AGP Executive Report

Counter-Terror Ops: Nigeria’s Army, DSS and Amotekun killed an ISWAP leader, Abdussamad Ohida, in an intelligence-led strike in Owo forest, with plans tied to attacks around the Yuletide and disruption of 2027 elections. Education & Skills: In Riyadh, a Gulf-MENA education official backed science-focused teaching and teacher training tied to classroom practice, using results from the 2025 PISA study. Health Diplomacy: UN officials say China’s Global Development Initiative is shifting toward practical South-South cooperation, citing hundreds of projects and billions in financing commitments. Public Safety & Travel: A Tanzania safari flight reportedly hit a zebra on takeoff and made an emergency belly landing near Kilimanjaro; all aboard survived. Regional Integration: AU officials urged faster integration of transport, energy and digital infrastructure to strengthen African value chains and trade. Ghana Banking Shake-up: Société Générale exits Ghana, selling its stake to Attijariwafa Bank and SSNIT, opening room for local lenders. Science & AI Debate: A Ghanaian researcher warns generative music systems “tropicalize” African prompts, arguing for fairer, less Western-controlled data practices.

Defense & Tech: Morocco’s Ballistic Defense System says it has tested a GPS-independent autonomous kamikaze drone in Belgium, using onboard optical mapping and AI for precision strikes, with ethics rules requiring human mission authorization. West Africa Elections: ECOWAS plans to add youth observers to Nigeria’s 2027 election monitoring, after pilots in Côte d’Ivoire and Benin, and says it won’t leave Nigeria out. Education & Exams: WAEC appoints Suleiman Danlami Kum as Nigeria’s new Head of the National Office, replacing Amos Dangut, highlighting his exam security and tech reforms. East Africa Energy: Uganda’s Museveni backs Dangote’s Kenya refinery in principle but says Uganda won’t invest until the status of a proposed Tanga refinery in Tanzania is clarified. Nile Diplomacy: Senegal’s Faye tells Egypt it supports Nile water management via consultation and dialogue, while Egypt offers to share expertise to support Senegal’s development plans. Regional Security: Eritrea’s president visits Egypt for a collective security summit as Ethiopia and Eritrea remain locked in diplomatic escalation. Health & Industry: NAFDAC seeks international partners to set up vaccine manufacturing in Nigeria to reach WHO vaccine lot-release maturity. Business & Trade: Zimbabwe launches an export mission to Namibia to open new market links for services and FMCG. Sports: South Africa and Namibia will co-host 2027 World Cup qualifiers, with dates set to shape player availability. Wildlife & Livelihoods: Algeria’s Barbary macaque conservation push is tied to practical ways to cut crop losses and human-wildlife conflict.

East Africa Energy Push: Kenya’s Lamu coast is set for a major shift as President William Ruto and Aliko Dangote back the $16bn Dangote East Africa refinery, aimed at boosting fuel security, jobs and regional trade—though land disputes and integrity questions are already in the spotlight. Southern Africa Climate Stress: El Niño is expected to bring prolonged dry spells, raising drought risks for South Africa and southern/central Mozambique, with knock-on effects for farming and water. West Africa Elections: ECOWAS says it will add youth election observers to its Nigeria 2027 monitoring, after pilots in Côte d’Ivoire and Benin, to widen young people’s political role. Regional Trade & Mobility: Africa is moving toward more direct intra-African flights via free-route airspace to cut costs and travel times, as current direct links remain limited. Health & Humanitarian: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is still above 4,000 deaths, while new drug trials aim to improve outcomes. Sports Governance: CAF approved changes to interclub rules, including allowing players to represent more than one club in a season and updating squad registration limits. Historical Justice: Senegal awaits a report on the Thiaroye massacre to clarify deaths and circumstances from 1944.

Banking Expansion: NCBA Group says it is targeting Ethiopia and the DRC for its next frontier growth, planning to enter via acquisitions after Nedbank’s $850m deal structure clears key approvals. Earthquake Preparedness: Qatar Red Crescent Society hosted an IFRC workshop to strengthen MENA community communication on earthquakes, pushing practical drills and public messaging. Cocoa & Land Use: Barry Callebaut is testing Assisted Natural Regeneration in Ivory Coast, aiming to protect cocoa landscapes by combining natural regrowth with targeted planting. Housing Pressure: Ivory Coast estimates an urban housing need of 827,753 units by 2030 and has launched 420 social and economic units in Yamoussoukro under a wider emergency programme. UN Reform Push: Congo argues for UN Security Council changes, backing Africa’s demand for two permanent seats with veto power. Ebola in Congo: Congo’s Ebola response faces strain as deaths pass 4,000, with new drug trials and treatment efforts underway. Regional Security: Somalia rejects any Israeli presence “under any circumstances,” warning it could pull the country into wider Middle East crises. Education & Governance: Kenya appoints new university council members, reshuffling oversight across six institutions. Road Safety: Kenya’s Mombasa–Nairobi highway crash killed at least 17, including pilgrims.

Earthquake Preparedness in Uganda: Uganda has screened over 5,000 buildings for seismic safety in Kampala under a rapid visual assessment, with the next phase set to expand across Greater Kampala districts. Climate & Forest Restoration: Uganda’s schools are joining a tree-planting push, with Equity Bank backing 200,000 trees by 2027 to curb deforestation impacts. Ebola Response in DR Congo: Congo’s Ebola outbreak has eased in some areas, though deaths have topped 4,000; health authorities say cases are now concentrated in specific health zones. Health Research Trial: In Ituri, Congo, a trial is testing an experimental antiviral pill to prevent Ebola after exposure, enrolling more than 250 participants. Security in Nigeria: Boko Haram-linked attacks in Borno killed at least 15 farmers, with three missing, as security forces search nearby areas. EU Migration Policy: Greece is urging the EU to suspend asylum applications during mass arrivals, while EU states approved tougher return rules and “return hubs.” Kenya Mobile Money: Airtel Money signals a price war against M-Pesa in Kenya, citing lower fees and incentives as it seeks more users. Regional Energy & Trade: Kenya’s Lamu refinery project is expected to boost vessel traffic and port services as construction equipment begins arriving. Arts & Culture: Ghana’s National Symphony Orchestra dazzled audiences at the National Theatre during the 2026 Theater Festival.

Security in Nigeria: Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 18 villagers in Borno’s Marte area after an ambush while people collected firewood; troops launched clearance operations as others were reported missing. Health crisis in DR Congo: Ebola deaths have surpassed 4,000 with about 8,300 confirmed cases across seven provinces, as insecurity and a burned transit centre disrupt response efforts. Regional diplomacy: SADC chair Cyril Ramaphosa will lead participation at the AU mid-year coordination meeting in Egypt, focusing on continental integration and AfCFTA progress. Education governance: WAEC appointed Nigeria’s Dr Amos Dangut as Registrar/CEO for a five-year term starting October 2026, after his role leading WAEC’s Nigerian office. Economy & trade: Stanbic IBTC’s Nigeria PMI rose to 56.4 in September, signaling the strongest private-sector expansion since February 2022. Logistics deal: DP World and TGI Group expanded their Nigeria partnership, with TGI expected to become a shareholder in DP World Logistics Limited pending approvals. Food prices watch: El Niño is expected to push up costs for coffee and other foods amid existing supply-chain strains.

UN Diplomacy: China’s UN envoy urged countries to end unilateral coercive measures, saying they fuel instability and worsen food, energy and financial insecurity. Ebola Response: In DR Congo’s Ituri, violence destroyed an Ebola treatment center in a displacement camp, disrupting care and contact tracing. West Africa Security: ECOWAS called for collective action to tackle cross-border threats including violent extremism, terrorism, organised crime and humanitarian pressures. East Africa Energy: Kenya’s Ruto says the Lamu refinery will be fed by a Turkana-to-Lamu crude pipeline plus supplies from other countries, dismissing “bad blood” over regional refinery plans. Finance & Agriculture: IFC warned Nigeria’s commercial banks lend less than 5% to agriculture, a major development gap. Sports & Youth: Liberia’s U-20 were drawn into a tough WAFU-A Group A with Mali, Guinea and The Gambia. Culture & Society: Burkina Faso’s deaf dancers are using “Vibra-Signe” to translate music into vibrations and gestures, turning limited support into global recognition.

Dangote Refinery Launch, East Africa Energy Race: Kenya’s William Ruto broke ground on Aliko Dangote’s $16bn Lamu refinery, saying technical studies made the coast the best fit and insisting Uganda and Tanzania can build their own smaller plants without “bad blood.” Regional Politics & Diplomacy: Ethiopia shut its embassy in Eritrea and expelled 10 diplomats as tensions rise in the Horn. Human Rights & Press Freedom: Niger’s missing journalist Moussa Kaka has been referred to the UN over alleged enforced disappearance tied to the country’s crackdown on civic space. Justice & Rights in North Africa: Algeria’s parliament approved death-penalty expansion after decades without executions, drawing Amnesty condemnation. ECOWAS & Regional Peace: ECOWAS’ vice-president visited The Gambia to push peace, security and development, including inspections of regional projects and troop engagements. Business & Jobs: KawiSafi Ventures put $2m into Orb Energy to scale commercial solar across Kenya and East Africa. Sports & Governance: Ghana and Carlos Queiroz part ways again after a rough start to AFCON qualifying. Food Security: Ghana’s Feed Ghana Programme says it’s cutting import dependence, with maize, rice and poultry sufficiency rising.

Dangote Refinery Kickoff in Kenya: President William Ruto and Aliko Dangote broke ground on a $16bn, 700,000-bpd refinery and petrochemicals complex in Lamu, aiming to cut East Africa’s fuel imports and add up to 1,000MW of power, with completion targeted for 2030. Court Fight Over Land: Construction faces disruption after residents petitioned over ancestral land claims, with an interim order halting activities until a hearing on Oct 14—while the African Energy Chamber calls it “frivolous litigation.” ECOWAS Startup Awards: ECOWAS launched the 2026 Startup Awards in Abuja, drawing 8,679 registrations and selecting 60 finalists across sectors like FinTech, HealthTech and AgriTech for prizes and investor deal rooms. Ebola Mistrust in DR Congo: Mourners buried a politician in Butembo killed after defending the government’s Ebola response on radio, underscoring how distrust and attacks on responders are complicating containment. Trade and Connectivity: HMM plans a new weekly Mombasa–Nhava Sheva shipping service, while Cape Verde and DE-CIX explore a Lisbon–São Paulo digital corridor to strengthen South Atlantic data routes. AI and Work: A PwC survey warns AI is widening a “front-runners vs engine room” divide, with daily GenAI use far higher among the smaller group.

East Africa Energy Boom: Kenya and Aliko Dangote broke ground on the $16bn Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu, a 700,000-bpd project aimed at cutting fuel imports and boosting regional supply, with leaders from Uganda, Ethiopia, Togo and Benin attending. Political Tensions Over Investment: Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka backed the refinery but demanded transparency, due process and accountability as land and conservation concerns continue. Regional Energy Planning: Uganda’s Museveni said he supports the Lamu project yet won’t invest there, pointing to plans for a smaller refinery at home. West Africa Security: Nigeria’s army chief called for deeper ECOWAS defence cooperation to tackle terrorism, violent extremism and cross-border crime. Public Health & Recovery: Liberia marks ten years since Ebola was declared over, but survivors and families say trauma and unmet support still linger. Health Access: Kenya’s Equity Afya launched a community pharmacy model to improve last-mile access to essential medicines. Trade & Infrastructure: Ghana’s Tema Port dredging with China Harbor aims to deepen berths for bigger vessels, strengthening maritime trade. Food Innovation: Kenya’s JKUAT is promoting crickets and snails as alternative protein sources, alongside tissue-culture seedlings. Business Diplomacy (Togo): Togo’s chamber and EBID are pushing deeper Russia ties and preparing for a 2027 investment forum with dozens of projects seeking financing.

US Deportations: The US Supreme Court lets the Trump administration resume rapid emergency deportations of undocumented migrants to “third countries” without advance chances to challenge removal, with the policy already sending tens of thousands to places including South Sudan, Uganda and others. Kenya–Rwanda Energy Corridor: Kenya’s first 40,000-tonne fuel cargo reaches Rwanda via Mombasa under a new government-to-government corridor, boosting Kigali’s second route and reducing reliance on Tanzania. Lamu Refinery Standoff: Aliko Dangote stays upbeat as Kenya’s court orders a status quo over land claims by 133 residents, while the planned Lamu groundbreaking proceeds and the case is set for further hearing. Burkina Faso Industrial Push: Burkina Faso opens its first gold refinery in Ouagadougou, aiming to keep more value in-country amid efforts to curb informal mining and smuggling. West Africa Peace: The Entente Council and UNOWAS launch a three-year peace drive, marking a fresh push to stabilize the region. Morocco Leadership Milestone: Morocco appoints Fatima El Mansouri as its first female prime minister, a major step for women’s representation. Health & Data: South Africa reports cardiovascular disease drove 17.8% of deaths in 2024, underscoring the growing chronic disease burden.

UN Diplomacy: At the UN General Assembly, African leaders demanded bigger say in global rule-making, arguing the “world of 1945” no longer fits today’s energy, climate and digital realities. Energy & Industry: Aliko Dangote says Africa could be largely fuel self-sufficient by 2030 as his $16bn, 700,000-bpd Kenya refinery heads toward groundbreaking—while Kenya’s court orders a halt to activities on disputed land. Capital Markets: Nigeria’s NGX and Kenya’s NSE met in Nairobi to deepen cross-border exchange ties, using the Dangote refinery IPO engagement as a springboard. Finance & Compliance: Nigeria’s Federal High Court convicted 21 companies for running unlicensed investment schemes, fining them N30m each. Climate-Smart Farming: ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development approved a $10m facility to pilot climate-smart agriculture in Togo, Ghana and Senegal. Public Health Crisis: Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 8,000 cases, with calls for urgent humanitarian access as response strains grow. Migration Policy: Spain plans stricter asylum procedures for migrants in Ceuta after the July border crisis, according to a draft decree.

Ebola Crisis in Central Africa: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surged past 8,000 confirmed cases, with deaths reaching 3,901, as health workers struggle and WHO warns the outbreak remains uncontrolled. Energy & Prices: Oil prices kept climbing above $100 a barrel despite reports of improved Hormuz flows, raising fears for Africa’s inflation gains. Dangote Refinery in Kenya: A Kenyan court rejected a bid to halt the KSh2 trillion Dangote refinery in Lamu, but ordered parties to maintain the status quo on disputed ancestral land until Oct 14. East Africa Energy Push: Kenya is set to break ground on a Sh2 trillion East African Refinery in Lamu, backed by Aliko Dangote, aiming to boost regional supply and trade. West Africa Gold Policy: Burkina Faso opened its first gold refinery, pushing for local value addition and tighter control as smuggling and informal mining remain major issues. Sports (AFCON Qualifiers): DR Congo beat Zimbabwe 2-1 as Matchday 2 reshapes the race to AFCON 2027 finals. Governance & Rights: Amnesty says Mali’s forces and Wagner personnel committed war crimes, including killings and torture of civilians, in operations along the Mauritanian border. Conservation: Liberia relaunched the €4.7m Taï-Grebo-Krahn biodiversity project after nearly seven years.

Ebola Crisis: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surged past 8,000 cases and 3,900 deaths, with WHO warning transmission remains widespread and out of control. Public Health & Accountability: Kenya launched a new Mountain Bongo recovery plan (2026–2030) in Nanyuki, with IUCN support, as conservation shifts from plans to on-the-ground results. Security & Society: South Africa’s weekend mass shootings in Gauteng and the Western Cape killed 28, renewing scrutiny of liquor licensing and monitoring in residential areas. Human Rights & Migration: UN experts urged the US to halt “third-country” migrant deportations, warning of heightened risks of abuse, including torture and persecution. Women, Youth & Peace: Abidjan hosted a regional week linking economic resilience to sustainable peace and security, focusing on jobs, training and financing for women and youth. Energy & Industry: Kenya received massive onshore drilling equipment for the Lokichar oil project, while Morocco and Mauritania signed a road deal to strengthen a North-West Africa corridor. Governance & Justice: Eastern Cape’s health department is appealing for a shift in how negligence payouts are handled after liability claims ballooned.

Eskom Reform: South Africa’s electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says there will be no more Eskom bailouts and no sustained double-digit tariff hikes, pushing “Eskom 2.0” toward financial sustainability and efficiency cuts. DRC Ebola: The Democratic Republic of Congo reports Ebola cases have crossed 8,000 for the first time, with 8,067 confirmed and 3,901 deaths. ECOWAS Court Rights Case: Nigeria’s Femi Falana files a $10m damages suit at the ECOWAS Court over alleged rights violations and decades of unlawful arrests and detention. UNGA Fallout: At least 77 countries walked out during Netanyahu’s UN speech, with multiple African states among those leaving the chamber. East Africa Refinery Push: Kenya’s Lamu Port receives 2,930 tonnes of machinery for Dangote’s East Africa refinery ahead of next week’s groundbreaking, as the project targets regional supply. Tanzania-US Ties: Tanzania pledges deeper cooperation with the US, including maintaining visa-on-arrival access for Americans. West Africa Water Crisis: ECOWAS Parliament urges stronger climate policy implementation and financing to curb environmental damage, displacement and insecurity.

Dangote Refinery Momentum: Kenya’s Port of Lamu received about 2,930 tonnes of heavy machinery for the Sh2.2tn Dangote East Africa Refinery ahead of a Sept 30 groundbreaking, with President Ruto calling the project a regional game-changer. Regional Energy & Diplomacy: Ethiopia used UNGA to push sea access, trade, energy and integration, including a new Ethiopia–Djibouti petroleum-products pipeline. Ghana Aviation Revival: President Mahama met Boeing in New York, with Boeing saying Ghana’s national airline could return within 18 months and backing a wider aviation ecosystem, including a potential MRO hub. Governance & Education: ABU’s VC warned postgraduate students not to let AI replace critical thinking, while Nigeria’s Makinde urged treating agriculture as a full economic system, not just food. Sports & Youth: Ghana’s Black Stars face The Gambia in a key AFCON qualifier after a setback, and Ghana’s Black Maidens target victory in the WAFU U-17 final. Health & Security: DRC Ebola keeps worsening, with Africa CDC warning Kenya as the outbreak spreads.