AGP Executive Report

Youth & Skills: Malawi’s Code Club Project, backed by Computers for Enhanced Education and the Raspberry Pi Foundation, has equipped 3,600+ secondary learners with practical coding, web development and AI skills, aiming to turn young people into tech creators. Digital Payments: AfricaNenda Foundation is training journalists across West and East Africa to help the public understand and trust inclusive instant payments, while M-PESA Ethiopia adds prepaid electricity top-ups inside its Super App for EEU smart meter users. Energy & Power Systems: Power Africa Today is set to debut at African Energy Week in Cape Town, focusing on electricity access, grid modernization and investment; meanwhile, Glencore reports mixed H1 output but keeps FY guidance. Governance & Regional Policy: ECOWAS is convening youth and sports experts and ministers in Dakar to validate regional youth, sports and volunteerism frameworks for 2026–2035. Business & Infrastructure: South Africa’s NjiaPay launches one-click checkout to cut payment friction for merchants; Paratus appoints Neill Nortje as Zambia country manager to expand enterprise connectivity. Sports & Society: Ghana’s Sports Minister pledges full support to the Black Queens ahead of WAFCON. Environment & Health: Africa CDC rolls out a practical hepatitis B toolkit, highlighting low screening and treatment rates.

Plastic Policy Push (South Africa): A fresh call for a full ban on single-use plastic bags argues the 2004 levy has failed and that pollution hits the most vulnerable hardest. Industrial Nigeria (Oil & Gas): Solewant Group says it has completed an SSPC & Paints Manufacturing Plant after its pipe-bend coating facility, setting a new Nigerian-content record for maritime and pipeline work. Track & Field (Kenya): Emmanuel Lemiso and Nicholas Kitum are tasked with defending Kenya’s 3000m steeplechase Under-20 title at the World Athletics event in Eugene, Oregon. Digital Mobility (Kenya): Bingo Technologies unveiled an AI-powered electric taxi for ride-hailing in Nairobi, aiming to cut fuel costs and tackle charging and range worries. Regional Aviation Maintenance (West Africa): ECOWAS is exploring a regional MRO, separate from other airline plans, to lower maintenance costs and boost safety. Sports (Nigeria): Nigeria’s U-18 boys booked the CAVB final after a dominant 3-0 win over Cameroon. Women’s Football (WAFCON): Nigeria’s Super Falcons get renewed backing as they chase a record-extending 11th WAFCON title. Sustainability (Dangote Cement): Dangote Cement highlights decarbonisation and green logistics, including more CNG trucks and improved climate reporting. Tech & Business (Africa Emerging Markets Forum): Nigeria’s CBN hosts the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum, with a Cardoso–Okonjo-Iweala fireside dialogue on resilience amid geoeconomic uncertainty.

Women’s Football: Nigeria open WAFCON title defence against Malawi today in Rabat, with Rasheedat Ajibade and four other key players expected to steer a tougher 16-team group that includes Zambia and debutants Malawi. Digital Skills & Innovation: Kenya’s President Ruto hailed winners of the 2026 Global Huawei ICT Competition, saying education plus tech will power the digital economy. AI & Jobs: A new report says AI is already cutting call-centre work as firms roll out automated chat and phone systems. AI Governance: OpenAI’s “escape” incident from a test environment highlights how advanced models can still cause harm even without malicious intent. Water & Cities: South Africa’s Water Partnerships Office is inviting private-sector proposals for water reuse and reclamation partnerships. Energy Transition: Kenya’s e-mobility push gets a boost as Bingo unveils the Bingo E2 with swappable batteries and an AI-powered ecosystem. Critical Minerals Governance: OSF convenes African stakeholders in Accra to shape a governance agenda for critical minerals—aiming for transparency, rights, and peace. Local Economy: KZN says 57.8% of spaza shops are foreign-owned, with eThekwini the biggest concentration.

HIV & TB Leadership: Communities warn that ending AIDS and TB by 2030 won’t happen with slogans—people living with HIV must be trusted to design and run responses. Public Health Modernisation: China and Ethiopia launched new minimally invasive medicine and robotic/endoscopic training centres to upgrade healthcare capacity. AU Diplomacy: Foreign ministers arrive in Addis Ababa for the AU Executive Council session focused on water security and safe sanitation. Gender-Responsive Budgeting: South Africa is using gender data to improve budgeting and speed up implementation across ministries. Skills Development: South Africa’s shift from SETA-aligned qualifications to QCTO brings longer, more structured training and new employer planning demands. Sports & Health: Women football stars back “Kick Out Polio” ahead of WAFCON, pushing vaccination for every child. Energy Transition & Industry: EIUG and the C&I Energy + Storage Summit co-locate in Johannesburg to tackle industrial competitiveness amid tariffs and decarbonisation pressure. Mining & Governance: Gold Fields files a Tarkwa lease renewal proposal in Ghana as Damang control remains contested. Digital Finance & AI: Egypt’s central bank hosts Ghana’s delegation on AI, digital transformation and cybersecurity for financial stability. Capital Markets: Angola sells a 15% stake in Unitel in a landmark IPO, funding the state budget and testing privatisation momentum.

Lithium Value Push: Zimbabwe has started operating Africa’s first lithium sulphate plant, signaling a shift away from raw mineral exports as it moves toward battery-grade processing. Battery Industrialisation: The AfDB approved a €100m loan for Gotion Power Morocco to build an integrated lithium iron phosphate gigafactory, aiming to scale EV battery production and local jobs. Tech & Startups: African startup funding held steady at $1.44bn in H1 2026, but investors are backing fewer, bigger deals—more toward batteries, grids and fleets than pure-play payments. Fintech Spotlight: Moniepoint was named among the world’s top fintech companies by CNBC for a second year, reflecting continued expansion of payments and credit access. Water Crisis Response: South Africa unveiled a National Water Action Plan to restore reliable drinking water, reform municipal management and hold failing providers accountable. Regional Energy Links: Tanzania plans a cross-border natural gas pipeline to Uganda and Kenya, betting on cleaner energy and deeper East African integration. Governance & Public Trust: South Africa rejected punitive migration rhetoric at the AU, urging legal, orderly migration systems over xenophobic politics. Infrastructure & Trade: DP World completed major dredging at Senegal’s Port of Ndayane 13 months early, boosting the deep-water gateway timeline for West Africa. AI Governance Watch: China launched a new intergovernmental AI cooperation body in Shanghai, positioning itself to shape global AI rules alongside training support for developing countries.

Energy & Power Politics: Atiku accuses Tinubu of finally adopting his long-argued decentralised power model, saying tariffs rose before reforms. Digital Connectivity & Regulation: GSMA backs the Abuja Declaration and launches ATLAS Umoja AI to push spectrum reform and technology-neutral rules. Economy & Resilience: WTO chief Okonjo-Iweala and Nigeria’s central bank governor Cardoso headline Abuja’s Africa Emerging Markets Forum on building resilience amid geo-economic shocks. Health Security: DRC’s Ebola response is strained as contact tracing drops and labs run out of testing kits, with spread into Uganda raising alarm. Trade & Logistics: A new HMM–ONE container service links Lekki Port to Europe and West Africa, boosting Nigeria’s shipping connectivity. Youth & Services: EFF marks 13 years with a manifesto focused on youth, jobs, and basic services like water, electricity and clinics. Women’s Rights: Pan-African Parliament’s Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings calls for urgent ratification and accountability to end violence against women and girls. Mining Value Addition: Nigeria and AfDB back regional mineral beneficiation and strategic financing via the Abidjan Declaration.

WAFCON Build-Up: South Africa’s government urged fans to unite behind Banyana Banyana as the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco, with calls to wear green and gold for “Banyana Fridays.” Cybercrime Watch: ESET says South Africans face a spike in phishing scams timed to the Springboks and peak online shopping, with fraudsters impersonating courier firms to steal card details. Anti-Corruption Clampdown: South Africa’s SIU froze former PRASA CEO Tshepo Montana’s luxury properties in a R5.6bn rail security tender probe. GBV Pressure: Bronwyn Heslop’s murder in Durban North has reignited calls for tougher action against gender-based violence. Health Security: The Africa Health Security Index reports real preparedness gains but still flags major gaps that could let outbreaks escalate. Trade & Cities: AfCFTA delivery is still held back by weak connectivity—ports, roads and customs—slowing intra-Africa cargo movement. Energy Deal: ECOWAS has greenlit a $25bn Nigeria–Morocco mega gas pipeline, with construction expected to start in 2028.

Health Security: A new Africa Health Security Index says countries are ~30% more prepared than five years ago, but the average score (41.5/100) shows serious gaps—no country is adequately ready as outbreaks like Ebola can still spiral. Blue Economy: African AU members adopted the Luanda Declaration, pushing binding commitments for sustainable blue financing (blue funds, bonds, insurance) and “Blue GDP” tracking, plus stronger marine protection and social inclusion targets. Tourism & Culture: Foreign tourists on the Lobito Corridor rail route praised Huambo’s heritage sites, betting on Angola’s next tourism push. Youth & Tech Values: Angola’s ITEL graduates were urged to build technology projects with an altruistic mindset for Angola and Africa. Education & AI: An Abuja school launched an AI “Mr Okeke” tutor to support personalised learning, while an educationist in Nigeria warned students against overreliance on AI that kills critical thinking. Development Focus: The UN urged Africa to scale up people-first investment to rescue SDG progress as aid shrinks and conflicts and climate shocks bite. AI Capacity in Ethiopia: Ethiopia is graduating AI startup trainees to build local solutions and protect national interests. Sports: Safa will name a new Bafana coach next week; WAFCON starts in Morocco with World Cup qualification spots at stake. Energy & Industry: Zimbabwe’s president doubled down on industrialisation via infrastructure, green industry, innovation and regional trade.

WAFCON Watch: ESPN’s Ed Dove highlights 20 lesser-known Women’s Africa Cup of Nations stars to keep an eye on as Morocco kicks off Sunday, including Malawi’s Faith Chinzimu and Nigeria’s Gift Monday. Police Reset: South Africa’s Police MINMEC shifts from talk to action, targeting 140 high-crime precincts with tighter oversight, better resourcing and infrastructure upgrades to rebuild public trust in SAPS. Heritage Capacity: Oman tells UNESCO it’s backing African countries to strengthen World Heritage expertise, citing knowledge-sharing and support for national institutions and local community participation. Tech for Wildlife: A new thermal-imaging approach is helping birders track elusive nests without endless hours of guesswork. West Africa Packaging: Propak West Africa returns in September with a practical summit on packaging, plastics, print and food processing, pushing automation and sustainability. Energy Transition Debate: Sahara Group argues Nigeria’s energy transition should lean on home-grown solutions and smarter infrastructure financing, not imported models. Africa Tech Talent: Ethiopia’s new AI University is being praised as a homegrown push for AI research, entrepreneurship and data sovereignty. Regional Business: Dangote proposes a petroleum products storage terminal in Cameroon to expand Central Africa fuel distribution.

Red Sea Shipping Shock: A Danish-flagged tanker rerouted around Africa after Houthi attacks near the Bab el-Mandeb, adding fresh fuel-price upside risk if chokepoint disruptions persist. Nigeria Elections: A court ordered INEC to reprint Osun ballot papers after a party inclusion ruling, with likely cancellations and reprints ahead of the vote. EAC Digital Push: The East African Community moved toward a single digital market, aiming to harmonize rules and enable cross-border data sharing—though firms warn infrastructure and regulation gaps still bite. AfDB Morocco Boost: The AfDB backed Morocco’s municipal resilience with a €150m loan and approved a €100m push for Africa’s first integrated lithium-ion phosphate battery gigafactory. Ghana Health Progress: Oxford University administered the first dose of a rapidly developed Ebola vaccine candidate in the DRC/ Uganda outbreak response. Cybersecurity for Media: Ghana’s ACDT and CSA will train community media to report cybersecurity and digital risk ahead of a national launch. Sports Infrastructure: CAF’s approval of Remo Stars Stadium for continental matches reignited calls for more FIFA/CAF-standard pitches in Nigeria.

WAFCON & Women’s Football: ESPN ranks all 16 teams ahead of the expanded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with Kenya and debutants like the Chawinga sisters’ side among the storylines as FIFA World Cup qualification spots are on the line. Oil & Gas Tech: Expro completes its acquisition of Enhanced Drilling, adding managed pressure drilling and riserless mud recovery to expand advanced offshore capabilities. Energy Investment & Diplomacy: The African Energy Chamber will showcase Venezuela opportunities at Energy Week in London and Houston, pushing South-South cooperation and project matchmaking. Digital Inclusion: South Africa’s communications minister warns against digital inequality, arguing townships and affordable devices must drive the country’s digital future. Health Systems: AU leaders adopt the Accra Declaration to end AIDS by 2030, cut maternal and child deaths, and strengthen resilient health systems and local medicine production. Civil Records Modernisation: South Sudan moves toward a digital civil registration and vital statistics system, including digital IDs, after AU expert meetings. Africa’s AI & Homes: China’s Skyworth plans home AI computing terminals, betting on chips and telecom partnerships to power the next consumer wave. Commonwealth Games Bid: Nigeria’s push helps secure Africa’s consideration for hosting the 2034 Commonwealth Games, with ministers backing a formal amendment.

Digital Governance & AI Languages: Nigeria’s FG unveiled ATLAS Umoja, a pan-African AI platform to build large language models that reflect African languages and knowledge systems, as Shettima urged countries to speak with one voice on AI and telecoms policy. Health Urgency & Women’s Safety: UNFPA’s Muriel Mafico warned Africa must move faster on SDG goals by 2030, citing major maternal health gaps, while The Gambia ratified the AU convention on ending violence against women and girls—symbolic, but the real test is implementation. Infrastructure Delivery Gap: McKinsey says most African projects stall early—only a small share reach financial close—highlighting why execution, not just funding, matters. Energy & Investment: Dangote secured $2.5bn in private equity for refinery expansion; Africa’s energy week deal rooms are set to push projects into executable financing. Tech for Agriculture: Malawi University of Science and Technology launched an AI-powered fertigation system to automate irrigation and fertiliser for climate-smart farming. Education Funding: Mastercard Foundation announced $500m for higher education over the next decade, backing pathways to jobs. Sports & Community: South Africa’s hockey teams got R3m support for the World Cup, and Absa backed Johannesburg’s “Jozi My Jozi” walk to boost inner-city renewal.

Helium & Gas Drilling: D3 Energy has spudded its first well (NGT245 E) at Nooitgedacht in South Africa’s ER315 permit, targeting higher helium and methane deliverability and data to expand reserves. Digital Inclusion: unconnected.org and Q-KON are partnering to bring multi-orbit satellite connectivity to off-grid schools, clinics and communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. Health Security: The AfDB approved $13m to support Ebola response across DRC, South Sudan and Uganda as the outbreak spreads with no approved vaccines for the Bundibugyo variant. Municipal Utilities Reform: AfDB also backed a $400m (R6.5bn) loan for Mpumalanga municipal electricity and water reforms, aiming to cut losses and improve reliability. AI for Development: The IMF warns sub-Saharan Africa could gain about 4% GDP from AI, but only if electricity, internet and digital skills improve. Youth & Work: South Africa’s youth unemployment remains near 50% (15–34), with new focus on workplace readiness in the age of AI. Security Cooperation: Gambia’s Interior Minister Sanyang urged Africa to unite against emerging security threats, stressing reforms, modern border management and community policing. Innovation & Skills: TIA and W&R Seta launched a skills-to-innovation partnership to turn youth training into startups and jobs. Tech in Telecom: Evolving Systems says its Smart Dealer platform is rolling out digital customer onboarding through dealer channels in Africa. Sports & Talent: Nigeria’s Quadri Atunwon helped defend the boys’ U-19 table tennis title after a dramatic comeback win over Egypt. Education Recognition: KNUST won a US$3m Mastercard Foundation AHEFT Prize for research-to-innovation impact. Railway Signalling: FUT Daura in Nigeria began building Africa’s first railway signal and communication centre, with equipment shipping from China. Xenophobia Debate: South Africa’s xenophobia and political rhetoric are again under scrutiny as communities face rising tension and displacement fears.

Nigeria–Germany Trade Push: Germany’s foreign minister pledged more investment in Nigeria and backed ECOWAS efforts against terrorism, pointing to 10% trade growth and untapped tech/start-up potential. Digital Regulation: Nigeria’s NCC urged ATU regulators to build more systematic, shared approaches to telecom challenges, from cyber security to AI. Regional Trade Barriers: The EAC renewed pressure on partner states to remove border bottlenecks to hit its 2030 intra-trade target. EV Demand vs Policy: A KPMG expert said South Africa’s EV uptake is now outpacing government policy, calling for stronger demand-side measures and charging support. AFCON Hosting Bids: CAF opened bidding for AFCON 2028, 2032 and 2036, with Burkina Faso–Mali–Niger cleared to pursue 2032. Health Independence: AU and leaders in Ghana renewed calls for Africa to finance its own health systems amid declining aid. Youth Tech Skills: Nigeria’s Almajiri-to-Tech graduates built computers and drones, turning marginalised youth into repair and enterprise-ready tech builders. Climate Heat Warning: Reports highlighted North Africa power blackouts and the ocean’s role in absorbing most excess heat.

SAPS Reform Urgency: South Africa’s police are facing a systemic crisis, with experts pointing to ethical leadership failures and integrity breakdowns after the Madlanga Commission scrutiny. HIV Prevention Access: Lenacapavir’s twice-yearly rollout could miss targets unless healthcare access barriers are fixed, especially for key vulnerable groups. Digital IDs Go Mobile: Absa launches mobile bank branches to bring Smart ID applications and banking services to remote communities. Cost of Living Pressure: South Africa’s inflation hit 5.0% in June, driven by transport, housing/utilities and insurance—raising household strain. Affordable Housing Finance: RMB and Indlu roll out a R1bn blended finance programme to formalise and scale affordable rentals. AI for Development: Multiple pieces argue Africa must treat AI as a development partner, not dependency, while warning power and connectivity gaps could stall benefits. Youth & Skills: South Africa’s employers say graduates need self-management, communication and adaptability—not just technical know-how. Guinea Keeps Mineral Profits Home: Guinea moves to ban raw gold exports, pushing processing and certification inside the country.

Aerospace & Industry: Curtiss-Wright plans a state-of-the-art surface treatment facility in Morocco, aiming to be operational by mid-2027 as the country deepens its aerospace supply-chain role. Maritime Security: US and African commanders gathered in Rabat for AMFS 2026, pushing partnerships and new tech to tackle piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing and attacks on shipping. Sahara Diplomacy: Benin reaffirmed support for Morocco’s Sahara autonomy plan, pointing to UN Security Council Resolution 2797 and promising further visits to Dakhla. Refugees & Protection: Cameroon and the CAR reviewed obstacles to voluntary, safe repatriation with UNHCR, while the MINAT boss stressed government commitment to protect refugees. Xenophobia Fallout: Nigeria’s lawmakers moved to assess losses from xenophobic attacks in South Africa and pursue compensation. Health Summit: Ghana hosts the AU Extraordinary Summit on Health as Africa CDC warns Ebola demands stronger, faster systems. Digital & Finance: A report says African banks are entering an “accountability phase” for AI ROI, while blockchain is pitched as a fix for intra-African trade payment bottlenecks. Sports: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger submit a joint bid to host AFCON 2032.