AGP Executive Report

Ebola Vaccine Push: Serum Institute of India will manufacture Oxford’s experimental Ebola vaccine for clinical trials against the Bundibugyo strain, backed by up to $8.6m from CEPI as outbreaks intensify in DR Congo and Uganda. Health Tech Breakthrough: A high-precision base-editing therapy (CS-206) shows durable, VOC-free results in a Nigerian sickle cell patient, with favorable safety after 15 months. Digital Security: South Africa tops Africa in suspected digital fraud rates (3.0% of transactions in 2025), with generative AI likely boosting scams and identity-driven attacks. Crypto Regulation: South Africa’s high court ruled Bitcoin is both “capital” and “money” under exchange controls, upholding forfeiture tied to offshore transfers. Energy & Materials: Graphene commercialization may be accelerating as First Graphene reports growing traction; meanwhile, sodium-ion batteries are moving toward industrial adoption. Cyber & Climate Risk: Scientists warn a “Super El Niño” has an 80% chance this summer, bringing extreme heat across much of the world. E-mobility Investment: Spiro secured $215m equity to expand electric mobility and energy infrastructure across Africa.

EV & Energy Investment: Spiro, an Africa-focused electric mobility platform, secured a $215M equity round to expand its battery-swapping network and EV/energy infrastructure across markets including Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cameroon, with plans to move into DRC and Ethiopia. IP & Research Commercialisation: Nigeria and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) agreed to deepen collaboration to turn university research and creative work into “tangible financial assets,” with WIPO opening its first Sub-Saharan Africa office in Abuja. Skills for the Tech Economy: Nigeria’s Louis Awode Foundation launched a nationwide push to train 20,000 children in robotics, coding, AI and entrepreneurship, building on a pilot in Ogun State. Health Innovation: Zimbabwe began neuromodulation surgery via a partnership involving its health ministry and China-Africa Hospital Alliance, marking a step toward advanced specialist care locally. Education & Publishing Capacity: A workshop on scientific and manuscript writing highlights a gap in African academic output, citing limited training and mentorship as barriers to publishing. Agriculture & Livestock: South Africa gazetted a voluntary foot-and-mouth disease vaccination scheme under the Animal Diseases Act to help livestock owners reduce impacts and protect trade. Sports Tech & Governance: South Africa’s World Cup departure was delayed by visa issues, with assistant coach Helman Mkhalele missing the initial travel.

Ebola & Public Health: Brazil placed two travellers from African countries in isolation after Ebola-like symptoms; one later tested negative, but screening continues as the DRC outbreak grows. Research & Biodiversity: South Africa will spearhead a global fungal research push after the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust funded Prof Cobus Visagie’s “Mapping Unseen Fungi Across South Africa” project. Housing & Cities: Cape Town’s real estate boom is being questioned as a new report warns “financialisation” is destabilising housing by treating homes mainly as assets. Astronomy: A South African-linked radio discovery using ASKAP has identified the source of rare cosmic radio pulses as an accreting white dwarf system. Competition & Pharma: South Africa’s Competition Commission is moving against Adcock Ingram over alleged pandemic-era profiteering and failure to pass on pricing benefits. Energy & Business Costs: Nigeria’s power crisis is costing firms about 3% of annual sales, with over 70% relying on generators, according to an AfDB outlook. Digital Policy: Zimbabwe says it’s aligning its cyber and data protection framework with an ACHPR resolution, including protections for expression and access to information. Visa & Mobility: Rising Schengen visa rejection fees are leaving travellers out of pocket, with millions lost to non-refundable charges.

World Cup Logistics: South Africa’s Bafana Bafana missed a planned trip to Mexico after visa delays for some players and officials; SAFA says the charter is rebooked for Monday while an emergency committee reviews what went wrong. Elections Oversight: ECOWAS deployed a 40-expert technical mission to observe Guinea’s May 31 legislative and local elections. Xenophobia & Trade Risk: African content producers and Ghana’s tourism authorities warn South Africa’s xenophobic attacks could hit intra-Africa trade and tourism, with reports of cancelled bookings and evacuations. Digital Health & Data Residency: Kenya’s electronic medical records system now runs on cloud infrastructure physically located in Kenya, enabling faster access across 2,300+ facilities. Border Tech: South Africa plans EMCS 2.0 with facial recognition and electronic verification to curb illegal migration and passport fraud. Energy Transition: Renewables are surging across Africa, with solar and wind plus battery storage increasingly replacing slower, costlier options. EV Supply Chains: Morocco’s EV and battery buildout is drawing EU concern that Chinese firms could use North Africa as a tariff “backdoor” into Europe. Ebola Watch: Brazil is monitoring two possible Ebola cases linked to the DRC outbreak, as health systems brace for spread.

Agri-Processing Deal: Ghana’s Tree Crops Development Authority signed an MoU with Russia’s Golden Forest to restore shea parklands, build processing infrastructure, fund research, and support rural women—aiming to keep more value in-country instead of exporting raw shea. Digital Infrastructure & Cybersecurity: Chad’s delegation met Cybastion to discuss its Digital Fast Track, focused on stronger digital infrastructure, e-government, cybersecurity, and skills. AfDB Lending Shift: Kenya overtook Nigeria as the AfDB’s third-largest borrower, with higher disbursements tied to projects including STEM upgrades in public universities. Cybersecurity Warning: A Doha expert says cybercrime is increasingly psychological—awareness alone won’t stop scams; routine protections like multi-factor authentication and trusted information-sharing ecosystems matter. Ebola Response Watch: WHO updates show confirmed cases and deaths rising in DRC and Uganda, while Kenya faces controversy over an Ebola quarantine centre plan. Energy Transition: Renewable power is expanding fast across Africa as solar, wind and storage projects move faster than traditional plants. Border Tech: South Africa’s Border Management Authority says an intelligence-led operation helped intercept a R1bn drug shipment at Beitbridge, with biometric systems and e-travel authorisation in the pipeline. Women in Tech: WITESA 2026 in Lagos (June 23–24) will bring 2,000+ participants to push women’s participation across AI, green tech, infrastructure and engineering.

Immigration & Jobs: South Africa’s Julius Malema says “Afrophobia” won’t fix the jobs crisis, arguing poor migrants aren’t to blame for unemployment and failing services. Agritech & Food: Israeli researchers report a fungal extract that can raise tomato yields, improve firmness and natural sweetness, and cut reliance on chemical fertilisers. Security in the DRC: Analysts say Islamic State’s Central Africa affiliate is adapting under pressure in eastern DR Congo, shifting locations and expanding targets, including a March attack on a Chinese-owned mining facility. Public Service Integrity: South Africa’s DA wants the Public Service Commission to investigate officials accused of holding “secret meetings” with ANC parliamentary study groups. Health Tech: Kenya’s Murang’a connects all 170 public health facilities to Starlink satellite internet to stabilise telemedicine and referrals. Digital Economy: Kenya convenes cloud and data centre leaders to push a clearer regulatory stack for data governance and AI. Ebola Preparedness: A WHO report warns the world remains dangerously unprepared for the next pandemic, citing underinvestment even after Ebola and Covid-19. Energy & Industry: Rwanda signs a nuclear cooperation deal with Russia covering nuclear medicine, science and possible research reactor work, signalling shifting partnerships.

Fintech Upgrade: Paystack has rebuilt its merchant Dashboard with an AI-powered “Command Centre,” letting African businesses query transaction and revenue trends in plain language across Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire. Higher Education Crisis: South Africa’s higher education debt problem is now blocking access to qualifications, with 165,000–188,209 certificates withheld over unpaid fees as total student debt hits R59bn. Food Security Pressure: South Africa’s farm sector is under strain from imported fertiliser dependence (over 80% imported) and rising costs tied to fuel, shipping and global shocks, threatening land reform outcomes. Mining Revival: Zimbabwe’s Redwing Mine restart is ramping up after Namib Minerals pumped 544,000 cubic metres of water, with power lines and equipment moving in to restart production. Biodiversity Link: A Kenya savanna study finds elephants help sustain dung beetle communities; removing elephants sharply reduces beetles and weakens ecosystem services. Public Health & Ebola: Ebola remains a major concern across Africa, with health agencies warning about spread risk and calling for stronger preparedness.

Digital Publishing Push: South Africa’s IOL secured R200m to expand as a major digital publisher, formally ending its historic content partnership with Independent Media. Workplace Safety Tech: A South African webinar argues technology should boost health and safety without replacing human accountability and legal duties. Nutrition in Medical Training: Doctors-in-training are being taught “culinary medicine” to help prevent non-communicable diseases through practical nutrition skills. Digital Identity Debate: Home Affairs proposes a smartphone-based digital identity credential, raising alarms about privacy and exclusion of people without phones. Zimbabwe Skills Hub: Liquid Intelligent Technologies and the Zimbabwe government will set up a software developer skills hub focused on AI, cloud, analytics and cybersecurity. Credit for the Underbanked: New AI tools aim to expand credit access for South Africa’s unbanked using alternative data while keeping risk standards. Border Tech Crackdown: South Africa intercepted nearly R1bn worth of methaqualone at Beitbridge, with officials pointing to advanced scanning and tougher border systems. Ebola Research Rules: WHO says Bundibugyo Ebola candidate treatments and vaccines should be used only in clinical trials. HIV Treatment Convenience: South Africa is rolling out six-month ARV dispensing to cut clinic visits and reduce treatment interruptions. Travel Connectivity: eSIM tech is reshaping South African travel by avoiding unpredictable roaming bills. Africa Day: The continent marks Africa Day, celebrating unity and the OAU’s legacy.

Ebola Response: WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has landed in DR Congo to back the latest Ebola fight in Ituri, where the outbreak has already recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected deaths since May 15, with the true spread likely wider. Public Health Risk: Africa CDC warns the outbreak could spread to up to 12 countries, noting the Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment. Security & Disruption: In northern Ethiopia, Amhara Fano militias have sustained offensives that are disrupting preparations for June 1 federal elections. Counterterror Pressure: In northern Somalia, Puntland forces have intensified operations against Islamic State Somalia Province after a resurgence. Research & Heritage: A South African X-ray fossil study reshapes turtle evolution, placing key “proto-turtle” links deeper in reptile ancestry. Energy & Trade: China’s solar exports hit a record 68GW in March, with African demand surging; Nigeria and Ethiopia saw sharp month-on-month jumps. Connectivity: Sparkle and GÉANT expand EU-backed research and education links across Europe, Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Archaeology: South Africa’s Border Cave shows early humans maintained grass beds up to 200,000 years ago.

Ebola Alert: WHO says the Bundibugyo variant has been declared an International Public Health Emergency as outbreaks in DR Congo and Uganda raise fears of rapid spread amid conflict and weak health systems. Digital Skills Push: Microsoft and Liquid Intelligent Technologies launched a solar-powered Mobile Digital Lab in South Africa to train learners in AI foundations and Microsoft certifications. Health & Tech in Ethiopia: Ethiopia is betting on upgraded tertiary care and AI-driven diagnostics to grow medical tourism across the Horn of Africa. Cybersecurity Capacity: Italy’s CyberBridge wrapped up training for 30 officials from nine sub-Saharan countries, focusing on cyber diplomacy, governance and incident response. Finance Oversight: Ghana’s central bank urged regulators to manage risks from fintech and AI rather than regulate the technology itself. Crime & Food Pressure: South Africa saw a near 10% drop in murders, but households face rising food costs as the average basket nears R5,500. Industry Watch: AfDB’s 2025 industrialisation index puts Morocco first in Africa for the first time, narrowly edging South Africa.

Ebola Watch (DR Congo): WHO says the Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak is worsening in eastern DR Congo, with 900+ suspected cases and 101 lab-confirmed, plus 220+ suspected deaths; Uganda has 5 cases and 1 death. WHO warns delays in identifying cases are forcing responders to “play catch-up,” and has raised the in-country risk to “very high.” Cross-Border Response: Russia has tightened border screening and sent specialists to Uganda, Congo and Burundi, while the U.S. plans an Ebola quarantine and treatment center in Kenya for evacuated Americans. Health Science (Why it’s hard): Experts note this outbreak is a “perfect storm” of a rare Ebola type with no licensed vaccines or treatments, conflict-linked mobility, weak health systems, and low community trust. Tax & Data Governance: ATAF welcomed the Republic of Congo as its 45th member, boosting regional tax cooperation. Energy Transition: AP reports Africa’s power build-out is increasingly solar, wind and storage, with renewables outpacing traditional projects. Mining & Rights: Church leaders push for stronger protections and consent rules as critical minerals reshape land and livelihoods. South Africa (Elections): IEC says voter registrations hit 27.9M ahead of local elections, with youth uptake boosted by online registration.

Public Services Under Strain: A new report spotlights South Africa’s “silent crisis” in municipal libraries, where collapsing infrastructure and shrinking budgets are eroding access to knowledge and internet for communities. Crime vs. Root Causes: South Africa’s murder rate fell 9.5%, but analysts warn it’s a tactical win that doesn’t fix the deeper socioeconomic pressures driving violence. Fraud Crackdown: Home Affairs’ real-time biometric verification platform aims to eliminate “ghost employees,” with corruption losses running into billions. Skills Integrity: Job Crystal data flags a qualification fraud surge, with nearly one in five education checks finding misrepresented matric credentials. Business & Innovation: AfDB and Algeria back a push to fund startups and SMEs, while Schneider Electric launches an EcoExpert partner programme to scale field services across Sub-Saharan Africa. Health System Pressure: South Africa’s medical aid model is losing young members, threatening the cross-subsidy that keeps costs manageable. Digital Inclusion: Safaricom expands My OneApp to work across rival networks, Wi‑Fi and roaming.

Ebola Emergency Escalates: A fast-growing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo and Uganda is now being met with a “Covid-style” push—researchers are using an NHS Covid trial model to speed up experimental vaccines and drugs, while an AI-led effort has flagged nearly two dozen antiviral candidates for the rare virus. Cross-Border Fallout: Canada has paused immigration paperwork from DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan and added health checks for recent travellers, as aid groups warn the outbreak could become the deadliest on record. Privacy vs Progress: Smart glasses are spreading faster than rules, raising surveillance fears across East Africa. Digital Policy Moves: South Africa delays its AI policy to 2027 after a fake-citations scandal, while Ghana plans a single Digital Economy Act to unify its tech laws. Regional Connectivity: The EAC is pushing a harmonised mobile roaming framework to cut cross-border communication costs. Business & Tech: OpenAI launches a Founder Experience team to help startups “move fast,” and Tanzania’s insurance sector bets on digital reforms for growth.

Ebola Alarm, Again: A fast-moving Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is already straining response capacity, with reports of 1,000+ suspected cases and growing fears as the Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or treatment—making “race against time” case-finding and containment the urgent theme. Public Health Preparedness: Africa CDC and partners are pushing lab and research capacity, including CelebrateLAB in Liberia with a focus on Africa-led therapeutic repurposing. Digital Borders: Ghana launched a national e-visa portal and waived visa fees for African passport holders, betting on smoother mobility to boost trade and tourism. AI at Work: South Africa’s AI adoption is rising, but cyber resilience and skills remain the pressure points as ransomware and data-protection rules tighten. Industry Momentum: JAC formally enters Morocco with eight models, while Ghana’s Interplast climbs to FT/Statista Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies ranking. Energy & Climate Tech: Kenya’s Octavia Carbon is advancing direct air capture in Elementaita, using geothermal power to store captured CO₂ underground.

Mining Policy Clarity: Ghana has rejected blanket nationalization of multinational mining assets, saying renewals and any state action will be handled case-by-case to protect national interest while keeping a “win-win” investor climate. Ebola Emergency Escalates: Africa CDC says 11 countries are at risk as Ebola spreads in the DRC; WHO warns the outbreak is outpacing response, with attacks on treatment sites adding pressure. Digital Finance Shockwave: Nigeria’s airtime lending is back on Airtel and Glo after a six-week suspension tied to a regulatory court fight, while MTN still hasn’t resumed. Digital Talent Push: Telecel CEO Patricia Obo‑Nai urges structural reforms to close Africa’s STEM gender gap, warning the continent can’t build a digital future while excluding half its talent. Energy Momentum: Congo’s offshore production story highlights a shift toward optimizing mature fields, not just chasing new discoveries. Africa Day Tech & Policy: Ghana launches an e-visa regime and removes online visa fees for African passport holders, aiming to boost trade and tourism.

Ebola Alarm in Central/East Africa: WHO has flagged the Bundibugyo-strain outbreak in DR Congo as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, with reports of 83 confirmed cases and 746 suspected infections in Ituri—while experts warn the real toll could be higher due to community deaths and weak infection controls. South Africa Water Safety: SANBWA says unregulated refill businesses are rising, sometimes pre-filling and sealing bottles without traceability or consistent safety checks—raising concerns about what people are actually drinking. Kruger National Park Security: SANParks is tightening protection in isolated areas after two tourists were found dead, with early signs suggesting their vehicle may have left the park toward Mozambique. Power Worry for Eskom: BLSA says the biggest threat isn’t load-shedding anymore—it’s municipal debt topping R130bn. Digital Finance Push: Ghana’s VP calls for ethical, accountable AI use to strengthen Africa’s financial markets. Kenya Crypto Regulation: Kenya completed consultations on 2026 rules for virtual asset service providers, aiming to bring the sector under law.