AGP Executive Report

AfCFTA Customs Deal Under Fire: Nigeria’s Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies won a $3.1bn, 20-year AfCFTA contract to digitize customs across 50 countries, but analysts are alarmed by its limited public track record and opaque credentials. Kenya-China Business Tensions: Ahead of Kenya’s 2027 election, Chinese firms are being pulled into political campaigns after accusations involving CRBC, raising concerns for investor security even as China remains a key development catalyst. Kenya Beer Deal Scrutiny: Kenya’s competition regulator wants East African Breweries (EABL) to set aside up to KSh15bn in reserve funds before Diageo’s EABL stake sale to Asahi can close, with Diageo calling the conditions unlawful. Egypt Textile Strike Escalates: Workers at Misr El Amria Spinning and Weaving were locked out after rejecting a pay-allowance calculation dispute, adding to wider labour unrest in Egypt’s textile sector. Botswana Debt Pressure: Botswana’s domestic debt doubled to P56.06bn while external debt rose to P27.88bn, with borrowing expected to stay as mineral revenues remain subdued. Somalia-China Fish Exports: Somalia is set to start duty-free fish exports to China next month, aiming to boost jobs and cold-storage and processing capacity. Connectivity Boost in DRC: Airtel and Starlink launched Africa’s first satellite-to-phone service in the DRC, extending mobile connectivity to remote areas. Labour & Governance: South Africa’s DA asked for an SIU probe into Daybreak Foods over alleged irregular spending and oversight failures, while Ghana’s blue economy governance moves forward with a Blue Economy Commission bill. Food Security Risk: El Niño could weaken crop yields and lift food inflation, with analysts warning of a potential global food crisis in 2027.

Mining & Investment: Aurum Resources reports high-grade gold hits from Côte d’Ivoire’s Boundiali project, including 3m at 80.09 g/t and 38m at 4.20 g/t, with drilling extending mineralisation beyond the current resource at BST1 and testing BST2 outside the existing footprint. Crypto Regulation: Nigeria’s new tax rules for virtual assets add a 1.5% stamp duty on transfers, raising fears of capital flight to foreign, less-regulated platforms and weakening the country’s fast-growing crypto market. Agribusiness & Health Tech: Kenya pilots a faster malaria testing machine (Sysmex XN-31) that can detect parasites and run a blood count in about a minute, aiming to cut diagnosis time and improve lab throughput. Energy & Regional Trade: Nigeria’s $25bn Nigeria–Morocco gas pipeline plan is reportedly stalled by lukewarm Nigerian execution, even after ECOWAS endorsement and a renamed African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline. Politics & Governance: Nigeria’s INEC declares Osun governor Ademola Adeleke re-elected, with Tinubu urging unity and voters’ resolve against vote-buying and intimidation. Food Industry Push: Uganda moves to revitalise its egg and baby food sector, with government inspections highlighting import substitution and local job creation.

Oil & Gas Appointments: ConocoPhillips, Suncor and Shell reshuffled top leadership, with new CEOs and CFO moves effective from September and beyond, signaling fresh strategy at major energy players. Diplomatic Scandal: France’s ambassador Bruno Foucher faces disciplinary action after reports of hosting an “endless parade” of women at an official residence, raising security concerns. Research-to-Jobs Push: Kenya’s education leadership urged universities to commercialise research into products and enterprises that create jobs, not just publish papers. Zambia Election Watch: Hakainde Hichilema kept a narrow lead as results rolled in, with turnout at 55.5% and the race hinging on crossing the 50% threshold. Trade & Industry: Nigeria’s parliament-backed push highlights China’s zero-tariff expansion as a chance for African producers to scale exports and value addition. Regional Business & Mobility: ECOWAS stakeholders urged sustained public education and better local coordination to make the free movement protocol work for border trade. Osun Poll Accountability: SERAP demanded INEC, EFCC and ICPC investigate alleged vote-buying and violence in Nigeria’s Osun governorship election. Tech & Connectivity: Airtel Africa and Starlink launched satellite-to-phone service in the DRC, extending coverage to remote areas. Markets: Nigeria’s NGX All-Share fell 1.14% week-on-week, with capitalisation down N1.889tn as selling hit large caps. Youth Employment Outlook: A new report says services will overtake agriculture as the biggest employer of young Africans by 2033. Migration Pressure in Ceuta: Protesters in Spain’s Ceuta enclave demanded asylum instead of return to Morocco as thousands remain in precarious conditions.

Tourism Diversification: Kenya’s “harvesting season” from June–October brings big wins for hotels and jobs, but coverage highlights the need to build a year-round tourism economy beyond peak demand. Security & Governance: In South Africa, Operation Prosper extends troop support against gangs and illegal mining, but recent killings underline that boots-on-the-ground alone isn’t fixing deeper capacity and intelligence gaps. Capital Markets Compliance: Nigeria’s SEC orders capital market operators to terminate banking ties and restrict dealings linked to Iran and North Korea, tightening anti–money laundering and terrorist-financing controls. Crypto Sanctions: Bitget and Binance-aligned moves restrict transactions with 16 sanctioned crypto platforms in phased deadlines, with wallet reviews and settlement impacts. Regional Trade & Diplomacy: Strait of Hormuz disruption keeps raising fuel and fertilizer pressure across Africa, while Somaliland pushes for investment and tech partnerships via Kenya’s diplomatic hub. Elections & Economy: Zambia’s recount and vote scrutiny continue as Hichilema holds an early lead, with turnout down and reform promises central to the campaign. Digital Economy: NiRA explores making .ng domains cheaper for SMEs via discounted bundles and possible voucher subsidies.

UAE Trade Expansion: The UAE says it has signed 38 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements since 2021, with more deals now in force and non-oil trade hitting Dhs1.937tn in H1 2026, boosting access and lowering barriers for UAE firms. Nigeria Wildlife Crisis: A new pan-African series, Wild Africa, spotlights Nigeria’s wildlife collapse—elephants down over 70%—and flags the country as a major transit hub for illegal ivory and pangolin trafficking. Osun Election Integrity: EU observers report 323 electoral offences and 38 security incidents in Osun as voting continues, with BVAS malfunctions recorded at 7.9% of polling units observed. SEC Crypto Oversight: Nigeria’s SEC admits three more crypto firms into its ARIP sandbox, bringing the total to 14 under structured regulatory oversight. Aviation Leadership: Zambia Airways appoints Ethiopian Airlines executive Aman Wole as CEO, aiming to expand routes and strengthen partnerships. Digital Connectivity: Telna and MTN Bayobab partner to roll out embedded eSIM services across multiple African markets. Markets Watch (Nigeria): Nigeria’s equities shed N3.8tn in four days, with the NGX All-Share Index down 1.20% for the week as investors rotated into select insurance and small-cap names. Migration Pressure (Ceuta): Morocco detains 111 irregular migrants after a fresh attempt to cross into Spain’s Ceuta.

Anti-Corruption & Governance: Nigeria’s ICPC says integrity in public administration is now central to economic stability, arguing corruption raises costs, weakens institutions and scares off investment. Capital Markets & Compliance: The SEC orders capital market operators to freeze assets linked to designated terrorism financiers, while also admitting blockchain into its Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme. Energy & Housing Pressure: Kenya’s affordable housing push faces financing and tax uncertainty, with private developers calling for predictable policy to unlock scale. Digital Economy: Experts urge stronger digital infrastructure, skills and clearer rules to speed Africa’s prosperity, while Nigeria’s SEC blockchain sandbox move signals a more formal approach to digital assets. Trade & Investment: The UAE reports 38 signed CEPAs and expanding non-oil trade partnerships across Africa and beyond. Business & Markets: Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s IPO plans stay focused on a “people’s IPO” in October, with a foreign listing delayed at least three years. Sports & Culture: Kenya’s deputy president backs arts and sports inside education to build talent beyond Vision 2030. Regional Politics: Namibia renews calls for the full lifting of the US embargo on Cuba. Security & Elections: Nigeria’s Osun governorship race tightens into a two-horse contest as Tinubu urges peaceful, transparent polls and police impose movement restrictions.

EAC Trade & Investment: Eight countries will showcase products at the 21st East African Community Trade Fair in Mwanza (Aug 28–Sep 6), with organisers targeting 600+ exhibitors and new distributor links under the theme “Peace and Security as a Catalyst for Trade and Investment.” Insurance Expansion: Kenya Reinsurance plans to enter Tanzania with $20m, aiming to launch operations Sept 1 after regulatory approvals and to boost local insurers’ capacity for larger risks. Nigeria–China Trade Push: Nigeria’s Power Minister urged fast rollout of the Nigeria–China aquatic products protocol, which grants zero-tariff access to China’s 1.4bn consumers; bilateral trade hit $18bn in H1 2026. SEC Crackdown: Nigeria’s SEC ordered capital market players to freeze assets of six individuals and three entities linked to terrorism financing. Connectivity Leap: Airtel Africa and Starlink launched satellite-to-mobile service commercially in DRC, enabling SMS and light-data apps like WhatsApp without special equipment. Education in Conflict Zones: West African groups called for stronger government ownership and innovative financing to tackle the education crisis in fragile areas. Energy/Industry: KenGen’s Green Energy Park adds a $3.95m fish feed plant investor, Maxim Agri, to expand aquaculture feed capacity.

Trade & Industry: Maersk lifted its 2026 outlook after Q2 revenue rose 20% and imports into Africa stayed strong, pointing to higher freight demand amid volatility. Energy & Climate Finance: Libya’s oil windfall hit $15.2bn in six months, but the IMF warns the gains could deepen the country’s crisis. Oil & Refining Investment: AFC led a $2.5bn equity raise for Dangote Refinery, as the plant targets 1.4m bpd capacity by 2028. Banking & Carbon Markets: Access Bank Ghana won Carbon Credit Broker certification, positioning it to intermediate carbon credit trades. Jobs & Skills: MTN launched an AI-powered job board across 11 African markets to link training with vacancies. Education Finance: South Africa’s NSFAS “missing-middle” loans show low conversion—only 3,102 of 53,000+ eligible applicants reached funding stages. Governance & Business Data: Nigeria’s Fylings expands a pan-African company registry intelligence layer, aiming to make ownership, tenders and compliance data searchable. Regional Trade Policy: Kenya welcomed the US Senate’s AGOA extension to Dec 2028, protecting duty-free apparel exports. Security & Rights: Goons attacked youth petitioners at Kenya’s Mombasa county assembly, injuring at least five including a journalist.

Digital Fraud & Identity Security: A Spain arrest highlights how AI deepfakes can bypass biometrics and liveness checks, pushing organizations to strengthen issuance controls with injection attack detection, cryptographic protections and continuous trust. Ghana Energy & Integrity: CIPA Holdings Group won Renewable Energy Solutions & Sustainable Infrastructure Company of the Year at Ghana’s Business Integrity Awards, with its founder also honoured for clean energy financing. Ghana’s Digital Readiness Gap: A piece argues Ghana’s digital economy is held back less by access and more by “readiness” problems like unmanaged domains, weak hosting practices and thin support for businesses going online. Payments & Cross-Border Rails: Theparkpay opens its cross-border payment rails via a new app, aiming to cut fees and middlemen costs for Africans sending money abroad. Regional Payments Independence: Africa’s push to integrate BEAC into PAPSS is framed as a way to settle trade in local currencies and reduce reliance on dollar/euro conversion. Telecom Expansion: Airtel Nigeria is nearing 18,000 cell sites, adding 1,000+ sites annually and extending 4G into underserved rural areas. Public Health Pressure: Cholera outbreaks are active in six West and Central African countries, with UNICEF warning climate and flooding are accelerating spread. Election Watch (Nigeria): Yiaga Africa flags security, BVAS/BVAS-related technical issues and vote-buying risks ahead of Osun’s governorship election. Capital Markets: Africa Finance Corporation issued a CHF 350m digital bond via SIX/SDX, marking a milestone for African digital bond issuance.

Youth Jobs Pressure: The ILO says global youth unemployment rose to 12.4% in 2025 (67m jobless ages 15–24) and NEET climbed to 20%, warning 2026–27 stability could still hide a deeper jobs crisis. Energy & Clean Cooking: Tanzania is betting on domestic natural gas to cut reliance on charcoal and firewood, framing gas as energy security and a path to cleaner cooking access. Regional Trade & Logistics: IFC-backed Jumia gets $25m equity to expand digital commerce infrastructure, aiming to reach 60,000 sellers and support thousands of jobs via logistics and payments. Monetary Policy Watch: Namibia’s central bank held its repo rate at 6.75% as inflation pressures ease, keeping borrowing costs steady for households and firms. Banking Update: Kenya’s KCB posted a 20.8% profit-before-tax rise to KSh 49.3bn for H1 2026 and declared a higher interim dividend. Climate Finance Push: ECOWAS moved to validate a regional carbon market platform to help close a $294bn climate-finance gap. Infrastructure & Geopolitics: Ethiopia’s $12.5bn Bishoftu airport project is drawing US–China contractor competition, with Chinese firms prominent on shortlisted works. Tech for Workforces: Staffbase launched Middle East and Africa data hosting, targeting frontline-heavy employers needing locally hosted enterprise tools. Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium: Three more African countries backed a precautionary pause, bringing support to six as governance and science gaps persist.

Earnings & Investment: Jumia shares jumped about 8% after Q2 results beat expectations and the company secured a $50m funding round led by the IFC, with management sticking to its path to EBITDA breakeven in Q4 2026. Jobs & Youth: The ILO says global youth unemployment rose to 12.4% last year and NEET climbed to 20%, warning that slow job creation and fast tech change are making the school-to-work transition harder. South Africa Labour Market: Stats SA reported unemployment rising to 33.6% and youth NEET at 36.4%, with job losses hitting manufacturing, mining and agriculture. Climate Finance & Carbon Markets: ECOWAS is pushing to close a $294bn climate-finance gap by validating a framework for a regional carbon market platform. Conservation: Nigeria’s elephant numbers are down to about 400 in the wild, with experts blaming neglect, poaching, habitat loss and conflict. Energy Infrastructure: Abu Dhabi-based Global South Utilities inaugurated a 50MW solar-plus-storage plant in the Central African Republic, boosting capacity and targeting 300,000 households. Crypto & AI Security: Crypto firms, including the African Bitcoin Institute, urged AI labs to grant early access to frontier models for open-source Bitcoin defenders to reduce abuse risk.

Corporate Shake-up: Godrej Consumer Products’ Sudhir Sitapati quit days after a fresh reappointment, sending shares down about 10% and elevating CFO Aasif Malbari to MD/CEO. Rail & Security: CRSC won Cairo Metro depot signaling upgrade work and signed a Phu Quoc tram systems-integration deal, while a separate rail cybersecurity market report flags fast-growing demand as rail networks digitise. Energy & Industry: Kenya’s Lamu push targets a $100m palm oil processing plant to cut costly imports and create jobs; Dangote’s $16bn refinery plans also keep driving policy debate over fuel market protection. Trade & Investment: Nigeria and Botswana move to build a SADC trade gateway under AfCFTA, and Nigeria’s AfCFTA customs modernisation is set to scale via a home-grown PPP model. Policy & Skills: UNESCO, Nigeria’s TVET regulators and partners back a digital transformation strategy for skills systems. Governance & Business Climate: Kenya starts its 2027/28 budget cycle early to beat election timing, while Nigeria’s Tinubu approves a rules-based framework to unlock up to $50bn in deep offshore investment. Green Economy: MTN Nigeria’s PachiPanda Challenge backs youth-led solutions for Nigeria’s green economy.

Offshore Energy & Maritime Services: GEOxyz will permanently base its survey vessel Geo Ocean VII in Walvis Bay, Namibia, shifting from “fly-in, fly-out” work to year-round local capability for hydrographic and geophysical projects. Mining & Investment: Lake Victoria Gold published a maiden NI 43-101 resource for its Tembo Gold Project in Tanzania, reporting 480,100 inferred ounces and 99,700 indicated ounces near Barrick’s Bulyanhulu mine. Monetary Policy: Kenya’s central bank held its benchmark rate at 8.75% for a third straight meeting, citing fuel-driven inflation pressures but stable shilling and growth. Banking Standards: Ghana’s BoG and CIB Ghana renewed focus on ethics, professionalism, customer protection, cybersecurity and fraud prevention. Air Connectivity: Africa World Airlines launches direct Accra–Abidjan flights from August 31, four times weekly, boosting West African trade links. Governance & Elections: Nigeria’s ADC unveiled its “Orange Book,” pledging to abolish opaque security votes and tighten spending controls ahead of 2027. Health & Biotech: Bio Usawa and Kenya BioVax partnered to expand local biologics manufacturing and commercialization across Kenya and Africa. Oil Security: A drone strike sparked a major fire at Libya’s Zawiya oil refinery, with authorities declaring a state of emergency.

Wellness Real Estate: Workable’s Nairobi workspace becomes Africa’s first WELL Coworking Rating holder, adding to its EDGE certification and pushing ESG-led office demand. Cloud & Data Infrastructure: A new forecast puts the hybrid cloud market on track to reach $592.48bn by 2035, underlining Africa’s digital transformation push. Nigeria Oil & Gas: Nigeria’s upstream regulator expects $50bn in offshore investment across 22 projects from 2026-2030, betting on steadier fiscal rules. Cost-of-Living Pressure: Reuters reports Nigerians are feeling the squeeze as reforms bite—fuel, naira weakness and power costs keep lifting prices. Regional Trade: Namibia and Uganda aim to turn political solidarity into trade and investment, exploring deals in energy, agriculture, ICT and security under AfCFTA. Insurance & Inclusion: Heirs Life Assurance appoints Pastor Jerry Eze as an independent non-executive director to deepen trust and expand insurance adoption. Security Cooperation: UPDF urges stronger Eastern Africa regional security institutions and cooperation to tackle emerging threats. Gambia Education Link: Gambia plans a study tour to Nigeria’s TETFund model to support its own higher education trust fund. Job Scam Warning: A new focus on fake job offers highlights how unemployment and underemployment fuel fraud across East Africa. Capital Markets: ShafDB gets approval to issue green, social and sustainable bonds to mobilise housing finance.

AI for Business: Microsoft kicked off Cloud and AI Frontier Week for EMEA, pushing the “frontier firm” idea—moving from AI pilots to redesigned work where agents handle real workloads. Youth & Governance: Reach A Hand Africa’s B!LL!Now Now summit in Kampala challenged “performative inclusion,” calling for youth to shape budgets and policy, not just attend meetings. Data to Decisions: A Ghana engineering event heard a blunt message: Africa isn’t short of data, it’s short on the will and infrastructure to turn it into better decisions. Digital Public Services: Rwanda and Planet launched a national satellite data program to feed government, universities and startups for agriculture, urban planning and disaster response. Climate Negotiations: African climate negotiators met in Accra to shape the Global Just Transition Mechanism ahead of COP31, warning ambition must translate into workable text. Regional Finance Gateway: Mauritius says GIFT City family offices can route investments through it to access African markets via COMESA/SADC and treaty benefits. Hospitality & Lifestyle: Transcorp Hotels unveiled new padel courts at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, betting on “work, unwind, stay active” experiences. Elections & Politics: In Nigeria’s Osun race, an AAC protest followed the exclusion of its governorship candidate from an Arise News town hall. Health & Food Security: Rwanda families are using Permagardens to grow vegetables at home with natural farming methods. Sports Policy: ECOWAS youth and sports ministers adopted regional policies and action plans for youth, sports and volunteerism.

Nigeria–Ghana Trade Friction: Nigerian onion exporters have halted shipments to Ghana amid a lingering dispute, with traders urging ECOWAS and both governments to agree on trade modalities to avoid value-chain losses. Nigerian Markets & Policy: Nigeria’s plan to list NNPC on the NGX is back in focus as Tinubu reiterates a full listing, while new tax reforms risk shutting informal micro-suppliers out of corporate contracts under “no TIN, no contract” compliance rules. Business Climate & Costs: Kenya’s supply-chain strain and Nairobi’s office vacancy puzzle point to a mismatch between aging corporate space and today’s demand for flexible, affordable layouts. Regional Mobility Push: Chad will allow visa-free entry for all Africans from Jan 1, 2027, joining a growing list of countries easing travel across the continent. Energy, Environment & Risk: Uganda’s oil buildout is drawing scrutiny for wetland degradation around Lake Victoria, raising cross-border ecological and livelihood concerns. Africa–China Trade: China–Africa trade hit a record $197bn as zero-tariff moves deepen two-way industrial integration. Innovation & Talent: Four Nigerian girls from Port Harcourt qualify again for the Technovation Girls Global Challenge finals with an AI app targeting elderly safety and isolation. UK–Nigeria Diplomacy: The UK appoints Vicky Seymour as Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja to deepen cooperation across security, migration, development and economic ties.