AGP Executive Report

Ebola Alarm: WHO says the DR Congo Ebola outbreak is spreading fast, declaring a “continental emergency” as deaths rise to about 131 and suspected cases near 513, with an emergency meeting set to review options. East Africa Integration: EAC and IGAD are pushing digital systems to speed trade, logistics and cross-border payments, aiming to lift intra-regional trade to 40% by 2030. BRICS Watch: Kremlin confirms Vladimir Putin will attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi on Sept 12–13, his second India trip in a year. AFCON 2027 Build-Up: CAF qualifying draws in Cairo set groups for the 2027 tournament co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, with Kenya learning its path and hosts still playing qualifiers. Kenya Sports Focus: After a strong showing at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Kenya’s athletes now shift to the Commonwealth Games. Ethiopia Election Civic Push: ECSOC says it is expanding voter education and election observation ahead of Ethiopia’s June 1 vote. Dangote Fertiliser Boost: Dangote Group raises Ethiopia fertiliser plant investment to over $4bn, expanding scope with power and pipeline components.

Ebola Emergency: Health teams in eastern DR Congo rushed to set up treatment centres in Bunia as WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, after confirmed cases were reported in Kampala, Uganda, and the death toll was put at around 80 with hundreds of suspected cases in Ituri and more in North Kivu. Kenya Fuel Crisis: A nationwide transport strike over fuel prices left commuters stranded across major cities, with schools closed in Nairobi and roads blocked by youths. Horn Integration Push: Ethiopia hosted the Horn Inter-Elite Dialogue in Jigjiga, where leaders urged “regional agency” and deeper cooperation to reduce insecurity and external meddling. Climate Early Warning: Ethiopia’s meteorology chief called for actionable, cross-border climate information and stronger early warning systems as hazards intensify across the Greater Horn. Ethiopia Economy: Ethiopia renewed its data sovereignty drive, while Dangote expanded its fertiliser project in Gode to over $4bn, aiming for commercial operations in 2029.

Dangote Fertiliser Push: Aliko Dangote toured the under-construction fertiliser complex in Gode with PM Abiy Ahmed, expanding total investment to over $4bn from $2.5bn and adding a 110 km gas pipeline, 120MW power plant, 2m-ton NPK blending, and packaging facilities—aimed at cutting Ethiopia’s import dependence and boosting food security. Regional Energy Talks: Uganda’s Museveni backed a $15–17bn East African refinery plan championed by Dangote, while stressing Uganda’s Hoima refinery will still proceed. Data Sovereignty in Addis Ababa: Ethiopia is holding a national summit and exhibition on statistical sovereignty, with officials touring dashboards for planning and integrated data systems under “Data Sovereignty for Policy Autonomy.” Sports Spotlight: Ghana hosted the African Senior Athletics Championships but finished 18th without a gold, taking one silver and four bronze; Nigeria ended fourth and Uganda’s oil and refinery news also drew attention. Diplomacy: AU Commission chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf bid farewell to Ethiopia’s AU Permanent Representative Hirut Zemene. Arts & Culture: The DAG Prize for Literature named its seven finalists for the $20,000 award.

Dangote Deal Boost: Aliko Dangote says his Ethiopia investment has jumped to over $4bn from $2.5bn, expanding the Gode fertilizer push with a 110km pipeline, 120MW power plant, and 2m-tonne NPK blending plan—framed by PM Abiy as a direct route to food security and industrial growth. Health Alert: Africa CDC warns Ebola in eastern DRC (Ituri) is at high risk of regional spread into Uganda and beyond, citing mobility and cross-border links, and calls for coordinated continental action. Aid Efficiency: A new report finds cash transfers can make aid more efficient as funding tightens. Sports & Culture: Ghana’s athletics campaign ends without gold in Accra, while Ethiopian creative TV wins at Nigeria’s AMVCA; and Ethiopian Airlines marks its 80th anniversary with an Addis road race drawing international praise. Regional Football: CAF confirms the AFCON 2027 qualifying draw in Cairo on Tuesday for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda’s co-hosted tournament.

AFCON 2027 Draw: CAF will hold the qualifying draw in Cairo on Tuesday, setting the route for 48 nations into the June 19–July 17, 2027 tournament co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Ethiopia’s Fertilizer Push: Prime Minister Abiy says major progress is underway on Ethiopia’s fertilizer project with Dangote Group in Gode, Somali region, aimed at boosting urea output and cutting reliance on imports. Land Takeover Notice: Ethiopia’s NLC-style land acquisition news is echoed in Kenya, where the National Land Commission issued a notice for compulsory land acquisition for a bridge realignment on the A9 road in Meru County. Gaza Escalation: An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed Hamas’s top military commander, raising fears for a fragile ceasefire. BRICS Rift: BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi failed to issue a joint statement after Iran and the UAE clashed over the Middle East. Dire Dawa Development: Deputy PM Temesgen inspected major development projects in Dire Dawa, praising the city’s modernization drive. Education Access: Fawezi and the Mastercard Foundation handed laptops to 192 marginalized students in Zimbabwe, with the program expanding across multiple African countries. Ebola Alert: Africa CDC activated immediate measures after an Ebola outbreak in DRC’s Ituri and an imported case in Uganda.

Red Sea Diplomacy: Egypt and Eritrea have doubled down that Red Sea security is the “exclusive responsibility” of littoral states, a stance that directly clashes with Ethiopia’s push for a role in sea governance. US-Ethiopia Trade: Washington lifted Ethiopia’s ITAR “policy of denial” arms-export restriction, signaling a thaw after years of tighter controls tied to the northern conflict. Industrial Push in Addis Ababa: Prime Minister Abiy inaugurated the Gelan Gura Industrial Park, pitching it as a jobs engine and a way to build factories that serve farmers and cut imports. Election Logistics: Ethiopia’s election board asked for nearly 10 billion birr more to keep the June 1 vote on track. Health Rules: Ethiopia moved to ban patient testimonials in health ads and require media to verify medical advertising claims. Ebola Watch: Africa CDC activated rapid response measures after an Ebola outbreak in DRC’s Ituri and an imported case in Uganda. Sports & Culture: Morocco edged Ethiopia in U17 AFCON; Ethiopia’s coffee and creator-economy stories also kept trending.

Ebola Response: Africa CDC has activated immediate measures after an Ebola outbreak in DRC’s Ituri, with a confirmed imported case in Uganda—an incident team, a 72-hour action plan, and heightened readiness for South Sudan as mobility and insecurity raise the risk of spread. Election Atmosphere: Ethiopia’s political parties and citizens are being urged to fully engage in the 7th General Election, with officials citing a wider political space, more voter-card access, and training to keep the process peaceful and fair. Industrial Push: Prime Minister Abiy inaugurated Addis Ababa’s Gelan Gura Industrial Park, signaling jobs and import-substitution for medium and large manufacturers. BRICS Fracture: BRICS foreign ministers in India ended without a joint statement, with “differing views” over the Iran–UAE Middle East conflict. Regional Security: In Sudan, experts warn drones are driving civilian deaths, as attacks hit airports and other populated areas. Sports Spotlight: Parul Chaudhary opened her season in Shanghai with a strong 3000m steeplechase run, finishing seventh.

BRICS Rift: India’s chair statement replaced a joint declaration after BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi failed to agree, with deep splits over the Iran–West Asia war and tensions between Iran and the UAE. Global Aid Push: The UN says a US pledge of $1.8bn will fund “lifesaving” humanitarian aid in 18 countries as Guterres prepares to leave his Africa-focused role. Aviation Deal Buzz: Trump says China agreed to buy 200 Boeing planes (with talk of up to 750), though no side has formally confirmed. Ethiopia Spotlight: Addis Ababa launched a new book, “The Remaking of Addis Ababa: Transformation from 2020–2025,” documenting the city’s modernization drive. Health Watch: Africa CDC urged stronger hantavirus surveillance, warning many countries lack early-detection systems. Local Economy: Kenya’s chamber of commerce challenged fuel price hikes, blaming domestic cost build-ups for diesel rising faster than global crude.

BRICS Rift Exposed: Foreign ministers in New Delhi failed to agree on a joint statement over the Iran war, with India issuing a chair’s statement citing “differing views” and noting reservations on Gaza and Red Sea security—highlighting a bloc split between Iran and the UAE. Ebola Alert: Africa CDC confirmed a deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo’s Ituri Province, reporting 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths, and called an urgent coordination push with DRC, Uganda and South Sudan. AU-UN Warning: AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and UN chief António Guterres warned that external interference—money, weapons and fighters—keeps fueling conflicts across the Sahel, Sudan, the Horn and eastern DR Congo. Ethiopia Dialogue Moves On: Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Commission says it has collected agendas in 93% of the country and is entering a critical phase aimed at concrete national consensus. Kenya Fuel Tensions: Ndindi Nyoro accused senior officials of profiteering from Kenya’s G2G fuel import scheme as EPRA announced new price hikes.

BRICS Diplomacy in the Spotlight: Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, urged BRICS members in New Delhi to openly condemn alleged US and Israeli violations of international law, accusing the UAE of direct involvement in aggression against Iran—while India’s Jaishankar pushed for sovereignty, dialogue, and safe maritime flows as West Asia tensions and energy fears hang over the talks. Aviation Accountability: In Chicago, a federal jury awarded $49.5 million to the family of Samya Stumo, killed in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX crash shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, marking another major verdict in the long-running MAX legal fallout. Humanitarian Funding: The US pledged an extra $1.8 billion to OCHA’s humanitarian “reset” effort, adding to earlier support aimed at faster, life-saving aid delivery. Ethiopia’s Trade Push: Ethiopia reported over $8.7 billion in export earnings in the past 10 months, with officials linking gains to reform and quality standards. Digital ID Security: Experts at ID4Africa warned digital identity systems must be built with cyber defense from the start, treating them as critical national infrastructure.

BRICS Under Strain: Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi used the New Delhi meeting to urge BRICS to condemn the US and Israel over the West Asia war, warning that “empires in decline” turn aggressive—while the bloc’s consensus approach faces a tougher test as Iran and the UAE sit on opposite sides. Maritime Pressure: India’s Jaishankar pushed for “safe, unimpeded maritime flows” through the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, as shipping and energy worries hang over talks. Ethiopia’s Climate Push: Ethiopia’s COP32 hosting is framed as a chance to amplify Africa’s climate voice and unlock green finance, with UNECA pointing to Ethiopia’s securities exchange as a tool to mobilize long-term funding. Aviation Fallout: A US jury awarded $49.5 million to the family of a Boeing 737 MAX crash victim, keeping legal pressure on Boeing alive. Energy & Industry: Ming Yang secured a license for a major green hydrogen push in Ethiopia, while BitFuFu reported April production disruptions tied to power and procurement changes.

BRICS Shadow Over Delhi Talks: Foreign ministers from BRICS nations, including Iran’s Abbas Araghchi and Russia’s Sergey Lavrov, are meeting in New Delhi as the Iran–Gulf crisis and Strait of Hormuz disruptions threaten energy prices and unity on a joint line. Ethiopia-France Diplomacy: In Addis Ababa, French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up an Africa visit with talks with PM Abiy Ahmed, AU and UN leaders, pushing for stronger African representation at the UN Security Council; Ethiopia and France also signed a €54.6m deal to digitize and modernize the national grid. UN Multilateral Reform Push: UN chief António Guterres and Abiy renewed calls for reform of global governance, with Ethiopia highlighting its 80-year UN partnership. Humanitarian Pressure in the Region: Uganda’s open-door refugee policy is under strain as conflicts intensify, while Equatorial Guinea experts warn deportations may put detainees at risk. Sports Tragedy: Ethiopian marathon star Yebrgual Melese died at 36 after a sudden medical emergency during training.

BRICS Under Strain: The US-Israeli war on Iran is set to dominate the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi on May 14–15, with Iran pushing for a tougher shared line while divisions—especially with the UAE—threaten a unified statement. Ethiopia’s Democracy Signal: Ethiopia’s election registration has surged past 50.5 million voters ahead of the June 1, 2026 vote, a milestone Ethiopian lawmakers say points to rising democratic momentum. Ethiopia–France Diplomacy: French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Addis Ababa for an official visit focused on development, investment, and regional stability. Finance Sovereignty Push: The AU Commission says an Africa Credit Rating Agency is planned for launch in June in Mauritius to reduce bias in global ratings. Energy & Trade Tension: US solar firms filed a case alleging Chinese manufacturers are using Ethiopia to dodge US tariffs, while Ethiopia’s food-security push is also being positioned for COP32.

U.S.-Ethiopia Trade Clash: Eight U.S. solar manufacturers have filed a Commerce complaint, alleging Ethiopian firms are assembling Chinese-origin solar components to dodge U.S. antidumping duties—pushing the dispute into a formal tariff investigation. Sudan–Ethiopia Tensions: Sudan has circulated diplomatic claims accusing Ethiopia of supporting RSF operations, including alleged drone activity and training setups near the eastern frontier. Ethiopia’s Debt Move: Ethiopia says it has deferred a Eurobond payment to the next fiscal year under the G20 restructuring “comparability” rules, framing it as part of reform to shift risk levels. Health Alert: Africa CDC and WHO urged continued hantavirus vigilance after a cruise-ship cluster abroad, stressing Africa’s risk remains low. Local Life: Ethiopian marathon runner Yebrgual Melese, 36, died after collapsing during training in Addis Ababa. Diplomacy in Addis: UN chief António Guterres arrived, while Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deepen the bilateral structured dialogue.

BRICS Diplomacy: South Africa’s Ronald Lamola has arrived in New Delhi to kick off the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on May 14–15, with India set to host and delegations expected to call on PM Narendra Modi. Red Sea Stakes for Ethiopia: An Israeli conflict-resolution expert argues Ethiopia’s push for Red Sea access through Assab is driven by economic survival, not war—while the wider region braces for fallout from West Asia tensions. Africa Forward Summit: In Nairobi, PM Abiy says Ethiopia is advancing green industrialization and the energy transition, as France’s Macron seeks new partners and a less colonial-tied foreign policy. Trade Integration Push: Ethiopia’s development partners met to discuss WTO accession and AfCFTA rollout, with a target to complete WTO talks by end-2026. Health Funding Shock: A report highlights how USAID’s exit exposed fragility in donor-funded African health systems. UN Security Council Reform: UN chief Guterres calls Africa’s lack of a permanent Security Council seat a “historic injustice,” while also backing UNON’s $340m expansion in Kenya.

Addis Ababa’s Narrative Push: The first African Social Media Influencers Summit opened at the Adwa Museum, with creators and media voices urging Africans to reclaim their story and fight stereotypes—while also calling for fair pay and real support for digital work. Ethiopia’s Digital Build-Out: Ethiopia’s Infrastructure and Construction Week spotlighted how Ethio telecom is turning connectivity into a “digital backbone,” expanding 4G and fiber to power smarter planning and construction. Sudan’s Drone Toll: UN human rights officials warn drones are driving a deadlier phase in Sudan, citing heavy civilian deaths and attacks that have disrupted services like Khartoum airport. Global Energy Pressure: With Iran tensions and Strait of Hormuz risks back in focus, analysts warn fertilizer and food supply could be hit hard—raising fears of wider instability. IMF Backs Reforms: Ethiopia’s PM met IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva, with the Fund praising progress on the reform agenda. Sports for Education: FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund announced its first grant recipients to expand education and sports access for children.