S. warning against travel to the hardest-hit areas. Digital Inclusion Push: At ID4Africa, speakers urged legal and digital identity for refugees and stateless people, warning that weak safeguards can break public trust. Local Community Life: Zimbabwe’s Ward 23 and FitSquad plan a free Africa Day aerobics event to boost wellness and community ties.