AGP Executive Report

Ebola Escalation: WHO and Africa CDC have declared a continental emergency as DR Congo’s rare Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak surges, with deaths now estimated around 131 and suspected cases climbing fast; WHO chief Tedros warns about the “scale and speed,” and Congo is rushing new treatment centres while admitting early testing missed the strain. Regional Shockwaves: Uganda reports at least one death, and Rwanda has already tightened movement by closing key border crossings as cases reach places like Goma. US Response Tightens: The CDC confirms an American doctor has Ebola and says more US screening and travel restrictions are coming, with evacuations to Germany underway. Satellite Connectivity: Uganda licenses Starlink, adding another African market to the satellite internet rollout—under conditions meant to keep oversight and local presence. AI & Digital Push: Yango Group launches “Yango Tech” across Africa with B2B AI and smart-city style solutions, while a new Africa tech policy tracker highlights how regulation volume doesn’t always mean quality.

Ebola Emergency Hits Goma as Rwanda Tightens Borders: Rwanda has closed key DRC border crossings after Ebola reached Goma, a rebel-held city near the border, with authorities saying the shutdown will stay in place “indefinitely” while only Rwandans and Congolese nationals can return under screening. WHO Escalates Response: The WHO has declared the DRC–Uganda outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, warning the true scale is still unclear and that the Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment. US Steps Up Screening After American Cases: The CDC confirmed an American exposed in Congo has Ebola and is being evacuated to Germany, while additional exposed Americans are moved for monitoring; the US is also tightening entry screening for travelers from the region. Local Containment Moves: Congo is rushing treatment centers into Ituri (including Bunia) as cases and deaths climb past 100 and spread across multiple provinces.

Ebola Emergency Escalates in the Great Lakes: WHO has declared the DRC–Uganda Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern after more than 80 deaths and hundreds of suspected cases, with a confirmed case now reported in Goma under Rwanda-backed M23 control—raising fears of wider spread and pushing countries to tighten surveillance and cross-border screening. Border Response in Focus: Rwanda moved to close key Goma–Rubavu crossings as the WHO warned against blanket border closures, highlighting the tension between fast local action and global guidance. Nigeria Security + Aviation Push: At the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, President Tinubu urged Airbus to speed up delivery of three Apache helicopters and back maintenance/hangar plans to build Nigeria’s aerospace capacity. Digital Regionalism: IUCEA launched an East African AI Alliance to tackle fragmented national approaches in AI for education and research. Food Systems Shock: A separate report flags fertilizer supply strain from the Iran conflict—an input bottleneck that could ripple through African agriculture.

Ebola Emergency Escalates in Congo: WHO has declared an international public health emergency over a new Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s Ituri province, with deaths now reported above 80 and suspected cases climbing past 300, and a lab-confirmed case reported in Goma—an M23-controlled city—raising fears of wider spread across borders. Cross-Border Containment Pressure: WHO is urging neighbouring countries to activate emergency response and screening, while the outbreak’s Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or treatment, and conflict plus transport limits are making response harder. East Africa’s AI Push: IUCEA has launched an East African Community AI Alliance to tackle fragmented national AI efforts, aiming to scale AI in education and research across the region. Digital Sovereignty Debate: Satellite internet growth is sparking a sovereignty fight over who controls connectivity and infrastructure. Rwanda Tech & Mobility Signals: Rwanda continues to position itself as a regional hub—while Rwanda-Nigeria ties move forward with visa-free entry for 30 days.

Aviation & Security Push: Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu met Airbus in Kigali and backed a plan for aircraft maintenance and hangar facilities, while also urging the “speedy delivery” of three Apache helicopters already ordered to strengthen counterterror operations. Diaspora & Governance: Tinubu also reassured Nigerians in Rwanda that reforms are working and directed Nigeria’s mission in Rwanda to fix passport renewal delays, including access for newborns. Mobility Deal: Nigeria began immediate 30-day visa-free entry for Rwandans, matching Rwanda’s earlier policy and aiming to cut border friction for tourism and business. Digital Sovereignty Debate: Africa’s satellite internet boom is triggering a sovereignty fight over who controls connectivity and infrastructure. DRC Crisis: In eastern DRC, a new Ebola outbreak is reported with at least 80 deaths, while access limits are complicating verification. Finance Watch: Rwanda’s BPR Bank Rwanda approved dividends of over Frw 4.3bn at its AGM.

Visa & Mobility: Nigeria has started immediate 30-day visa-free entry for Rwandan citizens, with Rwanda’s reciprocal policy already in place—aimed at cutting border red tape and boosting tourism, business travel, and trade. Digital Sovereignty: Africa’s satellite internet boom is triggering a sovereignty fight over who controls connectivity rules and infrastructure, while regulators warn that “offshored” telecom models could leave countries dependent on foreign systems. AI From Pilots to Scale: A PwC report at the Africa CEO Forum says 82% of African orgs run AI pilots, but few scale them into real returns—leaving the continent in “pilot mode” as global rivals move faster. Climate Unity: African parliamentarians in Nairobi pushed for one coordinated voice in global climate and methane talks, demanding financing that fits food security and development realities. Health Crisis: Ebola has surged in DR Congo’s Ituri province, with officials citing at least 80 deaths and hundreds of suspected cases amid conflict. Business & Ports: APM Terminals pledged $600m to modernise Nigeria’s Apapa Port and logistics as Tinubu courts investment.

Cannes-bound Nigerian cinema: Sophie Okonedo says taking “Clarissa” from Lagos to Cannes made her cry tears of joy, as the Esiri brothers bring Virginia Woolf’s day-in-the-life story into a contemporary Nigerian setting. Digital PFM in Rwanda: At a CABRI workshop, UNICEF’s Dr. Gaby Guerrero pushed Digital Public Financial Management as “visible money,” so budgets can be tracked end-to-end to schools and clinics—while Kenya’s Bajeti Yetu and ESIR link spending to services. Local tech manufacturing: Zimbabwe unveiled its first locally manufactured laptop, the Avantis Parote 1030i, betting on jobs and digital inclusion through domestic assembly. Africa CEO Forum momentum: In Kigali, Tinubu defended reforms and even tied citizenship to taxpaying, while APM Terminals pledged $600m for Apapa Port modernisation and logistics. Cybersecurity warning: Senegal reported fresh cyberattacks on public systems, underscoring a fast-growing digital threat across the region. Public health alert: DRC’s Ituri province recorded 246 suspected Ebola cases and 65 deaths, with conflict and cross-border movement complicating containment.

Ports & Investment Push: APM Terminals says it will pour $600m into Nigeria’s maritime sector—starting with Apapa Port modernisation and logistics upgrades—after meetings with President Tinubu at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali. Tax & Citizenship Debate: Tinubu doubled down on reforms, arguing Nigerians who won’t pay taxes (without exemption) shouldn’t be treated as citizens—framing taxation as the base for hospitals, roads and development. Digital Africa Under Pressure: A new Africa CEO Forum/Askya report warns that Africa’s fast-growing satellite internet boom must come with fair rules, or it could weaken states’ control and revenues. Health Crisis: Ebola is back in DRC’s Ituri province with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths, while conflict and cross-border movement complicate containment. Energy Reality Check: Tony Attah says 100,000 Nigerians die yearly from lack of access to cleaner energy, pushing gas as “life.” Cybersecurity Watch: Senegal reported another public-sector cyberattack, adding to a continent-wide pattern of rising digital threats.

Africa CEO Forum Momentum: Rwanda is doubling down on its pitch to be East Africa’s next investment hub, selling “stability, clarity, speed and execution” to global capital as the summit shifts from slogans to control of minerals, finance, and digital systems. Minerals & Sovereignty: Paul Kagame used the business stage to warn that Africa is still treated as a resource reserve, not an equal partner—while the forum’s big question stays: who captures the value from the energy transition? Digital Reality Check: A new UNDP analysis flags “fault lines” slowing government digital transformation, while another report argues AI is moving from screens to the physical world—raising both opportunity and risk for Africa’s real economy. Cybersecurity: Remote work is expanding Africa’s “invisible digital battlefield,” with phishing and ransomware threats growing as corporate data leaves office perimeters. Maritime Investment: Nigeria’s reform story got a boost as APM Terminals pledged $600m for port modernisation and logistics in Apapa.

Africa CEO Forum Momentum: Kigali’s Africa CEO Forum is shifting from “Africa’s potential” to a sharper fight over economic sovereignty—who controls minerals, finance industrialisation, and digital systems—with leaders and investors debating shared ownership, risk-sharing, and cross-border value capture. Digital Governance Watch: A UNDP analysis warns government digital transformation is stalled by “fault lines” like weak policy intent and fragmented structures, while a separate UN-backed look at digital transformation flags procurement and funding models as recurring blockers. AI in Education (East Africa): The EAC launched a regional AI alliance and a network focused on AI in education and research, aiming to scale impact beyond country-by-country efforts. Lake Victoria Crisis: New findings say nearly 40% of the lakebed lacks enough oxygen, squeezing fish breeding and livelihoods across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. DRC Atrocity Claims: Human Rights Watch alleges M23 and Rwandan forces committed executions, rape and abductions during an occupation of Uvira, renewing pressure for accountability. Policy & Tech Finance: Rwanda’s summit backdrop also includes regional policy moves—from Kenya’s proposed Finance Bill 2026 tax changes to Togo’s plan for a unified digital universal health insurance platform.

Vaccine Diplomacy: Kenya’s President William Ruto met IVI’s boss in Nairobi as the International Vaccine Institute opens a new Kenya Country and Project Office—aimed at boosting trials, manufacturing partnerships, and regulation with KEMRI, Kenya Biovax and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board. Regional Energy Build-Out: Djibouti has started construction of the $160m (Sh20.7bn) Fuelstor fuel terminal, as the EAC weighs a joint refinery plan in Tanga. AI at Regional Scale: East Africa launched an EAC Artificial Intelligence Alliance, with a flagship network focused on AI in education and research. Health Systems Digitised: Togo is preparing a unified digital platform for universal health insurance reimbursements, using a federated approach to connect hospitals, pharmacies, labs and insurers. Tech & Trust: GSMA says MWC26 Kigali is adding new summits, including an AI-powered scams track. DRC Rights Alarm: Human Rights Watch reports M23 and Rwandan forces committed killings, rape and abductions during an occupation of Uvira. Rwanda Business Spotlight: Kigali hosts the Africa CEO Forum this week, positioning the city as a major investor pitch stage.

Africa CEO Forum Momentum (Kigali): Kigali is set to host Africa’s “Davoss moment” as the 2026 Africa CEO Forum runs May 14–15, drawing 2,800+ business leaders and investors to push the theme “Scale or Fail”—a bid for Africa to control more of the value from capital, tech, and supply chains. Tinubu’s Investor Pitch (Kigali): Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Kigali to sell Nigeria’s reform story to continental investors, arguing the country’s scale can drive returns far beyond typical 20–25% projections. France-Africa Reset (Nairobi): At the Africa Forward Summit, Emmanuel Macron unveiled €23bn (US$27bn) for energy, AI, and agriculture, while Kenya’s Ruto stressed sovereignty and “win-win” investment over aid. Digital Fraud Watch: A new global map flags country-by-country fraud exposure, and separate reporting shows digital fraud pressure remains high—especially around account logins. Rwanda Agriculture Funding Strain: Rwanda’s draft budget warns unpaid fertilizer and seed subsidy arrears are piling up, adding hidden pressure to farm modernization.

Africa Forward Summit Shockwaves: France’s Macron wrapped up the Nairobi summit by unveiling a €23bn ($27bn) Africa investment push—energy, AI and agriculture—with Kenya set to take the biggest slice and Ruto repeating “sovereignty” as the deal pivots from aid to co-investment and “win-win” industry partnerships. Local Tech & Mobility: Kenya’s electric bus rollout is getting practical: BasiGo says its charging network is expanding beyond Nairobi into towns like Nakuru, Nyeri, Meru and Nanyuki, shaping where fleets can start and recharge. Health Systems Pressure: WHO warns plasma access is constrained less by medicine than by cold-chain power and equipment—only 38% of donated blood is processed into components in low-income settings. DRC Security & Rights: Amnesty reports Christians are among the main victims of Islamic State-linked ADF atrocities in eastern DRC, with abuses described as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Rwanda Watch: A Rwandan dissident, Aimable Karasira, died on release day, triggering calls for an independent probe.

Africa Forward Summit: Kenya’s William Ruto put education, youth empowerment and digital innovation at the center of Africa’s growth plan, arguing demographic potential only becomes “power” through skills, research and digital inclusion. France Partnership: Ruto and Emmanuel Macron pushed a “win-win” Africa–France deal on sovereign equality, while Macron also announced a €23bn Africa investment push tied to energy, AI and agriculture. Energy Security: Djibouti has started building a Sh20.7bn Fuelstor fuel hub to strengthen regional fuel supply for East Africa. Electric Mobility: BasiGo says its charging network is expanding beyond Nairobi, shaping where electric buses operate and recharge across more towns in Kenya and Rwanda. Food Tech Under Climate Pressure: New research flags how warming could shift crop pests and diseases across Rwanda and Burundi, raising risks for Great Lakes farmers. Health Funding Shock: USAID’s exit is spotlighting how fragile donor-funded health systems remain when external money stops. Rights & Tech Oversight: Human Rights Watch warns the EU is failing to stop surveillance-tech exports to rights violators. Rwanda Business: Botswana and Rwanda signed a double-tax deal aimed at boosting cross-border investment.

EU Surveillance Crackdown: Human Rights Watch says the EU’s 2021 Dual-Use rules aren’t stopping member states from exporting spyware and surveillance tech to governments with records of spying on activists and journalists—HRW urges Brussels to tighten human-rights checks and enforce transparency. China’s Security Pivot in Central Africa: A new “China Chronicles” piece argues Beijing’s engagement in the DRC is shifting from mostly economic ties toward security and defense-industrial cooperation, raising the risk of more instability amid M23-linked tensions. Digital Finance Boom: A profile on Africa’s fintech surge puts 2025 transaction value around $1.4T and projects $65B annual revenue by 2030, driven by mobile money and cross-border trade rails. Rwanda/Region Business Signals: InvestHK is sending a delegation to Johannesburg and Kigali to pitch Hong Kong as a gateway for African firms into Asia. Kenya Tech Watch: Microsoft’s $1bn Kenya data-centre plan with G42 is stalled over a government off-take guarantee, though it’s not formally cancelled.

Africa Forward Summit 2026: The agenda is set around seven pillars—green industrialization and energy transition, reforming the global financial system, blue economy, sustainable agriculture, AI and digital tech, resilient health systems, and peace and security—with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame co-chairing an AI-focused roundtable and health talks centering on local pharma manufacturing and epidemic preparedness. Digital & Investment Signals: East Africa is drawing about $4.1bn in fresh investment as reforms boost confidence, while Microsoft’s $1bn Kenya data-centre deal with G42 has stalled over government off-take terms (not cancelled). Health & Social Impact: Rwanda’s RDF launches a nationwide eye-care push targeting 6,000 cataract surgeries in 30 districts. Conservation & Policy: Saudi Arabia is set to join India-led the International Big Cat Alliance as its 26th member, as the IBCA Summit nears. Culture & Media: Cannes will spotlight three African films in Un Certain Regard, including Rwanda’s “Ben’imana.”