AGP Executive Report

Regional Governance & Migration: South Africa’s Ramaphosa urged SADC leaders to tackle migration together after anti-foreigner backlash drove mass departures, while Ghana also demanded Russia stop recruiting Ghanaians for Ukraine. Public Finance & Accountability: SARS is consulting on a digital VAT model using e-invoicing and e-reporting to modernise compliance and oversight. Social Policy & Ethics: South Africa appointed Dina Pule as Social Development Minister despite a prior Parliament ethics finding tied to alleged misuse of her office. Elections & Political Stability: Zambia’s Hichilema won re-election with 60% as critics allege intimidation and irregularities; in Nigeria’s Osun race, Senate leader Bamidele urged APC candidate Oyebamiji to congratulate Adeleke and push unity. Security & Justice: Tanzania’s court will decide whether Tundu Lissu has a case to answer in his treason trial. Regional Integration: Ramaphosa pressed SADC to turn agreements into measurable results on borders, electricity, trade and jobs. Civil Society & Rights: AfriForum’s Kallie Kriel said it will engage Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma’s team. Governance Watch: South Africa’s police asset disclosures flagged 575 lifestyle discrepancies since 2021/22, yet no disciplinary action followed.

AU Peace & Security: The African Union sent a delegation to push for a Sudan ceasefire, seeking humanitarian access and a revived political process as fighting shifts across Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan. Regional Migration & SADC Governance: South Africa’s SADC summit is being overshadowed by anti-migrant protests and renewed calls to implement stalled free movement rules, after Ramaphosa apologized for ill-treatment of foreign nationals. Elections & Political Stability: Zambia’s Hichilema widened his election lead as results trickled in, while opposition leaders alleged irregularities amid a halted count. Judicial/Accountability: Tanzania’s High Court is set to rule on whether opposition figure Tundu Lissu must answer a treason charge. Digital Policy & Regulation: Tanzania’s blockchain community is eyeing Nairobi for ABF 2026, banking on new virtual-assets assessment work by the Bank of Tanzania to enable clearer oversight. Corporate Governance: South African Airways placed acting CEO Matshela Seshibe on special leave, with the chief legal officer stepping in as acting CEO. Public Health Governance: Ethiopia warned El Niño could disrupt hydropower supply, while DRC Ebola cases passed 4,900 as UN warned “Ebola is winning.” Trade & Oversight: AfCFTA’s customs digitisation concession to Nigeria’s Bergmans drew scrutiny over credentials as the bloc seeks faster, more harmonised trade.

SADC Summit in Durban: Southern African leaders meet for the 46th SADC Ordinary Summit with trade, infrastructure-led industrialisation, agriculture and critical minerals on the agenda, alongside regional security and migration pressures, as anti-immigrant protests are planned around the talks. South Africa Immigration Enforcement: South Africa seeks reimbursement of nearly $18m for migrant repatriations and transport, while officials stress the need for rule-of-law border control without cruelty or violence against foreign nationals. Eskom Reform Standoff: Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busisiwe Mavuso says she lacks confidence in Eskom leadership’s commitment to power-sector reforms, accusing the board of stalling transmission unbundling despite lender engagement. SARB vs Kastelo: The South African Reserve Bank takes fintech Kastelo to court over alleged R4bn in blocked foreign exchange transactions tied to alleged exchange-control bypasses. Shell Wild Coast Blocked: South Africa’s Constitutional Court halts Shell’s offshore exploration renewal, reinforcing community consultation and environmental governance. Osun Election Fallout (Nigeria): ADC leaders congratulate Ademola Adeleke’s re-election while questioning INEC over IReV result-upload interruptions and calling for probes into vote-buying and violence. AU on Sudan: The African Union rejects foreign interference and parallel governance moves in Sudan, urging dialogue and a comprehensive political settlement. ECOWAS TVET Capacity: ECOWAS trains TVET stakeholders in Guinea to strengthen transparent, results-oriented governance and improve employability across member states.

Police Accountability: South Africa’s SAPS body-worn camera rollout is still stuck in procurement limbo, with MPs and policing experts warning delays undermine transparency and public trust. Governance & Justice: Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul faces allegations of blocking the customary husband of his late sister from administering her estate, raising fresh questions about political interference in family and legal processes. Regional Diplomacy: Southern African leaders are gathering in Durban for the SADC summit as South Africa takes the chair, with migration and security tensions high on the agenda and authorities bracing for an anti-immigrant march. Elections & Electoral Integrity (Nigeria): Osun governorship results are contested in the courts as parties trade claims over vote uploads and alleged irregularities, while opposition groups frame the outcome as a test for 2027. Conflict Management (Sudan): Sudan’s PM says a national dialogue will begin soon under AU engagement, aiming at reconciliation, constitutional reconstruction and elections. Humanitarian Migration (Spain/Ceuta): Hundreds of migrants protest in Ceuta demanding asylum rather than deportation to Morocco amid overstretched local capacity. Public Service Delivery (South Africa): Water and sanitation remain a central election pressure point as officials defend progress while acknowledging infrastructure strain. Church Leadership (Ghana): Ghana’s Evangelical Presbyterian Church elects a new Moderator, signalling a leadership transition alongside ongoing debt servicing.

Regional Diplomacy: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and SADC leaders will lay wreaths at Oliver Tambo’s statue in Durban, reaffirming his role in national liberation and social justice ahead of the 46th SADC summit. Jobs & Governance: The Western Cape’s unemployment rate (19.5%) stays far below the national figure (33.6%), with analysts pointing to historical advantages and warning against crediting any single party policy. Electoral Integrity: Nigeria’s SERAP urged INEC, EFCC and ICPC to jointly investigate Osun’s 2026 vote-buying, intimidation and violence, while EU observers reported 323 electoral offences and 38 security incidents in monitored polling units. Migration & Accountability: South Africa is pushing SADC to ratify the Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons, as leaders prepare to tackle migration, trade and critical minerals at the Durban summit. Security: Nigerian troops repelled an ISWAP attack on a Borno base, killing scores of terrorists and recovering weapons. Sports Governance: Qatar’s FA demanded transparency from the AFC after it said member associations were not consulted over a FIFA commercial-rights dispute. Civic/NGO Funding: Prince Harry redirected Diana memorial funds away from Sentebale to Botswana’s Elephants Without Borders.

South Africa Xenophobia Response: President Cyril Ramaphosa told SADC leaders South Africans are “deeply concerned and ashamed” over discrimination and violence against foreign nationals, warning the region cannot “preach integration” while practising exclusion. Nigeria Security: Troops under Operation Hadin Kai repelled an ISWAP attack on a Borno forward operating base, with attackers defeated after a two-front assault. Nigeria Elections Oversight: EU observers monitoring Osun’s governorship vote reported 323 electoral offences and 38 security incidents across 726 polling units, citing vote trading, ballot exposure and voter intimidation. Nigeria Federalism Debate: Niger Delta leader Elder Joseph Ambakederimo renewed calls for states to retain 70% of resource revenues, arguing the current system blocks equitable development. Migration & Public Health (Ceuta): In Spain’s Ceuta enclave, overcrowding after a late-July influx has been linked to gastroenteritis cases plus scabies and impetigo, raising sanitation and healthcare access concerns. Sudan Dialogue: Sudan’s al-Burhan pledged temporary immunity and legal guarantees for participants in an independent national dialogue, suspending criminal proceedings during talks. DRC-Rwanda Peace Monitoring: DRC and Rwanda agreed on steps to strengthen monitoring and verification of their Washington Accords, with a trilateral planning conference planned for October. Governance Reform (Namibia): A Namibia-focused opinion argues the country’s Westminster-style system clashes with local consensus traditions and needs a governance model built for Namibians. Youth & Civic Leadership: International Youth Day events in Liberia highlighted youth participation in democratic institutions and civic change. Digital Trade (Kenya): Kenya’s Digital Trade Congress 2026 in Nairobi aims to scale cross-border e-commerce under AfCFTA, targeting SMEs, women-led firms and young entrepreneurs.

Zambia Election Integrity: Zambia’s electoral commission suspended presidential vote counting after attacks on polling officials and theft of marked ballot papers, then restarted hours later under heightened security in Lusaka. South Africa Governance & Security: Police leadership lifestyle reviews flagged hundreds of undeclared vehicles, properties and company links, while officials argued crime-fight perceptions don’t match reported murder trends. Migration & Regional Diplomacy: Ramaphosa urged SADC to tackle migration drivers—conflict, governance failure and poverty—after condemning violence against foreign nationals. Anti-Corruption Focus: Nigeria’s ICPC chief said anti-corruption must shift from arrests to stronger public integrity systems that protect investment and economic stability. Public Accountability (Ghana): RANA filed an RTI seeking details on proposed private partnerships for Agenda 111 hospitals, including contracts, approvals and financial terms. Energy & Investment: Africa Finance Corporation led a $2.5bn private placement for Dangote’s refinery and ECOWAS advanced a regional carbon market framework to unlock climate finance. Trade Policy: China’s zero-tariff policy for imports from 53 African countries is already boosting sales of produce and other goods. Nigeria Election Watch: Osun governorship voting opened amid claims of military raids and calls for peaceful, credible polls.

Migration & Regional Integration: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa told SADC leaders he is “deeply concerned and ashamed” by xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, warning the region cannot preach integration while practicing exclusion on the streets, after protests drove more than 178,000 African immigrants out of the country. Security Cooperation (DRC–Rwanda): A joint statement from the 6th Joint Security Coordination Mechanism meeting in Geneva says DRC and Rwanda agreed to advance monitoring and verification steps for the Washington Accords, with a trilateral planning conference planned for October. Parliament & Investment Climate (Ghana): Ghana’s Parliament backed reforms by the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) under Act 1173, including removing blanket minimum capital requirements for foreign investors (with sector-based capital checks). Anti-Corruption (Nigeria): The Nigeria Labour Congress pledged solidarity with the EFCC, framing kleptocracy and illicit financial flows as a direct threat to workers and calling for stronger institutions and whistleblower protection. Electoral Integrity (Zambia): Zambia’s electoral commission resumed vote counting after a suspension over violence and ballot theft, with results expected soon. Governance & Courts (South Africa): South Africa’s Constitutional Court set aside Shell/Impact Africa’s Wild Coast offshore exploration rights, citing failures in consultation and climate-related considerations. Humanitarian Crisis (Libya–Mediterranean): SOS Méditerranée reported 11 migrant bodies spotted off Libya, highlighting the deadly central Mediterranean crossings.

Elections & Electoral Integrity (Zambia): Vote counting began in Zambia after polls closed in a presidential, parliamentary and local government election, with results expected Monday and observers flagging delays tied to voter direction, confusion over rolls and crowd management. Governance & Accountability (Malawi): Malawi’s Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee’s decision to hire independent South African forensic pathologists is framed as a push for transparency in the 2024 Chilima crash inquiry, with hopes of clearer medical review despite the challenges of examining records years later. Public Finance & Economic Policy (Ghana): Ghana’s Finance Ministry and partners signed an MoU to sell 30% of large-scale miners’ gold output under GANRAP to build reserves and reduce reliance on costly borrowing. Human Rights & Civil Society (Ghana): CDD-Ghana demands justice for victims of 2024 election-related violence, warning that without accountability electoral violence risks recurring. Regional Humanitarian Support (ECOWAS): ECOWAS provided over US$700,000 in cash, agriculture and water/sanitation support to vulnerable communities in Liberia’s Bong and Grand Cape Mount counties. Social Protection (South Africa): Sassa’s social grant reviews are causing anxiety and long queues as beneficiaries verify eligibility, with the agency citing legal requirements to ensure payments go to eligible people. FIFA Governance (Africa): New Zealand withdrew support for Infantino’s reelection bid, calling for an independent review after FIFA’s aborted commercial rights stake sale plan; African football leadership says only an election should decide his future. Energy & Industry (South Africa): NUMSA warns Eskom’s planned unbundling could weaken the utility and open space for private involvement, arguing transmission separation risks undermining public ownership. Infrastructure & Development (Central African Republic): CAR President Touadéra honoured a UAE firm for delivering a 50MW solar-plus-storage project expected to power 300,000 households and cut emissions. Politics & Party Discipline (South Africa): A commentary piece argues ANC vote-buying allegations are fundamentally political, not legal, and criticises litigation threats as a diversion.

FIFA Governance: CAF president Patrice Motsepe told critics of Gianni Infantino to stop pushing removal and instead contest the FIFA election, arguing the 211 member associations should decide. Human Rights & Elections: South Africa’s SAHRC will investigate Cape Town “Straight Party” campaign messaging that calls for an “LGBQI+ free Cape Town” and threatens to withdraw funding for WorldPride 2028. Public Health: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has spread to a sixth province, with Africa CDC warning it could spill into South Sudan. Healthcare Workforce: South Africa says it has 1,518 vacant medical posts but does not track how many doctors who completed community service remain unemployed, deepening concerns about staffing and employment gaps. Migration Costs & Diplomacy: South Africa continues demanding reimbursement from African states for migrant repatriation expenses, including Malawi and Nigeria, amid rising regional migration tensions. Regional Politics: Zambia voted in presidential, parliamentary and local elections as Hakainde Hichilema seeks a second term on economic recovery and reforms. Security Sector Reform: Ghana’s military education leaders were urged to modernise curricula for AI, cyber operations and multi-domain threats. NGO & Rights Work: A Central/East Africa-focused women-led NGO (WFAC) moved to formalise partnership with Cameroon’s human rights commission to expand community health and gender equality work. Science & Policy: A course on science diplomacy in Italy highlighted the need for African voices to better connect science, diplomacy and policymaking. Climate Finance: The AfDB’s African Development Fund approved a $4.23m grant to integrate natural capital into development financing across 13 countries.

Zambia Election Watch: Zambians vote Thursday in a presidential, parliamentary and local election expected to return President Hakainde Hichilema for a second term, despite cost-of-living pressure and opposition complaints about restrictions and a lack of a level playing field. South Africa Governance & Migration: South Africa’s repatriation drive has cost nearly R300m and removed close to 90,000 people, but researchers warn the strategy’s outcomes are unclear and regional ties have been damaged. SADC Trade Push: South Africa takes the SADC chair with a push to lift intra-regional trade to 50% and push critical-mineral beneficiation, industrialisation and infrastructure. ECOWAS Climate Finance: ECOWAS targets a $294bn climate finance gap by building a unified regional carbon market, warning climate stress could displace 32m people. Regional Fuel Market: West African regulators move to create an integrated refined fuel market with transparent regional price benchmarks. Parliament & Communications: South Africa’s Icasa defends updated subscriber service rules before a parliamentary committee as court challenges loom. LGBTQ+ Rights: Anti-LGBTQ+ laws are spreading across Africa, with Senegal’s tougher crackdown and arrests drawing renewed concern. Football Governance: CAF backs FIFA’s Infantino amid FIFA governance turmoil, saying African football interests come first. Open-Source Soil Data: Varda Foundation open-sources SoilHive to help governments and researchers share trusted soil data while keeping national ownership. Youth Leadership: A student leadership conference in Eswatini urges young leaders to take campus lessons into communities and workplaces.

Constitutional Court Watch (South Africa): South Africa’s top court blocked the ATM’s bid for direct access to challenge the interim order halting Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala impeachment hearings, keeping the interdict in place while the Western Cape review runs. Public Finance & Accountability (South Africa): The PIC’s reinstated CEO Patrick Dlamini and new board faced scrutiny after announcing a fresh “independent” probe into allegations tied to a whistleblower report—raising questions about whether earlier processes were properly handled. Local Governance & Service Delivery (South Africa): The ANC blamed coalition politics for municipal service failures ahead of November local elections, as voters push back on the narrative. Migration & State Costs (South Africa): Home Affairs told Parliament it spent R292m on repatriations—far above the R60m budget—and has asked Malawi, Nigeria and Ethiopia to refund costs. Regional Governance & Media Freedom (West Africa): MFWA urged Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea to end arbitrary arrests and prolonged pretrial detention of journalists and civil society actors. Election Tensions (Nigeria): In Osun, the ADC warned of a plot to arrest its leader ahead of the poll, while civil society groups demanded visa bans over alleged “kill” incitement tied to election violence. Climate Governance (ECOWAS): ECOWAS moved to validate a regional carbon market platform to close a $294bn climate-finance gap. Gender Policy (Ghana/AU): Ghana’s AU gender champion strategy for 2026–2028 is being shaped through a workshop focused on partnerships to deliver measurable gender-equality results. Banking (East Africa): KCB regained the top spot as East Africa’s largest bank by assets, citing deposit and lending growth.

Elections & Democracy: Zambia goes to the polls Thursday as President Hakainde Hichilema seeks a second term, with voters weighing debt-restructuring progress against a still-high cost of living. Youth & Jobs: A youth summit in Kampala flags insecurity and unemployment as the main brakes on young people’s education, civic participation and livelihoods ahead of International Youth Day. Gender & Local Governance: South Africa’s Commission for Gender Equality warns women’s local leadership is slipping, citing violence, intimidation and low trust in other women; it urges mandatory 50-50 representation and sanctions for parties that ignore it. Public Accountability & Justice: South Africa’s Madlanga Commission delays Fadiel Adams’s testimony after his late witness statement leaves the legal team unprepared. Health Emergency: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 2,000 deaths with 4,381 confirmed cases, prompting WHO to expand treatment capacity. Migration Costs: South Africa says repatriation spending has hit about R292m, seeking reimbursement from Malawi, Nigeria and Ethiopia. Maritime Security: Nigeria’s provisional coast guard committee urges the Senate to pass the Coast Guard Establishment Bill to close maritime enforcement gaps and create jobs.

Public Finance Accountability: South Africa’s Auditor-General flags R1.377-trillion in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful spending over five years, with tens of billions classed as fruitless and wasteful—another warning sign as governance and service delivery lag. Education Delivery: South Africa reports 27,092 vacant teaching posts (including 2,654 “frozen”), adding pressure on already high learner-to-educator ratios. Election Readiness: The SABC warns it may have to limit Local Government Elections coverage without an extra R120m for scaled, multilingual operations. Governance & State-Owned Oversight: South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation governance remains under scrutiny after a court ruling overturned the suspension of CEO Patrick Dlamini, reigniting calls for cleaner institutional processes. Judicial Independence: A Kenyan professor warns African courts are becoming “commodified,” with bribery and political pressure eroding access to justice. Regional Civic Participation: Nigeria’s INEC and AYGF urge youth to take ownership of democratic space and electoral participation. Dual Citizenship Debate: Uganda swears in three ministers after dual-citizenship questions, with President Museveni stressing officials must be clear about loyalty. Human Rights Reform: Lebanon abolishes the death penalty, replacing capital punishment with life sentences. Health & Professional Capacity: Malawi will host COSECSA’s surgical conference on antimicrobial resistance, drawing 1,500 practitioners. Anti-IUU Fishing: Oceana pushes Spain to amend fisheries law to require beneficial ownership transparency for vessels operating in West Africa.

Election Integrity: The EU denies it is abandoning Nigeria’s 2027 election observation, saying it will send a smaller Electoral Expert Mission of just 2–4 independent experts instead of a large observer team. Local Governance & Accountability: South Africa’s eThekwini faces a possible postponement of its parliamentary committee reappearance over irregular spending and service delivery risks, with officials previously citing billions in irregular expenditure. Regional Security: ECOWAS is training certified cybersecurity incident auditors in Lomé to strengthen cross-border cyber defenses and improve CSIRT incident response. Public Finance for Development: ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) approved over $510m for transport, healthcare, renewable energy and private-sector projects across West Africa. Health & Social Policy: South Africa’s exclusive breastfeeding rate is reported at 22.2% for the first six months, far below targets, as health officials push community support to cut malnutrition and illness. Democracy in Practice: Somalia’s electoral commission briefs foreign envoys on progress toward one-person, one-vote elections, including local council and parliamentary vote plans. Energy & Conflict Impacts: Libya’s Zawiya gasoline reservoir caught fire and collapsed after an attack, with authorities warning of escalating threats to oil infrastructure. Governance & Institutions: Somalia’s Auditor General flags weak internal controls and compliance gaps across federal agencies, including asset and vehicle management issues. Women & Leadership: South Africa highlights women’s leadership in business and community life, alongside renewed attention to women’s rights and public integrity.

Anti-Corruption & Justice: South Africa’s SIU secured an interim preservation order over properties linked to former PRASA boss Lucky Montana, urging the NPA to move from asset freezes to prosecutions in the long-running Prasa/Siyangena State Capture case. Parliament & Public Finance: Parliament’s National Assembly rebuild is 76% complete, with the main structure due by November and full completion targeted for June 2027, as oversight scrutinises the R4.68bn budget. Health & Rights: UNFPA’s West and Central Africa director pressed Ghana’s media to prioritise domestic health investment—midwives, primary care, contraception, and keeping girls in school—to cut maternal deaths and inequality. Regional Trade & Governance: MTN Ghana board chair Dr Ishmael Yamson called for harmonised regulations so African firms can scale across borders and support AfCFTA. Energy Diplomacy: African Energy Week in Cape Town (Oct 12–16) clashes with WPC Energy’s Riyadh dates (Oct 11–15), raising concerns about fairness and respect for Africa’s agenda. Migration & Border Politics: Spain cancelled leave for troops in Ceuta amid fears of another influx after the July rush and deadly crossings. Elections & Party Politics: Nigeria’s ADC campaign rallies in Osun saw Atiku urge voters ahead of Aug. 15, while internal candidate substitution disputes in Adamawa threaten court battles.