AGP Executive Report

UN Diplomacy: League of Arab States chief Nabil Fahmy met US adviser Massad Boulos in New York to press for a humanitarian truce in Sudan and a Libyan-led political path toward elections, warning against escalation. Ethiopia Conflict: The UAE condemned TPLF attacks, calling for hostilities to stop, civilians to be protected, and dialogue under the Pretoria Peace Agreement. Digital Inclusion: GSMA and PDAA flagged Africa’s “coverage but offline” problem, urging countries to move from network rollouts to making smartphones and services usable for hundreds of millions. Food Security: IGAD warned 40.3 million people across six states face acute hunger, driven by conflict, drought and funding shortfalls. Health Systems: Nigeria marked World Pharmacists Day, spotlighting the need to better use pharmacists’ skills in a changing healthcare landscape. Identity & Services: Seamfix marked National ID Day, arguing trusted digital identity is key for access to banking, healthcare, SIM registration and social support. Tourism Economy: South Africa’s Mpumalanga draws millions of visitors but captures only about 8% of their spending, with tourism leaders calling for longer stays and higher local spend. Politics: Nigeria’s ADC challenged the APC to produce any court conviction over Atiku Abubakar’s corruption allegations. Sports: South Africa and Mozambique set up the U-20 Cosafa final after semi-final wins.

EAC Trade Boost: East Africa Community trade hit $52.3bn (Sh6.81tn) in Q2 2026, up 37%, with Kenya staying the bloc’s biggest export engine and Africa remaining a key destination. UN Security Council Reform: Nigeria’s VP Kashim Shettima renewed calls for at least two permanent UN Security Council seats for Africa with veto rights, warning the 1945 power structure no longer fits 2026 realities. Climate Finance Push: Africa is demanding predictable, adequate climate funding ahead of COP31, citing stalled adaptation support and cuts to key funds. Health & Child Survival: Leaders backed more domestic investment in child survival and nutrition, while Nigeria launched OneSCD to scale care for sickle cell disease—an estimated heavy burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Higher Education Transformation: In Accra, African leaders and partners urged universities to become engines for jobs, innovation and industry-linked research. Women, Peace & Security: WANEP Nigeria launched an UNSCR 1325 Action Lab to track WPS implementation and accountability. Sports & Culture: Kenya’s tourism week turns to AI and digital tools; and Nigeria’s campaign politics continues to heat up as Atiku names El-Rufai to his council.

UN Security Council Reform: Portuguese PM Luis Montenegro urged permanent seats for Africa, Brazil and India at the UN, echoing a wider push from African leaders for a more representative global order. Digital State Agenda: African leaders are taking the digital transformation push to UNGA, arguing AI rules must be shaped by developing countries, not just followed. Elections Watch: Nigeria’s INEC says 2027 polls are on track, with voter registration and materials procurement already underway, while experts warn funding, communication and public trust still need work. Regional Trade & Energy: Ethiopia and Djibouti hailed Dangote’s $660m Damarjog–Dewele pipeline as a game-changer for regional trade and energy security. Education in Emergencies: Ghana will host a high-level conference on scaling education responses during crises, aiming to move beyond pilots to sustainable financing. Health & Resilience: AfDB and GCERF signed an LOI to link community-led prevention with development investment in fragile settings. Business & Skills: Ghana’s cocoa sector marked 111 young graduates completing vocational apprenticeships, while a South Africa trade fair connects Chinese manufacturers with African buyers.

Regional Trade & Jobs: Zimbabwe’s Acting President Mohadi urged the country to plug into AfCFTA-linked regional value chains, turning investment and resources into industrial output, decent jobs and better livelihoods. Elections & Media Freedom: South Africa’s IEC warned parties under the new Disinformation Code to verify claims, retract falsehoods within 36 hours, and protect journalists from intimidation ahead of local polls. Remittances & Institutions: UN research says Africa’s remittance boom (US$91.1bn in 2023) only boosts domestic revenue when institutions and financial systems are strong. Right to Development: UN officials renewed calls to advance the right to development as inequalities, debt, conflict and climate pressures stall progress. Ghana Water Deal: Ghana is negotiating to buy the Teshie desalination plant for less than a $235m arbitration award to secure water supply for about 1m residents. Power Sector Finance: Nigeria’s AFC is co-advising a $550m Series 2 bond to clear verified power-sector arrears and ease liquidity strain. Airtel Money IPO: Airtel Africa says Airtel Money plans an IPO and London Stock Exchange listing via a secondary share sale. West Africa Water Governance: ECOWAS, UEMOA and CILSS met in Abidjan to track regional water governance and transboundary basin coordination. Security Watch: ECOWAS warned climate change and insecurity are driving displacement and threatening stability across West Africa.

Ghana–China Trade Push: Ghana and China renewed commitment to deepen cooperation on trade, investment, industrialisation and development, with bilateral trade hitting a record $14.1bn in 2025. Energy Transition in North Africa: Tunisia urged faster renewables rollout to strengthen energy security and competitiveness as it gradually shifts its energy system. UNGA81 Diplomacy & Reform: India’s Jaishankar called for Global South unity to push UN Security Council reform, warning delays “perpetuate historical injustice.” Infrastructure Delivery Worry (SA): South Africa’s infrastructure procurement is stuck, with only about 16% of public tenders concluded in the past year. Ghana Water Deal: Ghana is negotiating to buy the Teshie desalination plant after a $235m arbitration award, aiming to secure state ownership at lower cost. Climate & Health Risk: Scientists warn Earth has crossed most planetary safety limits, while “super El Niño” fears could drive major impacts next year. Clean Cooking Summit (Kenya): Nairobi will host an Africa clean cooking summit in Jan 2027 to turn commitments into funded projects. Ethiopia De-escalation Call: The AU urged restraint after Tigray forces seized three civilian airports, saying it violates the 2022 cessation of hostilities deal. Mozambique Oil Cooperation: Petrobras signed a cooperation MoU with Mozambique’s ENH to advance oil and gas studies and development. SME Finance Boost: Access Bank and ITC include Cameroon in a 14-country programme to expand SME finance and market access.

Police Capacity Gap in South Africa: A University of Pretoria professor says the headline 187,000 police officers don’t translate into frontline crime-fighting, estimating only about 25,000 may be available at any time. Elections and Media Rules: South Africa’s IEC expects parties to sign a binding Code of Conduct ahead of 4 November polls, with new disinformation correction timelines. Ghana Hosts Journalists’ Congress: Ghana won the bid to host the 6th FAJ Continental Congress in Accra, as media freedom and labour rights remain under pressure. Ghana Pharmacy Push: The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana targets raising local medicine production to 70% by 2035, backed by stronger regulation. Nigeria Power Access: NSIA, Africa50 and SEforALL launched Nigeria’s $300m distributed renewable energy fund for mini-grids and solar systems. Uganda Debt and Budget Squeeze: Uganda’s public debt rose to Shs143.92tn, while the FY 2027/28 budget was cut to Shs79.22tn to curb borrowing. Kenya LPG Costs: LPG prices are set to rise as global propane and butane prices climb. Climate Agenda: Ruto convened African leaders in New York to push COP31 implementation, climate finance and renewable energy. FAJ/Business Aviation Data: AfBAA calls for investment-ready, data-driven policy as it launches a study on Africa’s business aviation growth.

UN & AU Mediation: The AU and UN co-chaired talks on the DRC-Rwanda crisis, backing Togo’s mediation and calling for stronger preventive diplomacy and resources for African-led solutions. Minerals & Value Addition: President Tinubu urged African countries to stop exporting raw minerals and build local processing and value chains, linking mineral wealth to jobs and infrastructure. Global Health Reform: Ghana’s Accra Reset blueprint was launched at UNGA to reshape global health priorities, financing and accountability, including youth employment and maternal-child health platforms. Climate, Conflict & Displacement: ECOWAS warned climate change and insecurity could push West Africa’s displaced population toward 32m by 2050, with women and children most affected. Energy Transition Debate: Namibia’s Nandi-Ndaitwah said clean-energy shifts must not come at the expense of development, stressing mixed energy and skills for hydrogen and oil & gas. Jobs & Youth: ILO flagged a deepening youth jobs crisis as unemployment rises and NEET rates worsen. Creative Economy: Nigeria’s film censors board urged platforms to solve monetisation problems for creators while protecting audiences. Rhino Protection: South Africa reported a rise in rhino numbers but ongoing poaching pressure, with 230 rhinos killed Jan–Aug 2026. Finance for SMEs: EFG Holding secured a $40m EBRD loan to expand MSME financing in Egypt. Skills for Emerging Industries: Namibia launched Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa’s financial journalism intake to boost data-driven reporting.

Women, Peace Agenda: Liberia launched its third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security at UNGA, aiming to turn commitments into measurable action across protection, participation and accountability. Maritime Diplomacy: Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti used Liberia’s UN Security Council return to co-chair a US-Liberia maritime roundtable on sea-lane security, fisheries and the “blue economy.” Elections & Migration Pressure: Morocco heads to legislative polls amid youth disillusionment and fallout from the Ceuta migration crisis, with participation uncertainty shaping the political mood. Water Crisis: Beitbridge town in Zimbabwe faces a full-town water shutdown after a major pumping-line breakdown, disrupting schooling. Jobs from Trade: At the AfCFTA-focused Zimbabwe forum, officials stressed that integration must deliver decent work and better wages, backed by finance reforms. Regional Industrial Push: COMESA returns to Zimbabwe for a summit themed around “One Market, One Future,” refocusing on industrialization. Finance & Markets: Nigeria’s Investments and Securities Tribunal moves to digitalise operations and adopt new rules to speed justice for investors. Energy & Power: Dangote reiterated plans for major power investment across Africa, while Afreximbank and ATDC signed a $500m credit facility to expand intra-African commodity trade. Sports & Youth: Kenya named 16 open-water swimmers for Zone III in Kampala; Ghana’s Queiroz urged patience as the Black Stars chase AFCON glory.

Afreximbank Trade Push: Afreximbank and ATDC signed a $500m Global Credit facility to finance buying, logistics, warehousing and distribution of “Made-in-Africa” goods, aiming to deepen AfCFTA trade and market access. Regional Air Connectivity: Enugu Air will launch direct Enugu–Douala flights from Sept 23, twice weekly, to make business and family travel between Nigeria and Cameroon easier. AFCON Pressure on Ghana: Carlos Queiroz says Ghana must secure qualification for AFCON 2027 after missing the last edition, with Kudus protected as he recovers from injury ahead of the Côte d’Ivoire opener. Power Investment: Aliko Dangote says the group plans to invest over $10bn in Africa’s power sector in the next 3–4 years to tackle the electricity deficit. Ebola Emergency in DRC: WHO warns the DRC Ebola outbreak is spreading fast, with vaccine development underway for a species that currently has no approved protection. Digital & AI in Education: Sierra Leonean universities are urged to embrace AI in higher education without sacrificing integrity, judgement and critical thinking. Climate Tech for Disasters: Mozambique used drone pilots for real-time flood mapping and monitoring, improving response after past deadly cyclones.

AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Ghana’s Carlos Queiroz tells the Black Stars to stay locked in as they open Group C against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké, with Mohammed Kudus and Prince Adu Kwabena among the early absentees. Roads & the Economy: Nigerians are counting the cost of bad transport—experts link potholes, gridlock and weak road coverage to higher vehicle damage, inflation pressure and billions lost in freight delays. Ghana Football Governance: Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu demands the GFA and sports ministry publish Carlos Queiroz’s contract terms, arguing the team can’t be fairly assessed without clarity. Ekurhuleni GBV Probe: South Africa’s police say three people are now under questioning over the deaths of nine women, while investigators still haven’t confirmed a single serial killer link. Colonial Reckoning: Switzerland’s Basel returns human remains of three Indigenous people to Chile’s Kawésqar community, calling it the start of confronting museum colonial legacies. China-Africa Skills: Zimbabwean students graduate from a China-Africa vocational programme in Ningbo, highlighting job-ready training tied to industry needs. Energy Transition: Morocco energises a 25MW/125MWh lithium battery storage system to cut peak electricity costs and boost solar integration. Sports Development: Mini-Cricket roots are credited for Eastern Storm bowler Martin Khumalo’s rise, as youth programmes keep feeding talent pipelines.

Somalia Development Finance: Mogadishu hosted the Somalia Development Financing Forum, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud backing a shift from short-term recovery funding to investment-led growth, pointing to agriculture, livestock, fisheries, energy and infrastructure. Kenya MICE Push: Nairobi plans a Rwanda-style 10,000-seater indoor arena under a $294.49m Railway City project to boost sports and business events. Nigeria Fuel Subsidy Clash: Nigeria’s APC campaign council challenged Atiku Abubakar to explain the legal and fiscal basis of a proposed “production subsidy” for locally refined petrol, arguing it may not cut pump prices under the Petroleum Industry Act. UNGA Tensions: Atiku also demanded answers over President Tinubu’s repeated UN General Assembly absences, while the AU Commission chief arrived in New York to push Africa’s priorities and stronger multilateral representation. Power Update (South Africa): Eskom reported its best Energy Availability Factor in six years and 490 days without load shedding. Security (Liberia): A mass prison break was reported at Kakata Central Prison, with inmates fleeing into nearby communities. Sports (Africa): Nigeria is missing from team events at the ITTFA Africa Championships in Morocco, a setback after financial constraints.

EAC Regional Integration: East African insurance regulators from six countries agreed on a harmonised supervision template, aiming for a more integrated, consumer-protecting regional market and closer cross-border oversight. Renewables Industrial Push: Egypt’s wind plan—paired with a homegrown turbine manufacturing plant—signals a potential blueprint for Africa’s energy transition, with experts pointing to the need for faster delivery, financing and policy stability. Energy Transition in the Wild: Kenya’s Maasai Mara is testing electric mobility for conservation and anti-poaching, using quieter, lower-maintenance transport to reduce disruption during the migration season. Circular Economy Drive: East Africa launched a regional circular economy platform to coordinate waste policy and attract investment, as recycling rates remain low and much waste is still uncollected. Health Tech Breakthrough: Nigeria recorded its first tele-robotic surgery, showing remote, robot-assisted procedures can be safely delivered across the country. Politics Ahead of 2027: Nigeria’s opposition fears rising threats and intimidation tied to the 2027 election, while internal APC tensions also flare around Nyesom Wike’s Rainbow Coalition. Regional Trade Opportunity: Zimbabwe’s upcoming COMESA chairmanship is being framed as a chance for Bulawayo to build a permanent industrial and export gateway into the bloc’s 640 million consumers. Green Hydrogen Funding: AfDB selected four green hydrogen projects across Egypt, Morocco, Namibia and South Africa for repayable support, backing large-scale clean energy and industrial use.

UN & Investment Push: Kenya’s William Ruto heads to the UN General Assembly in New York to back the Sh2.2 trillion Lamu refinery plan and a big AI push, seeking partnerships across energy, infrastructure, health, agriculture and technology. Regional Payments: Egypt’s central bank chief joined the 14th PAPSS governing council meeting in Nairobi, focusing on expanding cross-border payment participation and strengthening oversight. Diplomacy on Iran/Sudan: Egypt’s foreign minister spoke by phone with a senior US adviser on Iran, stressing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and also discussed de-escalation efforts for Sudan and Libya. Digital Assets Regulation: Ghana opened Digital Asset Summit Africa in Accra, pitching a rules-first approach to build trusted virtual-asset innovation and consumer protection. Health Financing: Ghana civil society groups urged clearer budget lines for vaccines and immunisation, proposing new financing tools to sustain primary healthcare. Justice & Rights: Nigeria’s human rights group petitioned the NHRC over deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody, demanding an independent probe. Agribusiness Jobs: Senegal’s Sadio Mané reportedly invested about $20m in a mango project aimed at creating 1,000 jobs and boosting local processing.

Dangote IPO Buzz: Nigeria’s retail rush into Aliko Dangote’s refinery “people’s IPO” is driving viral memes and even platform outages, as small investors celebrate symbolic ownership. Sports Infrastructure: Nairobi is set for a $294.5m, 10,000-seat indoor arena at Nairobi Railway City, backed by Zaria Group and Helios Sports & Entertainment. East Africa AFCON 2027: CAF president Patrice Motsepe says Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda can still meet deadlines for AFCON 2027, urging faster delivery. Regional Conservation: Kenya and Tanzania renew calls for joint action to protect the Mara River Basin, warning upstream decisions affect downstream ecosystems. Health Systems Pressure: West African lab scientists urge stronger outbreak detection and diagnostic capacity, warning health systems are weakening after Ebola and COVID-19 lessons. Insurance Oversight: East African regulators move to standardise insurance supervision to make firms easier to compare and better prepared for cross-border risks. Ghana Jobs Push: Ghana’s AfDB-backed GWYESCO programme targets 22,000 jobs, skills training for women and youth, and credit access for MSMEs. Corruption & Development: Zimbabwe’s VP Mohadi links anti-corruption directly to development outcomes across SADC.

Somalia Peacekeeping: The US has agreed to give the UN another year to wind down support for African Union peacekeepers in Somalia, easing fears of an abrupt cutoff but leaving the mission’s long-term future uncertain. East Africa Trade: High and volatile logistics costs—especially fuel and border delays—are squeezing East African exporters, even as EAC trade rose 37% to $52.3bn on mineral exports. Health Funding Under Pressure: The Global Fund says AI tools are helping stretch aid amid cuts, including faster, smarter ways to tackle malaria, TB and HIV. Energy Reliability Gap: Africa’s electricity challenge is shifting from access to reliability, with grid connections not guaranteeing dependable power. Sports Investment Worry: Namibia’s sport sector gets less than 1% of public spending, with 71% of people inactive, prompting a push for evidence-based reform. Agriculture Inputs: Ghana’s President Mahama says a fertiliser plant is planned to support farmers, aiming to reduce import exposure. Politics & Labour Migration: South Africa’s Employment Services Amendment Bill would regulate hiring of foreign nationals via sector quotas. AFCON 2027 Readiness: CAF chief Patrice Motsepe says Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania must deliver with “no Plan B” as preparations continue. Cricket Admin Uncertainty: India’s BCCI keeps Ajit Agarkar’s selector future undecided for at least two more weeks. Reparations Debate: CARICOM’s Barnett argues reparations must transform lives, not just acknowledge past wrongs.

Arctic Trade & Resources: Russia’s Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor and Northern Sea Route are set to deepen Russia–India ties beyond oil, with a push into minerals, LNG and transport links. South Africa Crime & Public Safety: President Ramaphosa appealed for help as a ninth woman’s body was found in Ekurhuleni, widening fears of linked killings and intensifying investigations. Housing Finance: South Africa is preparing a DBSA loan of about E2.4bn to expand civil servants’ housing stock, alongside further borrowing to clear arrears and fund microprojects. Mpox Watch: South Africa reported 18 confirmed and one probable mpox case, with most infections concentrated in the Western Cape and signs of rapid local spread. Nigeria Economy & Energy: Dangote’s “people’s IPO” for the refinery is drawing huge interest, but critics point to the squeeze on households facing higher petrol and living costs. Digital Inclusion: A GSMA report says an entry-level smartphone now costs about 76% of average monthly income in sub-Saharan Africa, threatening mobile internet access. Electric Mobility: Africa’s EV shift is moving from pilots to commercial adoption, with new investment opportunities in charging and battery-swapping infrastructure. Ebola Update (DRC): WHO says progress is uneven—encouraging signs in Ituri, but cases are rising fast in North Kivu. Liberia Health & Revenue: Liberia says revenue over US$1bn since January is funding salaries and services, while health leaders warn the 2030 test depends on financing and workforce retention. Gabon Oil & Gas: Oilserv signed an MoU with Gabon to develop hydrocarbon blocks, aiming to build gas infrastructure and unlock industrial growth.