AGP Executive Report

Ebola Response: Congo has started vaccinating people against Ebola in Kisangani, prioritizing frontline responders with Ervebo, as the outbreak hits 5,713 confirmed cases and 2,744 deaths, with insecurity, displacement, and a health workers’ strike making control harder. Digital Economy & Taxes: Apple says it will adjust App Store proceeds and pricing in the Republic of Congo after an 18% VAT change, with price updates starting September 14 for apps and in-app purchases. Telecom Regulation: MTN Group appointed Ikenna Ikeme as Executive for Group Regulatory Affairs from 7 September 2026, expanding regulatory leadership across markets. Industrial Benchmarking: The AfDB’s Africa Industrialisation Index (2025) ranks Morocco #1 for the first time, while tracking industrial progress across 54 economies—useful context for Congo’s own industrial push. Food & Health Safety: A new H5N1 avian influenza detection in Australia (including a dolphin case) underlines ongoing zoonotic risk that can affect regional agriculture and logistics planning.

Ebola Response: Congo has started vaccinating people against Ebola in Kisangani, prioritizing frontline workers with the Ervebo vaccine as authorities warn the outbreak is still out of control and could surpass the 2014–2016 West Africa toll; Digital Economy: Apple says it’s updating App Store proceeds and prices in the Republic of the Congo from Sept. 14 to reflect the new 18% VAT, with tax collection and remittance changes noted for developers; Telecom & Regulation: MTN Group appoints Ikenna Ikeme as Executive for Group Regulatory Affairs from 7 Sept 2026, aiming to strengthen its regulatory agenda across markets; Industrial Benchmarking: The AfDB’s Africa Industrialisation Index (2025) was launched in Brazzaville, ranking 54 economies and placing Morocco top for the first time, with Congo Basin context underscoring the region’s push for industrial growth; Food & Agroecology: A Yaounde-hosted Congo Basin conference is driving agroecological transformation, food security, and biodiversity protection across 15 countries, spotlighting sustainable agriculture as a resilience lever.

Ebola Response: Congo has begun Ebola vaccinations in Kisangani, prioritizing frontline health workers with Ervebo as authorities try to slow the fastest-growing outbreak on record; the country reported 5,713 confirmed cases and 2,744 deaths as insecurity, displacement, a health workers’ strike and heavy population movement hamper control. Public Health Pressure: A separate update says eastern Congo’s outbreak has already recorded 5,514 cases and 2,642 deaths, with 317 deaths in the last week, as experts warn the real scale may be far larger and many deaths occur outside treatment centers. Digital Economy & Tax: Apple says it will adjust App Store developer proceeds and pricing in the Republic of Congo from Sept. 14 to reflect an 18% VAT change, with updated agreements posted for developers. Trade & Investment Talks: Namibia’s foreign minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi urged deeper Congo–Namibia trade and investment, highlighting agro-processing and beef value chains as priority areas during consultations in Pointe-Noire. Telecom Leadership: MTN Group appointed Ikenna Ikeme as Executive for Group Regulatory Affairs effective 7 Sept. 2026, strengthening regulatory oversight across markets.

App Economy & Taxes: Apple says it’s updating App Store developer proceeds and pricing in Republic of the Congo after introducing an 18% VAT, with price changes starting September 14. Digital Finance & Telecom: MTN Group appointed Ikenna Ikeme as Executive for Group Regulatory Affairs (effective 7 Sept 2026) and also moved to strengthen leadership across its Ambition 2030 push. Mobile Money Modernization: MTN MoMo completed a cloud-native migration with Ericsson in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, cutting overhead and speeding responses, and is now discussing similar work for Republic of the Congo. Public Health Crisis: Congo’s Ebola outbreak in the east is worsening fast, with 317 deaths in the past week and authorities warning the true scale could be much larger. Mining & Supply: Zijin warned its Kamoa-Kakula output targets are under pressure after flooding at a Congolese mine, adding to global copper supply concerns. Trade & Investment: Namibia’s foreign minister urged deeper Namibia–Congo trade and investment, highlighting agro-processing links.

Ebola Update: Eastern Congo’s Ebola outbreak keeps accelerating, with government data showing 5,514 cases and 2,642 deaths as of Saturday, including 317 deaths in the last week—health teams say the real toll could be up to three times higher. Public Health Supply: Congo received 16,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, with WHO saying it will also be used in clinical trials as authorities work to slow spread. Telecom & Fintech: MTN is modernising Mobile Money infrastructure, completing a cloud-native migration with Ericsson in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda to cut processing overhead and speed up API responses—supporting wider digital finance growth. Mining & Output Risk: Zijin warns flooding at its Kamoa-Kakula complex could reduce copper output by up to 57,000 tons in 2026, adding pressure to global supply as prices near record levels. Trade & Investment: Namibia’s foreign minister urged the Republic of Congo to boost investment and trade, pointing to agro-processing and beef value chains as priority areas. Water Disruption: Durban-area residents face a planned 10-hour water shutdown tied to chlorine piping maintenance at Midmar Water Treatment Works, with multiple neighborhoods and the Westmead Industrial Area potentially affected. Industrial Benchmark: The AfDB’s Africa Industrialisation Index ranks Morocco #1 for 2025, displacing South Africa, with Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire also breaking into the top 10.

Mobile Money & Telecom Growth: MTN says it’s migrating its MoMo platform to cloud-native infrastructure with Ericsson across Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, cutting CPU overhead and database load by up to 86% and speeding some API responses by as much as 80%—a move meant to support faster transactions and fintech expansion. Regulatory & Deal Progress: MTN also reported conditional approval in Nigeria for its planned IHS Towers buyout, with remaining approvals still expected later in 2026. Shipping & LNG Engineering: EXMAR approved interim accounts to June 30, 2026, highlighting delivery of four MGC vessels (including an ammonia dual-fuel ship), a VLGC buyback generating a $25m profit, and progress on LNG and FSRU conversion work. Ebola Response Pressure: Congo’s Ebola outbreak is still accelerating, with government figures citing 317 deaths in the past week and WHO warning it could surpass the deadliest outbreak on record; Congo received 16,000 Ervebo vaccine doses for use in response and trials. Trade & Investment Push: Namibia’s foreign minister urged deeper Congo–Namibia trade and investment, pointing to agro-processing and beef value chains as priority areas.

Ebola Emergency: Congo’s Ebola outbreak in the east is still accelerating, with government figures showing 5,514 cases and 2,642 deaths as of Saturday, including 317 deaths in the last week; experts warn the real toll could be up to three times higher and say the outbreak is far faster than past waves. Vaccine Push: Congo received more than 16,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, with WHO saying it will also be used in clinical trials as health workers race to contain spread. Digital Finance Upgrade: MTN Group and Ericsson completed a cloud-native Mobile Money (MoMo) migration in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, cutting processing overhead and speeding API responses—while talks include bringing Republic of the Congo into the same transformation path. Trade & Investment Link: Namibia’s foreign minister urged deeper Namibia–Congo trade and investment, pointing to agro-processing and beef value chains as priority areas. Water Disruption Watch: Durban faces a planned 10-hour water shutdown for maintenance at Midmar Water Treatment Works, with multiple neighborhoods and the Westmead Industrial Area potentially affected.

Ebola Response in Congo Basin: AP reports Congo’s Ebola outbreak in the east has recorded 5,514 cases and 2,642 deaths as of Saturday, with 317 deaths in the prior week—one of the highest weekly tolls yet—while experts warn the real scale could be up to three times higher due to spread before confirmation. Vaccine Supply Boost: WHO says Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, with 20,000 reserved for Phase 3 trials related to the Bundibugyo strain and 50,000 for frontline and health workers. Digital Finance Modernization: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed a cloud-native migration of MTN MoMo in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, cutting CPU overhead and database load by up to 86% and speeding API responses by as much as 80%. Mining and Copper Risks: Zijin warns flooding at its Kamoa-Kakula complex could reduce its 2026 copper output share by up to 57,000 tons, adding to global supply concerns. Conservation and Land Policy: A study highlights how flood patterns and local knowledge vary village by village in the Lac Télé Community Reserve, underscoring the need for site-specific research in climate and conservation planning.

Ebola Surge in Eastern Congo: Congo’s Ebola outbreak keeps accelerating, with government data showing 5,514 cases and 2,642 deaths as of Saturday, including 317 deaths in the last week; experts warn the real toll could be up to three times higher as transmission continues beyond monitored contacts. Vaccine Push: WHO says Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, with 20,000 earmarked for Phase 3 trials and 50,000 for frontline and high-risk health workers, as the outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain. Mobile Money Upgrade (Congo in the mix): MTN Group Fintech and Ericsson completed a cloud-native migration of MoMo in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, and say Republic of the Congo is among markets in talks for the same modernization path. Mining Disruption Signal: Zijin warns copper output targets are under pressure after flooding at its Kamoa-Kakula operations, adding to global supply concerns.

Ebola Emergency: Eastern Congo’s Ebola outbreak is still accelerating, with Congo health ministry data showing 5,514 cases and 2,642 deaths as of Saturday, including 317 deaths in the prior week; experts warn the real toll could be up to three times higher because spread began before confirmation, and WHO says the outbreak may surpass the deadliest on record. Vaccine Push: WHO and partners say Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine—50,000 for frontline and health workers and 20,000 for Phase 3 trials—aimed at tackling the current Bundibugyo-virus outbreak. Digital Finance Upgrade: MTN Group Fintech and Ericsson completed a cloud-native migration of the MoMo mobile money platform in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, cutting CPU overhead and database load sharply and improving API response times, with plans to extend the transformation to Cameroon and discussions including Republic of the Congo. Mining & Supply Pressure: Zijin warned copper output targets are under pressure after flooding at its Kamoa-Kakula operations, adding to global supply concerns as copper prices hover near record levels.

Ebola Emergency: Eastern Congo’s Ebola outbreak keeps accelerating, with government data showing 5,514 cases and 2,642 deaths as of Saturday, including 317 deaths in the prior week—one of the highest weekly tolls yet, and experts warn the real scale could be far larger. Vaccine Push: WHO says Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, with 20,000 earmarked for Phase 3 trials against the Bundibugyo strain and 50,000 for frontline health workers, as containment efforts struggle. Digital Finance Upgrade: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech have completed Mobile Money Evolved Migration in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, and are now discussing bringing Benin, Republic of the Congo and Zambia onto the same cloud-native modernization path. Mining Shock to Copper Supply: Zijin says flooding at its Kamoa-Kakula complex could cut its 2026 copper output share by up to 57,000 tons, adding pressure to global supply as copper trades near record levels.

Ebola Response: WHO and partners say Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, with 20,000 reserved for a Phase 3 trial targeting the Bundibugyo strain and 50,000 for frontline health workers as the outbreak in eastern provinces keeps spreading at exceptional speed. Public Health Pressure: Africa CDC data cited by AP warns the outbreak may not have peaked and could be up to three times larger than current confirmed figures, with only 30%–40% of cases estimated detected so far. Digital Finance Infrastructure: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed a Mobile Money “Evolved Migration” across key markets and are now discussing bringing Republic of Congo into the same transformation path, aiming for faster performance and a stronger base for digital financial services. Energy & Oilfield News: Chevron confirmed an oil and gas condensate discovery in Angola’s Block 0, describing a >600-meter condensate column and net pay over 90 meters, with plans to assess development via tie-back to nearby facilities. Water & Resources Data: A new global ranking places Congo among countries with relatively high renewable freshwater supply per person, highlighting the gap between water abundance and how much is actually withdrawn.

Ebola Response: WHO and partners say the Republic of Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine to help contain the fastest Ebola outbreak in history, including 20,000 doses for a Phase 3 trial and 50,000 for front-line health workers as cases and deaths rise rapidly in eastern Congo. Digital Finance Infrastructure: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed a Mobile Money “Evolved Migration” across key markets and say Republic of the Congo is among those in talks to join the same cloud-native transformation path, aimed at faster performance and scaling digital financial services. Energy & Industry Cooperation: A delegation from Venezuela took part in Congo’s 2nd Great Agricultural Fair, pitching processed crop exports (coffee and cocoa) and highlighting South-South cooperation ties that also cover hydrocarbons, mining, and environment. Regional Energy Planning: Cameroon’s energy officials discussed Central Africa’s hydrocarbons storage and distribution plans linked to the Kribi Hydrocarbons Terminal, with stakeholders including APPO (headquartered in Brazzaville) expected to weigh in before year-end.

Ebola Response: WHO says Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine to support the fastest outbreak in history, with 20,000 doses earmarked for a Phase 3 trial and 50,000 for frontline health workers as cases surge in six eastern provinces. Digital Finance Infrastructure: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed a cloud-native Mobile Money Evolved Migration across key markets and are now discussing bringing the same transformation path to Benin, Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. Oil & Gas Exploration: Chevron confirmed an oil and gas condensate discovery in Angola’s Block 0 (Lower Congo Basin), reporting a 600+ meter condensate column and 90+ meters net pay, with potential tie-back development to nearby facilities. Agriculture & Trade Diplomacy: Venezuela sent a delegation to Congo’s 2nd Great Agricultural Fair in Brazzaville, pitching processed crop value chains (coffee and cocoa) and offering tastings to attendees. Industry & Investment Agenda: A conference push highlights how African energy and industrial projects increasingly depend on development finance and legal advisory to turn investment plans into operational infrastructure.

Ebola Response: WHO says Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, with 20,000 reserved for a Phase 3 trial and 50,000 for frontline health workers, as the outbreak in eastern provinces keeps spreading at an exceptional pace. Public Health Pressure: Africa CDC data cited by AP warns the outbreak has not peaked and could be up to three times the current known size, with only 30%–40% of cases estimated detected so far. Digital Finance Infrastructure: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed Mobile Money Evolved Migration in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, and are now discussing bringing Republic of Congo onto the same cloud-native transformation path. Energy & Industry Links: Chevron confirmed an oil and gas condensate discovery in Angola’s Block 0, a tie-back candidate to existing facilities—another signal of continued upstream investment in the wider Congo Basin region. Trade & Investment Context: A separate report highlights Africa Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town (Oct 12–16) as a platform for development finance and legal advisory to turn energy and industrial commitments into projects. Local Governance (Congo Road Project Funding): Benton City Council coverage mentions a $330,000 grant for design of the Congo Road/Shenandoah Roundabout, reflecting how infrastructure planning can move from funding to execution.

Ebola Response: WHO says Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, with 20,000 reserved for a Phase 3 trial and 50,000 for frontline health workers, as the outbreak in eastern provinces is still spreading fast and may be far larger than confirmed figures. Digital Finance & Telecom: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed a Mobile Money “Evolved Migration” across key markets and are now discussing bringing Republic of the Congo into the same cloud-native transformation path to boost performance and scale services. Energy & Oilfield Activity: Chevron confirmed an oil and gas condensate discovery in Angola’s Block 0, reporting a 600+ meter condensate column and more than 90 meters of net pay, with plans to assess development via tie-back to nearby facilities. Agriculture & Trade Links: Venezuela’s delegation took part in Congo’s 2nd Great Agricultural Fair, pitching value-added processing for crops like coffee and cocoa and offering tastings to visitors. Investment Finance & Industry Push: African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town will feature South Africa’s IDC and legal-advisory firm CLG, highlighting development finance frameworks aimed at turning energy and industrial investment commitments into projects.