AGP Executive Report

Sub-Saharan Finance Watch: A new report says sub-Saharan economies have widened access to funding, but still struggle with expensive debt and thin equity capital—pressured further by higher energy prices and inflation tied to the Middle East conflict. Ebola and Mining Risk: Coverage links Congo’s gold-mining boom to the spread of a deadly, vaccine-resistant Ebola strain, with outbreaks centered around mining towns and intensified contact between miners and wildlife. Energy Investment Push: The African Energy Chamber is set to spotlight Africa’s oil and gas and power access gaps for Israeli stakeholders, pointing to a new upstream investment cycle and major electricity shortfalls. Banking Performance in Congo: Advans Congo reports 2025 revenue growth but a sharp profit drop as operating costs and credit risk charges rose. Telecom Pricing Debate: MTN Nigeria’s CEO argues mobile data in Nigeria remains among the world’s cheapest, despite recent tariff increases. Diplomacy and Trade Links: Kazakhstan and the Republic of Congo discuss cooperation in digitalization, AI, telecoms, energy, transport, and logistics, including plans to import grain and fertilizers regionally.

Telecom Pricing Watch: MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola pushed back on complaints about mobile data costs, saying Nigeria’s bundles remain among the four cheapest globally even after a 50% tariff increase approved by the regulator in January 2025. Energy Investment Pipeline: The African Energy Chamber will spotlight Africa’s upstream oil and gas and power access gaps in a June 8 webinar for Israeli stakeholders, citing a new investment cycle and continued growth drivers including Republic of Congo. Ebola and Mining Safety: Reporting links a fast-moving Ebola outbreak to gold mining zones in Ituri, with the Bundibugyo strain spreading through close-contact mine work and deforestation-driven wildlife contact. Banking Performance: Advans Congo reported 2025 revenue growth but a sharp profit drop, as operating costs and credit risk charges rose. Shipping Costs: CMA CGM rolled out peak season surcharges affecting routes to and from Africa, including Angola, Congo and South Africa, with fees starting 7 June and increasing mid-month. Diplomacy and Trade: Kazakhstan and Brazzaville discussed cooperation in digitalization, telecoms, energy, transport and logistics, plus options to import grain and fertilizers regionally.

Energy & Investment: The African Energy Chamber will spotlight Africa’s oil and gas growth for Israeli stakeholders at a June 8 webinar, pointing to a new upstream investment cycle and noting Republic of Congo among established producers. Shipping Costs: CMA CGM rolled out peak-season surcharges across Africa, with Central and South West Africa (including Congo) facing higher per-TEU fees from early June. Banking Performance: Advans Congo reported 2025 revenue growth but a sharp profit slide, as operating costs and credit risk charges weighed on earnings. Ebola Response & Industry Link: Reporting from Congo’s Ebola outbreak highlights how gold mining in affected areas is tied to spread, with authorities warning travel and response disruptions. Regional Finance & Infrastructure: The AfDB used its Brazzaville annual meetings to push for channeling Africa’s domestic savings into productive investment and unveiled a $7B aviation modernization program. Diplomacy & Trade: Kazakhstan and the Republic of Congo discussed cooperation in digitalization, energy, transport and logistics, plus options to import grain and fertilizers for the region.

Banking Watch: Advans Congo says fiscal 2025 delivered revenue growth but a sharp profit slide, with net profit down to 745.8m CFA francs (from 2.15bn) as operating costs and credit-risk charges rose, even as net financial income climbed 38.5% and gross operating profit rose 18.6%. Trade & Industry: CMA CGM announced new peak-season surcharges across Africa, Europe and North America, including higher fees for Central West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire) and for routes to Angola, Congo and Namibia—raising near-term logistics costs for regional shippers. Energy & Investment: The AfDB used its Brazzaville annual meetings to push a $7bn aviation modernization plan and renewed calls to mobilize Africa’s domestic savings for industrialization and connectivity. Ebola & Public Health: WHO warned that travel restrictions are disrupting Ebola response, while reporting fewer confirmed cases than feared and highlighting ongoing testing for suspected infections in Congo. Mining & Health Risk: Reporting from Mongbwalu links the Ebola outbreak’s spread to conditions in gold mines, where delayed detection and close-contact work are driving new infections.

Diplomacy & Trade: Kazakhstan’s ambassador presented credentials to Congo’s President Denis Sassou-N’Guesso, with both sides flagging cooperation in digitalization, AI, telecoms, energy, transport and logistics, plus talks on importing Kazakh grain and fertilizers for Central Africa. Aviation & Infrastructure: The AfDB unveiled a $7bn Integrated Aviation Transformation Program in Brazzaville to modernize fleets, upgrade airports, and improve logistics and airport transport links, aiming to cut Africa’s heavy dependence on foreign carriers. Energy & Industry: The African Energy Chamber urged “energy addition” over transition, arguing Africa’s electricity and clean cooking gaps demand more investment in exploration, production and infrastructure. Oil & Gas Deal Watch: Chevron’s sale of stakes in offshore Angola blocks faces a pre-emption move by Etu Energias, keeping the transaction in play until the right is settled. Public Health: WHO reported Ebola figures in Congo have been revised down, while it urged countries with blanket travel bans to switch to exit screening instead. Biodiversity & Conservation: Angola’s Lisima plateau expedition found eight new dragonfly species and other new insects and plants, highlighting ecosystems that feed the Congo, Okavango, Zambezi and Cuanza river systems.

Ebola Update: WHO says Ebola travel bans are disrupting response, while it reports Congo’s confirmed cases at 344 with 60 deaths and 116 suspected cases as of June 1, down from far higher suspected figures earlier. Oil & Gas Watch: Chevron’s Angola stake sale to Energean stays in effect as Etu Energias exercises a pre-emption right, keeping the deal tied to Etu’s next steps. Aviation Push (AfDB): The African Development Bank unveiled a $7bn Integrated Aviation Transformation Program in Brazzaville to modernize fleets, upgrade airports, and cut Africa’s air-transport inefficiencies. Finance for Industry: AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah urged Africa to mobilize its $4tn domestic savings for industrialization, warning the continent can’t keep exporting raw materials and importing prosperity. Energy Supply Shifts: India’s LPG imports in May leaned heavily on the US (55%) and Iran (12%), reflecting how conflict keeps reshaping fuel routes. Biodiversity & Conservation: Angola’s Lisima plateau expedition found eight new dragonfly species and dozens of other new insects and plants, feeding major river basins including the Congo. Public Health Security: Two NIH researchers accused of trying to smuggle mpox into the US allegedly traveled from Brazzaville, with vials found after arrival at Detroit Metro. Regional Mobility: Denis Sassou-Nguesso announced visa-free entry for all African citizens into the Republic of the Congo from Jan 1, 2027.

Energy & Oil/Gas Policy: The African Energy Chamber (AEC) urged a shift from “energy subtraction” to “energy addition,” saying Africa’s energy poverty and electricity access gaps demand more exploration, production and investment. Regional Finance & Industrialization: AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah told leaders in Brazzaville that Africa must mobilize its own $4tn+ savings to fund structural transformation, backing a new direction to lower risk and attract long-term capital. Aviation Infrastructure: AfDB unveiled a $7bn Integrated Aviation Transformation Program to modernize fleets, upgrade airports and improve logistics—aimed at stronger connectivity for AfCFTA. Health & Ebola Response: WHO warned that blanket travel restrictions are disrupting Ebola response, while revising Congo’s figures to 116 suspected cases and 344 confirmed cases as of June 1. Biodiversity & Conservation: Angola’s Lisima plateau survey found eight new dragonfly species and dozens of other new insects and plants, highlighting ecosystems that feed the Congo and other major river basins. Congo Mobility Policy: President Denis Sassou-Nguesso announced visa-free access for all African citizens to the Republic of the Congo from Jan 1, 2027, to boost mobility and trade.

Ebola Response Update: WHO says Ebola travel bans are hurting response, while it revised Congo’s figures down to 116 suspected cases (from 1,000+ earlier), urging countries to use exit screening instead of blanket bans. Public Health on the Ground: Volunteers in eastern Congo keep feeding patients and health workers as the Bundibugyo strain spreads, with WHO reporting 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths in Congo as of June 1. Biodiversity & Conservation: An Angola expedition to the Lisima plateau recorded 1,000+ insect species and 320 plant samples, including eight new dragonfly species and fluorescent spiders—highlighting river systems that feed the Congo basin. Energy & Climate Risk: A report warns climate change is draining hydro-power generation, using Lake Kariba as a cautionary example for the wider region’s power security. Regional Mobility Policy: President Denis Sassou-Nguesso announced visa-free access for all African citizens to the Republic of the Congo from Jan 1, 2027, aiming to boost movement and trade. Trade & Industry Finance: AfDB governors in Brazzaville backed a new African-led financing model (Nafad) to mobilize domestic resources and cut donor dependence, with Malawi cited as a key beneficiary.

Ebola Response in Congo: Volunteers at a Bunia Ebola facility are keeping patients and health workers fed as the outbreak spreads, with WHO reporting 321 cases and 48 deaths across eastern provinces. Regional Energy Trade: Oman overtook Qatar to become India’s top LNG supplier in March after Gulf disruptions tied to the Iran war, with cargoes also reportedly coming from Congo and other African sources. Congo Mobility Policy: President Denis Sassou-Nguesso announced visa-free access for all African citizens to the Republic of the Congo from Jan. 1, 2027, aiming to boost movement, trade and integration. AfDB Financing Push: AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah backed a new African financial architecture to mobilize domestic resources and reduce donor dependence, including a $125m AfDB injection into ATIDI to crowd in private infrastructure investment. Industry & Tech (Robotics): Ouster and FieldAI teamed up to improve robot perception using Ouster’s Rev8 digital lidar for industrial autonomy in complex environments. Public Health Security: Iraq tightened livestock entry rules to curb CCHF spread, ordering border closures unless veterinary requirements are met.

Regional Integration Push: President Denis Sassou-Nguesso says all African citizens will get visa-free access to the Republic of the Congo from Jan 1, 2027, announced during AfDB annual meetings in Brazzaville, with investors, unions and civil society backing the move. Development Finance Overhaul: AfDB governors endorsed the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD), aiming to cut donor dependence by mobilising African savings and strengthening regional risk-sharing; AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah also called for a more coordinated financial system to fund infrastructure and industrialisation. Trade & Investment Insurance: AfDB will inject $125m into ATIDI, making it the bank’s largest shareholder and boosting private investment in infrastructure and development. Power Access Tracking: AfDB launched the Mission 300 Progress Tracker in Brazzaville, showing 5.2m electricity connections via active AfDB-supported projects and 74 active energy access projects, with $9bn approved for aligned operations. Industrial/Tech Signals: Ouster and FieldAI announced a collaboration using Ouster’s Rev8 color lidar to scale autonomous perception for industrial robotics.

AfDB Financing Push: African Development Bank President Sidi Ould Tah says Africa must unlock about $4tn in domestic savings and shift from fragmented public funding to coordinated regional risk-sharing to fund infrastructure and industrialisation. Trade & Investment Insurance: AfDB will inject $125m into ATIDI, making it the largest shareholder and aiming to pull in more private capital for development projects. Electricity Access Tracking: AfDB launched the Mission 300 Progress Tracker in Brazzaville, showing 5.2m people connected via active Mission 300 projects, 74 active energy-access projects, and $9bn approved for aligned operations. Growth Outlook: The AfDB forecasts Africa’s GDP growth at 4.2% in 2026, with Central Africa rising to 3.8% on sustained oil prices. Local Business & Jobs Angle: UNICONGO’s Nancy Chenard argues extraction alone won’t deliver sustainable growth; Africa needs stronger private firms that can finance and expand across borders. Health Response Pressure: A U.S.-funded Ebola isolation facility in Kenya faces protests after a court temporarily blocked it over health-risk concerns.

AfDB Financing Push in Brazzaville: AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah says Africa must shift from fragmented public funding to coordinated regional risk-sharing, and he points to the bank’s push to mobilize domestic savings and crowd in private capital. ATIDI Capital Boost: AfDB will inject $125m into ATIDI, making it the largest shareholder and aiming to unlock more private investment for infrastructure and development. Electricity Access Tracking: AfDB launched the Mission 300 Progress Tracker, a real-time platform showing connections, projects, and financing progress toward adding 300 million people to electricity by 2030. Growth Outlook for 2026: AfDB’s 2026 African Economic Outlook projects Africa growing 4.2% in 2026 (up from 4.4% in 2025) with Central Africa at 3.8%, supported by oil and reforms. Ebola Response in Congo: Congo widened Ebola testing in eastern provinces after hundreds of suspected cases and about 260 positive samples, with surveillance and diagnostics ramped up as the outbreak’s true scale remains uncertain. CCHF Border Controls in Iraq: Iraq tightened livestock entry and veterinary checks to curb Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, highlighting how disease control measures can disrupt regional trade and supply chains.

AfDB Annual Meetings (Brazzaville): AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah urged Africa to mobilise about $4tn in domestic savings to close a roughly $400bn annual development gap, pushing risk-sharing and stronger regional financial cooperation. Electricity Access: AfDB launched the Mission 300 Progress Tracker, a real-time platform showing connections, projects, financing and coverage for the goal of adding 300 million people to electricity by 2030. Growth Outlook: AfDB forecasts Africa’s GDP growth at 4.2% in 2026 (up from 4.4% in 2025) with a rebound to 4.4% in 2027, citing recovery in extractives and resilient demand. Ebola Response (Congo): Congo widened Ebola testing in eastern provinces after hundreds of suspected cases and about 260 positive samples, with authorities expanding diagnostics and community screening. Livestock & Disease Control (Iraq): Wasit province ordered border closures for livestock unless veterinary requirements are met to curb CCHF spread, as Iraq reports rising cases and deaths.

AfDB Financing Push: AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah says Africa must mobilise about $4tn in domestic savings to close a roughly $400bn annual development gap, warning that regulatory barriers and risk concerns keep pension and institutional money on the sidelines; the bank is building risk-mitigation tools such as the African Trade and Development Fund to attract long-term capital. Ebola Response in Congo: Congo has widened Ebola testing across eastern provinces after lab results flagged around 260 positives, with suspected infections now over 1,000 and hundreds of deaths still under investigation, as health authorities expand diagnostics, tracing and community screening. Trade Finance Resilience: A new AfDB Trade Finance Report says unmet trade-finance demand fell nearly 10% from 2019–2024, crediting support from development finance institutions and multilateral lenders, while warning geopolitical tensions could reverse gains. Visa and Mobility Signal: Republic of Congo is set to waive visa requirements for all African travellers from 2027, a move framed as boosting regional mobility for tourism and trade. Energy/Industry Angle: Nigeria and AfDB signed steps toward a $7bn aviation transformation programme, aiming to modernise Africa’s aviation sector and unlock investment. Health Risk Beyond Borders: Africa CDC says partner funding for the emergency response has dropped sharply, while Congo reports over 1,000 suspected cases and Uganda confirms linked cases.

AfDB Annual Meetings in Brazzaville: Africa’s growth is projected at 4.2% in 2026 (from 4.4% in 2025), with the bank urging faster domestic resource mobilisation and deeper capital-market integration to close the continent’s financing gap. Trade Finance Watch: The AfDB’s 2025 Trade Finance Report says unmet demand fell nearly 10% (2019–2024), but warns geopolitical tensions and supply-chain shocks could widen the trade finance gap again. Energy for Jobs: At the same meetings, leaders backed Mission 300 and a new push toward productive use of electricity, with Congo’s president stressing power is needed to boost agriculture and livestock. Congo Visa Move: Republic of Congo plans to scrap visa requirements for all African travellers from 2027, aiming to improve mobility and trade. Industrial Benchmark: The AfDB’s 2025 Industrialisation Index puts Morocco ahead of South Africa as Africa’s top industrial economy, citing export diversification and infrastructure. Health Funding Pressure: Africa CDC says partner commitments for an Ebola emergency response have dropped sharply, while Congo reports 1,077 suspected cases.

AfDB Annual Meetings, Brazzaville: Africa’s growth is forecast at 4.2% in 2026 (from 4.4% in 2025), with a rebound to 4.4% in 2027, as the African Economic Outlook warns that geopolitics, tighter finance, and supply-chain shocks are still biting. Energy for livelihoods: Congo’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso backed AfDB’s push to turn electricity access into economic opportunity under Mission 300, while leaders also flagged a new Centre of Excellence for productive use of energy. Aviation push: Nigeria’s Festus Keyamo signed an AfDB Letter of Intent for the $7bn Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme, highlighting reforms and the new Nigeria Aircraft Leasing Company to cut aircraft costs and improve service reliability. Private investment roadmap: AfDB and the World Economic Forum launched the HRI Roadmap for Africa to mobilise private capital into fragile economies, with pilots already running in Liberia, Somalia, Mozambique and Djibouti. SME finance spotlight: Co-operative Bank of Kenya was named SME Bank of the Year at the African Banker Awards in Brazzaville, citing stronger SME lending and profit growth. Health funding stress: Africa CDC says partner commitments for Ebola emergency response have fallen sharply, while Congo reports 1,077 suspected cases and 246 suspected deaths.