AGP Executive Report

Ebola Escalation in Congo: The WHO says eastern DR Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak may have been spreading undetected for about two months, with suspected deaths now reported at 177 out of 750 suspected cases—while a new confirmed case has reached South Kivu, far from the epicenter. Community Backlash: In Rwampara, protesters set fire to Ebola isolation tents after a dispute over a burial, showing how local customs and conflict can derail containment. Regional Shockwaves: Congo has banned funeral wakes and gatherings over 50; Uganda has confirmed cases; Rwanda has temporarily closed its border; and the US has tightened entry rules, even forcing an Air France diversion after a passenger was blocked. Rwanda Tech & Energy: Amid the health crisis, Rwanda pushes ahead on nuclear power readiness (IAEA review milestone) and continues building digital capacity, including AGL’s new Kigali expertise centre. Trade Tech: East Africa is betting on digital customs to speed cross-border clearance and cut delays.

Ebola Escalation: WHO says the DRC–Uganda Ebola emergency is moving fast, with nearly 600 suspected cases and hundreds of suspected deaths, and a new confirmed case reported in South Kivu (rebel-held Bukavu), raising fears the outbreak is spreading beyond the epicentre. Travel Shockwaves: The US tightened entry rules, rerouting an Air France flight to Montreal for screening and pushing more travellers through Washington Dulles; critics warn blanket bans can worsen fear and disrupt response. Digital Finance Push: In Liberia, Lonestar Cell MTN and BnB are expanding cross-border mobile money access with community activations, using USSD to reach countries across West and East Africa. Banking Update: NCBA posted Sh6bn net profit in Q1, driven by digital lending growth. Energy Race: Rwanda’s nuclear plans keep drawing US and Russia interest, while Tanzania and Rwanda signed an energy cooperation memo. Cost of Living Politics: US EPA loosens refrigerant rules, claiming lower grocery prices—sparking debate over climate and health trade-offs.

Ebola Escalation in Rebel-Held Congo: A rare Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is spreading in eastern DR Congo, with fears rising after reports of cases reaching M23-held South Kivu near Bukavu—while health workers say they’re undertrained and short on basics like masks and disinfectants. US Travel Curbs Spark Backlash: The US has imposed Ebola-related travel bans on people coming from DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, triggering flight diversions and criticism that blanket restrictions can worsen fear and disrupt response work. Regional Border Moves: Rwanda temporarily closed its DR Congo border crossings as the crisis grows, and Africa CDC has warned countries to stay vigilant. Tech & Health Infrastructure Push: Amid the outbreak, the week also highlighted Rwanda’s drive to strengthen health systems with drones and AI skills initiatives in Kigali. Climate Pressure Ahead: GHACOF warned below-normal rains across parts of the Greater Horn, raising fresh food and water risks as Ebola and conflict strain already-stretched services.

Ebola Emergency Escalates in Congo: WHO says the rare Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo is spreading with “scale and speed,” with reports of 139 dead and about 600 suspected cases as health workers warn they’re underprotected and undertrained amid insecurity and shortages. Digital Governance Push: Nigeria’s Tinubu orders MDAs to fully digitise workflows, citing 38 ministries already running secure paperless electronic systems to speed up citizen services. East Africa Tech Infrastructure: Kenya’s first Oracle Cloud region is set for Nairobi via iXAfrica, as AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya 2026 spotlights the continent’s data-centre gap. Environment Watch: The EAC launches its Lake Victoria Basin report, warning pollution and ecosystem decline are accelerating. Rwanda Energy Plans: Holtec and Rwanda’s atomic energy board sign to deploy SMR-300 units, aiming for reliable low-carbon power. Kenya Consumer Tech: Carl Pei’s Nothing officially enters Kenya with Mitsumi as distributor.

Ebola Emergency in Congo: WHO says it’s “deeply concerned” about the scale and speed of the rare Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo, with deaths now reported around 136 and 500+ suspected cases as health workers warn they’re underprotected and undertrained amid conflict and shortages of masks, PPE, medicines and even motorbikes for contact tracing. Digital Governance Push (Nigeria): President Tinubu directed 38 ministries and extra-ministerial departments to move fully onto secure paperless workflows, aiming to cut “manual inefficiency” and speed up service delivery. Banking Growth (Equity Group): Equity Bank targets 100 million customers by 2030 after Q1 profit jumped 24% to KSh19.1bn, citing stronger regional performance and heavier digital use. Rwanda Tech & Energy: Holtec and Rwanda Atomic Energy Board signed up for SMR-300 deployment talks, while AISCA Foundation launched in Kigali to tackle Africa’s AI compute gap.

Ebola Emergency Escalates: WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC is spreading with alarming “scale and speed,” with at least 131 deaths and 500+ suspected cases, and warns conflict, displacement, and mining-driven population movement are making surveillance and contact tracing harder. Cross-Border Pressure: Africa CDC has declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security, while Uganda has reported confirmed cases and the WHO is convening emergency steps as questions linger over how the virus spread undetected for weeks. Health Response Moves Fast: The US has mobilised $13m for surveillance, labs, risk communication, safe burials, and screening, and CDC has tightened travel guidance tied to the outbreak. Rwanda Tech Push: In Kigali, the AI Skills and Compute Africa Foundation (AISCA) launched to close Africa’s compute gap—alongside Yango Group’s new Yango Tech offering AI and digital infrastructure for businesses and public services.

Ebola Emergency Escalates: WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus says the rare Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo is spreading with alarming “scale and speed,” with reports of at least 131 deaths and 513 suspected cases, plus two confirmed cases in Uganda; WHO is convening an emergency committee and weighing whether experimental vaccine options can be used, but there’s still no approved vaccine or treatment for this strain and lab testing is limited. Energy & AfCFTA Pressure: ECA’s Claver Gatete warns Africa can’t deliver AfCFTA value chains on intermittent power, noting nearly 600 million people still lack electricity. Kigali Tech Push: AISCA Foundation launches in Kigali to tackle Africa’s AI “compute gap” with sovereign compute, skills, and research support. Regional Finance Momentum: Equity Group reports strong Q1 2026 growth, with tech-led banking driving balance-sheet expansion across East Africa.

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.