AGP Executive Report

Drought Watch: South Africa is preparing for a potentially strong El Niño in the 2026/27 farming season, with grain-producing provinces among the most exposed. Cybersecurity: Nigerian and African Union officials warn that terrorist groups are using AI, social media, drones and cryptocurrency to recruit, raise funds and coordinate attacks. Crop Science: ICRISAT has secured long-term access to CRISPR gene-editing technology to develop crops better able to withstand drought, heat, pests and disease. Digital Payments: Nigeria’s new National Payment Stack uses open technology that lets NIBSS retain control of the system and its future development. Wildlife Research: A study estimates hippos move 0.4 tonnes of silicon into Kenya’s Mara River on a dry-season day, carrying nutrients from grasslands into aquatic ecosystems. Forests: Global deforestation eased in 2025, but forest loss worsened in the Congo Basin, putting progress toward the 2030 target at risk.

Cybersecurity: Cyberattacks on African organisations rose 421% from 2016 to 2025, reaching 69,236 events last year, a Mastercard-backed report says. The digital payments economy is projected to hit $1.5 trillion by 2030, raising the stakes for stronger defences. AI Infrastructure: Morocco is moving ahead with a planned 20-megawatt data centre near Casablanca, part of a bid to build Africa’s first sovereign AI infrastructure platform. Connectivity: MTN South Africa recorded speeds of 10.35 Gbps in what it calls Africa’s first upper-6GHz 5G-Advanced trial. AI and Elections: Nigerian civic-tech group Orodata warns that AI-generated political posts can make coordinated campaigns look like grassroots opinion, as African countries approach elections. African-Language AI: Vambo AI has released MORENA, an open-weight model trained from scratch for 12 African languages. Disaster Resilience: A global study found the fastest recent gains in disaster resilience were in Africa, though many people affected by disasters in Central and West Africa still received no warning.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: South Africa’s FuturePharma facility aims to turn laboratory research into locally made medicines and active ingredients, reducing import dependence and strengthening preparedness for health emergencies. Regional Connectivity: Senegal is hosting West African countries to shape a shared strategy for digital backbone infrastructure and more reliable cross-border connectivity. AI and Jobs: The World Bank says practical AI applications in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing could boost productivity and employment across Africa. Digital Skills: In Kenya, 68% of TVET graduates in digital courses find work within six months, though the report highlights a mismatch between training and employer needs. Cancer Research: Nigerian and Memorial Sloan Kettering specialists are advancing locally relevant cancer research, precision medicine and clinical training. African-Language AI: Vambo AI has released MORENA, an open-weight model trained from scratch for 12 African languages.

Public Health: A new global study finds snakebite envenoming is far more widespread than official counts suggest, with sub-Saharan Africa bearing the heaviest toll. Many rural cases go unrecorded because people live far from clinics or lack transport. Weather Technology: Zimbabwean firm FreedPer is partnering with US technology companies to expand weather monitoring across Africa, where land-based stations average eight times fewer than recommended. Better local data could support farming, water management and early warnings. AI and Digital Sovereignty: Morocco’s AUSIM conference showcased its push to move AI from trials into industry, backed by a roadmap targeting 50,000 jobs and training for 200,000 people by 2030. Space Collaboration: South Africa’s SANSA and Türkiye’s space agency signed a five-year deal covering Earth observation, space science, technology development and skills. Agricultural Research: Ghana and India agreed to five years of joint research, starting with tomatoes, to raise domestic production and help cut Ghana’s annual import bill, estimated at more than US$230 million. Maternal Health: The Gates Foundation and Wellcome Leap committed $100 million to test ways to halve stillbirths, beginning with partners in sub-Saharan Africa.

Solar Power: AIKO will supply 1.2 million high-efficiency modules for three South African solar projects with a combined capacity of 773.5 MWp, expected to generate enough electricity for about 456,000 homes. AI for Water: A Johannesburg startup is testing an AI tool for water-treatment professionals, with founder Unathi Mbengwana saying pilots should reveal not only where it works but where it falls short. City Services: Johannesburg’s City Power is seeking AI tools to detect billing and vending irregularities as it tackles nearly R6bn in annual electricity losses. Health Research: A computational study has identified African plant compounds as possible leads for new river-blindness treatments, a disease that disproportionately affects sub-Saharan Africa. Climate-Ready Farming: New maps show where southern African farmers could grow drought-tolerant bambara groundnut, offering a potential tool for adapting to hotter, drier conditions.

African Science: Prof. Murenzi says Africa should be recognised not only as a consumer but as a contributor to global science. Technical Skills: Nigeria’s NCDMB and Renaissance Africa Energy have launched a 12-month programme to train 60 young people in engineering, machining, computer-aided design and other oil-and-gas skills. Digital and Clean Energy: Botswana’s President Duma Boko says the country wants to deepen cooperation with China in the digital economy, renewable energy and research-led manufacturing. Genomics: African researchers are working to connect genetic data with healthcare, as countries build capacity in the growing field. Climate-Smart Farming: New maps identify where southern African farmers can grow drought-tolerant bambara groundnut.

Digital Skills: A refurbished learning centre in Ghana’s Madina district will teach more than 2,000 pupils coding, robotics, animation and AI. African-language AI: South African startup Vambo AI released MORENA, a 1.5-billion-parameter open model trained from scratch on 12 African languages. Health Manufacturing: Egypt and AUDA-NEPAD agreed to expand African drug and vaccine production, as Ghana’s president noted the continent imports over 70% of its medicines. AI and Justice: The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights partnered with UNESCO to train staff to use AI responsibly and guard against bias and rights violations. Research Capacity: Africa CDC opened a pilot clinical research certificate, while the Science for Africa Foundation called for stronger regional capacity in malaria genomic surveillance.

African Space Science: South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope helped identify the host galaxy of the most distant fast radio burst yet detected. The signal travelled for more than 10 billion years before reaching Earth. Biotechnology: Kenyan researchers are extracting venom from live snakes to develop East Africa’s first tailored antivenom. AI and Connectivity: South African firm Vambo AI has released a language model trained on 12 African languages, while experts say AI’s growth on the continent depends on reliable power infrastructure. Health Manufacturing: Ghana’s president says Africa imports more than 70% of its medicines, highlighting the opportunity to expand local production; South Africa has also launched a biomanufacturing facility to strengthen health security. Clean Energy: A UN report says Africa captures less than 1% of the value generated by green-energy supply chains, despite its mineral resources, underscoring the need to build processing and manufacturing capacity.

AI and Humanity: Wole Soyinka urged Nigerian scientists and developers to set limits on AI, warning that relying on it to create could weaken human imagination. Digital Access: South Africa’s Usaasa is consulting on updating its 16-year-old universal access policy, including how to make broadband affordable and identify people eligible for subsidies. Snakebite Treatment: Kenyan scientists are extracting venom from live snakes to develop East Africa’s first tailored antivenom. Climate-Ready Crops: Research on African rice has uncovered a genetic breakthrough that could help crops withstand climate change. Assistive Technology: Nigeria’s government has unveiled 3D-printed prosthetics for amputees. Energy Storage: South Africa is advancing plans to procure 4.6GW of battery storage, a major test of the country’s ability to support a more reliable power system.

AI’s African Opportunity: Africa could add up to $1 trillion to GDP by 2035 through inclusive AI adoption, but the continent has just 0.6% of global data-centre capacity. Experts say energy and infrastructure gaps may limit the gains, while efforts such as Togo’s work to bring local languages into AI offer a practical path forward. Medical Technology: Nigeria is showcasing AI-assisted, 3D-printed prosthetics aimed at making devices faster and more accessible for people needing rehabilitation. Snakebite Research: Kenyan scientists are extracting venom from live snakes to develop East Africa’s first tailored antivenom. Research Talent: Sixty women researchers from 28 African countries have completed a fellowship designed to help turn their work into policy and community solutions. African Fintech: Airtel Money has begun conditional trading in London in a £5.3 billion IPO, putting the scale of the continent’s mobile-money sector in the global spotlight.

AI and Digital Trust: Google has opened its SynthID Detector to the public in Nigeria, giving users a free way to check whether media carries watermarks from participating AI systems. Connectivity: Nigeria plans to build 90,000 kilometres of open-access fibre by 2028, aiming to connect more than 200,000 schools, health facilities and other public institutions. Green Industry: South Africa is being urged to use existing industrial sites to test green technologies and build local manufacturing capacity. African AI: South Africa’s Vambo AI has released a language model trained on 12 African languages, while a new guide advises nonprofits to focus on real community needs before adopting AI. Climate and Farming: Satellites and farmers are being brought together to track drought’s impact on Nigeria’s rice harvest; a separate study warns counterfeit seeds threaten farmers’ climate resilience. Health Technology: South Africa has launched a biomanufacturing facility aimed at strengthening local medicine production.

Digital Industry: Senegal signed an agreement to build a Diamniadio complex assembling computers, smartphones and tablets, with operations due to begin in December. Connectivity: A new alliance aims to help digital infrastructure firms navigate licensing and regulation in Kenya and the wider region. AI and Society: Kenya’s technology envoy urged a “life-centred” approach to AI that protects human dignity, communities and the environment. Health Research: Uganda has begun clinical trials of two candidate vaccines for the Bundibugyo Ebola strain behind the current DR Congo outbreak. Clean Energy: South Africa prioritised 4.6GW of battery storage procurement, though the planned storage duration is not yet set. Space Science: South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope helped detect the most distant fast radio burst yet recorded, from more than 10 billion years ago. Climate Services: Nigeria’s NiMet received an AfriGEO award for weather forecasting and early-warning work using Earth observation.

Responsible AI: UNESCO and Nigerian officials are calling for safeguards on neurotechnology, warning that brain data could threaten privacy and personal autonomy. African telecom regulators are also pushing for stronger AI oversight. Smarter Farming: At an African Union seed summit in Eswatini, leaders urged investment in seed research, labs and biotechnology while warning against dependence on outside suppliers. Kenya’s deputy president backed precision farming, including drones that help target farm inputs. Homegrown Health Tech: South Africa has opened a biomanufacturing facility aimed at boosting local medicine production and health sovereignty. African Innovation: South Africa’s Vambo AI has released a language model trained on 12 African languages, while a new report warns that the AI boom could leave the continent’s poorest behind. Climate-Ready Crops: Researchers report a genetic breakthrough in African rice that could help crops withstand climate change.

Smart Agriculture: Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki urged farmers to use drones and precision tools to target fertiliser and pesticides, cutting waste and costs. Earth Observation: The AfriGEO symposium opened in Abuja with 150 participants exploring satellite data, AI, flood forecasting and crop mapping to support decisions across Africa. Energy Data: ECOWAS experts in Togo are validating 2023–24 efficiency indicators, creating national datasets to guide energy planning. Health Technology: South Africa has launched a biomanufacturing facility aimed at expanding local medicine production and health sovereignty. Ebola Response: Congo’s outbreak is spreading into new hotspots; many cases remain undetected, while responders describe coordination and treatment gaps in conflict-hit North Kivu. Digital Trust: At a Nairobi summit, Kenya’s ICT minister called for African technologies that protect privacy and rights, and urged leaders to turn discussion into practical action.

Refugee Education Crisis: Uganda says 200,000 learners in refugee-hosting districts may fail to finish the year as donor funding cuts leave thousands of teachers unpaid, threatening PLE, UCE and UACE prep. Capital Markets: Uganda’s CMA approved the marketing of Dangote Petroleum Refinery shares locally, but restricts sales to institutional and high-net-worth investors ahead of the Oct 13 subscription deadline. AI for Learning: The African Union urges AI transformation in schools to start with teachers—empowering them to use AI responsibly rather than replacing them. Health & Care Delivery: Kenya’s Murang’a is piloting integrated mental health and non-communicable disease care at primary facilities, aiming to close access gaps. Biosecurity & AI Gap: Public health experts warn Africa’s AI capability and data-centre capacity lag could widen biosecurity risks as AI advances. Ebola in DRC: MSF warns the DRC outbreak is far from over, with mistrust and fragile health systems slowing containment. Renewables Hydrogen: Switzerland is considering technical cooperation with Morocco on renewable hydrogen and synthetic fuels for energy security. Stadium Upgrade: Morocco’s SGTM wins a $285m contract to modernize Fez’s sports complex for the 2030 World Cup. WAEC Leadership: WAEC appoints Dr Amos Josiah Dangut as its new Registrar/CEO for 2026–2031.

Digital Social Protection: A two-day ISSA seminar in Doha, hosted by Daman, focused on how social security institutions can use better procedures plus technology to cut waiting and visits for beneficiaries. Grid Tech for Africa’s Power Bottlenecks: The IEA says digital grid tools could unlock up to 330GW of extra transmission and distribution capacity without new infrastructure, potentially easing connection delays that are holding back renewables. Democracy and Participation in South Africa: With local elections looming, reporting highlights low voter turnout concerns and the trust gap between citizens and politicians. Ebola Basics: A public explainer revisits Ebola’s origins, symptoms, and spread, underscoring why preparedness and safe response matter. Nigeria’s Digital Sovereignty: Nigeria’s data-localisation deadline is pushing banks and fintechs to build local payment-data infrastructure and rethink where backups and security systems live. Kenya Tax Progress: Kenya ranks 10th in Africa for tax and revenue mobilisation in 2025, per the Ibrahim Index analysis. Plague Watch: WHO asked Russia for more details after a Siberian plague lab worker’s death, with officials saying contacts tested negative for pneumonic plague. Sports Infrastructure Reality Check (Nigeria): A commentary argues Nigeria’s stadium model is failing—only one venue reportedly meets current FIFA/CAF standards.