AGP Executive Report

Ghana–South Africa Xenophobia Fallout: President John Dramani Mahama told diaspora Ghanaians in London that Ghana’s IMF programme is back on track and said diplomatic ties with South Africa remain intact despite xenophobic attacks that have triggered evacuations and new travel warnings. Regional Diplomacy & Migration: Ghana’s Foreign Affairs ministry urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel to South Africa and said it has secured 120 jobs for evacuees, while Catholic bishops warned against retaliation that could spiral across borders. Southern Africa Justice Reform: Southern African justice officials in Victoria Falls were urged to turn legal reforms into real benefits for 400 million people, linking rule-of-law work to governance and integration. Nigeria Opposition Row: ADC presidential primary allegations of rigging sparked a fresh fight: Babachir Lawal quit and accused Atiku of manipulating results, while Atiku’s camp dismissed the claims as unsubstantiated. South Africa World Cup Visa Chaos: South Africa’s squad faced last-minute disruption after U.S. visa delays, with ministers demanding accountability. Africa–Korea Cooperation: Foreign ministers from South Korea and 50 African countries agreed to strengthen maritime transit and critical minerals ties in Seoul. Energy & Industry: EU launched a South Africa investment roadshow to convert €12bn into projects on critical minerals and clean energy, while Tanzania formalised a 16% state stake in the Lindi Jumbo graphite mine.

Xenophobia Fallout in South Africa: Ghana warns citizens to avoid non-essential travel as xenophobic attacks intensify, citing injuries and business closures, while Ghana evacuates nationals and presses Pretoria diplomatically. Jobs and Reintegration: Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says 120 jobs have already been secured for evacuated Ghanaians, with more repatriations expected. Ghana’s Political Mood: IMANI Africa finds online debate is shifting toward governance and policy delivery rather than loyalty to personalities. Korea–Africa Diplomacy: Foreign ministers meet in Seoul to deepen cooperation on trade, minerals, supply chains, and shared responses to global challenges. Ebola Response: China pledges emergency help to Ebola-hit DRC, including medical teams, as Africa CDC reports rising suspected cases. South Africa World Cup Chaos: Visa delays derail Bafana Bafana’s departure and leave key staff scrambling; the sports ministry faces fresh questions over costs and priorities. Nigeria Opposition Fractures: Babachir Lawal quits the ADC, alleging rigged primaries for Atiku, while broader opposition unity remains under strain. ECOWAS Leadership Anxiety: Analysts flag a legitimacy test for ECOWAS as fragmentation and governance pressures mount ahead of its July transition.

World Cup Governance: South Africa’s Bafana Bafana were stranded in Johannesburg days before the 2026 opener after visa delays, with Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie calling it “embarrassing” and demanding action against those responsible. Elections & Stability: Ethiopia holds parliamentary and regional polls Monday, with analysts expecting Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party to win big, though voting won’t take place in Tigray amid unrest. Regional Security & Diplomacy: Senegal will propose Air Force general Birame Diop for the ECOWAS Commission presidency as the bloc faces security and institutional challenges. Debt & Finance: A World Bank/IMF snapshot shows Africa’s external debt concentrated at the top, with South Africa and Egypt holding most of the $543.6bn total. Public Policy & Human Capital: South Africa’s latest household data finds nearly half of adults lack matric, pointing to persistent inequality and exclusion. Migration & Xenophobia: Ghana’s President Mahama condemned xenophobic attacks in South Africa and linked the violence to threats against AfCFTA-style unity. Health: Africa CDC reports Ebola suspected cases rising in DR Congo and Uganda, as regional health ministers prepare emergency talks.

World Cup Fallout in South Africa: Bafana Bafana’s departure to Mexico has been delayed after visa problems left some players and officials grounded in Johannesburg, with Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie calling the “travel and visa debacle” embarrassing and demanding accountability from SAFA. Ebola Response Pressure: WHO says Ebola patients in the DRC and Uganda are still recovering and that the outbreak is outpacing the global response, as Africa CDC reports rising confirmed cases and deaths—while Lagos steps up Ebola surveillance at MMIA to prevent cross-border spread. South Africa’s Phala Phala Impeachment: Parliament’s impeachment committee is set to begin work on Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala matter, with parties battling over who chairs the process after a Constitutional Court push to restart it. ADC Presidential Politics (Nigeria): A faction of the African Democratic Congress names Chris Uba as its 2027 presidential candidate, while Atiku Abubakar moves to reconcile with rival Hayatu-Deen after the primary. AfDB on Investment-Led Growth: AfDB and WEF argue frontier markets need a shift from aid to private investment, and AfDB’s president urges Africa to mobilize domestic savings for development. Climate Financing Push: Leaders at an Addis Ababa summit call to replace “climate aid” with climate investment, framing Africa as a partner for returns, not just a victim.

Ebola Response: WHO chief Ghebreyesus visited Bunia and updated the DRC/UGA response as confirmed Ebola cases rose to 134 with 18 deaths, while Kenya’s court temporarily suspended an American-backed Ebola quarantine center plan. Left-Wing Politics: South Africa’s SACP launched a “Conference of the Left” in Boksburg to unite parties and unions against the economic crisis, spotlighting ANC absence and tensions over the ANC-DA GNU. Border Security & Migration: South Africa’s Border Management Authority seized about R1bn of methaqualone at Beitbridge, citing intelligence-led reforms and biometric/ETA rollout; meanwhile Johannesburg crackdowns on undocumented foreigners are shuttering businesses and fueling xenophobic backlash. Xenophobia Fallout (Ghana-South Africa): Ghana continues evacuations, with 600 more registered for return, as officials and MPs urge restraint and push for AU action rather than retaliation. Regional Diplomacy: South Africa will host Kenya’s Ruto for a June 3-5 state visit, with talks on trade, investment, peace and border cooperation. Energy/Transport Policy: Nigeria’s Tinubu commissioned four CNG projects to expand cleaner transport infrastructure. Trade & Connectivity: Kazakhstan and Kenya discussed linking the Middle Corridor to East African ports at Mombasa and Lamu, plus possible Astana-Nairobi flights. Democratic Governance: Ramaphosa moves to review the Phala Phala panel report as South Africa’s impeachment process looms.

South Africa Police Corruption Probe: A “season two” interim report from the Madlanga Commission on alleged police and government corruption has been handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa, with explosive claims from the last 64 days of hearings still largely kept from the public. Nigeria Politics & Governance: The Nigeria Democratic Congress is pushing for political transformation ahead of 2027, while women’s representation in Nigeria’s politics is flagged as sliding further. Lagos Power Politics: Lagos governorship hopeful Obafemi Hamzat is framed as a technocrat bid to steady Africa’s “restless” megacity. Energy & Transport: President Bola Tinubu commissioned four CNG projects across Lagos, Abuja and Owerri, tying the push to cleaner transport and reduced costs after subsidy removal. Ghana Law & Rights: Ghana’s Parliament approved a controversial anti-LGBTQ “Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill,” now awaiting President John Mahama’s assent. Ebola Diplomacy Clash: The WHO warns of a Central Africa Ebola emergency as the US seeks quarantine steps in Kenya, but a Kenyan court blocked the plan. Regional Development Finance: UNDP urged Africa to scale proven development models, not just run pilot projects, as the AfDB annual meetings wrapped in Brazzaville. Digital Economy: Paystack launched an AI-powered merchant dashboard to help African businesses understand payments and revenue faster. AfCFTA-Linked Infrastructure: Burundi and Tanzania deepen ties via a major Standard Gauge Railway corridor aimed at cutting transport costs and boosting trade.

Ebola Alert: A rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain is spreading across the DRC and Uganda, prompting WHO to declare a public health emergency as experts warn official figures may be undercounted and no approved vaccines or medicines exist for this strain. Drug Interdiction: South Africa’s Border Management Authority and partners seized nearly R1bn worth of methaqualone (ABBA) at Beitbridge after intelligence-led targeting and an eight-hour truck dismantling; three Malawian suspects were arrested. Labour Court Ruling: South Africa’s Constitutional Court dismissed part of a challenge by NEASA and Sakeliga, clearing the way for Employment Equity Regulations and five-year sector numerical targets to proceed. Land Reform: President Cyril Ramaphosa presided over title deed handovers in North West, framing restitution as a constitutional promise and a restoration of dignity. Spaza Fund Scrutiny: Government says only R179.5m of the R500m Spaza Shop Support Fund has reached qualifying businesses, with licensing gaps and verification failures slowing uptake. Xenophobia Fallout: South Africa’s Nigerian community rejects claims that migrants were not being killed, citing at least 105 deaths over seven years and calling for transparent investigations. Diplomacy & Security: South Africa’s Khumbudzo Ntshavheni used the International Security Forum to warn that multipolar rivalry is intensifying transnational threats, including competition for influence in Africa.

Senegal’s Political Shake-Up: Parliament elected ousted PM Ousmane Sonko as speaker, setting up a direct clash with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye amid a deepening debt and IMF-linked reform fight. South Africa Xenophobia and Politics: Research warns service-delivery protests are being repurposed by political elites; meanwhile anti-foreigner violence continues to drive evacuations, with Nigerian groups citing 105 deaths over seven years and Ghana’s envoy warning of compensation demands if businesses are seized. Ebola Response Under Strain: Africa CDC says the Ebola threat could spread to more than a dozen countries as funding pledges fall; Nigeria placed multiple states on high alert for the Bundibugyo strain, while Canada and the Bahamas tightened travel rules. Africa’s Financing Push: AfDB and partners unveiled new frameworks in Brazzaville to mobilise private capital for fragile economies and Mission 300 electricity access, as the bank also weighs tapping Africa’s estimated $4 trillion savings. Digital Sovereignty Warning: Ghana’s finance minister cautioned that Africa risks “digital colonisation” unless it builds local data and payment infrastructure. Extremism Watch: A new assessment claims ISIS operations are increasingly concentrated in West Africa and the Sahel. Trade and Integration: Air Peace launched scheduled West Africa–Caribbean connectivity, aiming to unlock tourism and trade links.

Monetary Policy: South Africa’s Reserve Bank raised the policy rate by 25 basis points to 7%, warning inflation risks have intensified and could trigger second-round effects—raising pressure on household budgets and property affordability. Impeachment Politics: South Africa’s parliament is set to launch the first phase of an impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa over the “Farmgate” scandal, after a Constitutional Court revival; the committee will meet next week as Ramaphosa challenges the process in court. Xenophobia & Evacuations: Ghana evacuated the first batch of about 300 citizens from South Africa amid anti-immigrant unrest, including 26 detained over visa issues; officials say psychosocial and reintegration support will follow. Energy Transition Stress Test: South Africa may extend coal plant operations as gas replacement projects lag, leaving Eskom with limited options and highlighting delays tied to procurement and legal processes. Regional Governance & Food Security: SADC agriculture ministers, led by South Africa’s Masuka, convene in Victoria Falls to review food insecurity and climate resilience plans. Nigeria’s 2027 Race: ADC’s Atiku Abubakar emerged flagbearer after defeating Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, while Amaechi’s camp continues to contest the primary outcome. Labour & Migration Rules: South Africa moves to regulate foreign employment more tightly via an Employment Services Amendment Bill, aiming to protect jobs for citizens while managing sectoral foreign labour. Ebola Watch: Africa CDC mobilised $319m to curb escalating Ebola threats as outbreaks spread across parts of Central and East Africa.

ADC Presidential Primary: Nigeria’s opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared former Vice President Atiku Abubakar its 2027 presidential candidate after a direct primary, winning with 1,855,787 votes (Amaechi 509,397; Hayatu-Deen 180,903), though both rivals had earlier rejected results over alleged disenfranchisement and malpractice. Ghana–South Africa Migration Crisis: Ghana began repatriating citizens from South Africa amid anti-immigrant protests and xenophobic violence, with the first batch of about 300 arriving in Accra; officials say only 10 of the 300 were legally in South Africa, while Ghana’s government says it will support reintegration. Ebola Response and Travel Curbs: Ebola fears are driving regional action: India sent emergency medical supplies to Congo via Africa CDC, while the Bahamas announced a 30-day travel ban for visitors from Congo, Uganda and South Sudan; the US also plans a quarantine facility in Kenya for exposed Americans. South Africa Security Politics: Deputy President Paul Mashatile visited Cape Flats after SANDF deployment, as residents and observers questioned the intent amid ongoing gang and gun violence. Energy and Digital Push: Research highlights sorghum biofuels as a hedge against fuel price shocks, while Nigeria’s hyperscale AI-ready data centre rollout signals new investment in power and connectivity.

AfDB Outlook: Africa’s growth is projected at 4.2% in 2026 (down from 4.4% in 2025), with southern Africa lagging at 2.1% as energy and mining pressures bite, while East Africa leads at 5.9%. South Africa Politics: Ramaphosa faces fresh legal heat as the ATM accuses him of “Stalingrad” tactics to delay the Phala Phala impeachment process, while parties insist the committee won’t be stalled. Migration Crisis: Ghana begins voluntary repatriation of about 300 citizens from South Africa amid xenophobic tensions, with Accra promising reintegration support. US Refugee Move: South Africa and Afrikaner groups reject Trump’s claim of a humanitarian emergency targeting white people, contesting the basis for a higher white-only refugee quota. Ghana Games Fallout: Former sports minister Mustapha Ussif denies responsibility over alleged irregularities in Ghana’s 2023 African Games audit. Energy & Industry: South Africa’s sorghum bioethanol study says commercial potential exists, but farmers need guaranteed demand and minimum prices; meanwhile, the AfDB and leaders push energy, infrastructure and climate finance at the annual meetings. ADC Party Fight: ADC figures intensify claims of rigging and vote-buying in its presidential primary, with allegations that outcomes were decided “in a hotel room.”

ADC Presidential Race: Nigeria’s African Democratic Congress (ADC) is in full crisis mode as members endorse candidates and dispute results—AAC has endorsed Omoyele Sowore for 2027, while ADC primaries keep throwing up winners and boycotts: Atiku is reported leading in multiple states, but Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen reject outcomes, alleging disenfranchisement and rigging, as the party urges aspirants to seek redress through internal channels. Ebola Escalation: Africa’s health response is ramping up fast as DR Congo and Uganda report rising Ebola infections and deaths; nearly $500m is pledged, vaccine and treatment work accelerates, and travel restrictions tighten. South Africa Governance & Integrity: A forensic probe is set for a “dodgy” R1.6bn textbook tender, while Home Affairs launches a digital verification portal to crush ghost workers and SARS denies false data-breach claims. Regional Diplomacy: The AU postpones the India-Africa Forum Summit 2026 amid Ebola risk. Infrastructure & Youth: Ethiopia inaugurates Africa’s largest dam, and Lagos celebrates the 50th Giants of Africa basketball court.

Ebola Escalation: The U.S. is expanding Ebola screening to Houston’s Bush Intercontinental for travelers recently in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan as the Bundibugyo strain spreads across Central Africa. South Africa Politics: Parliament has set up a 31-member committee to investigate possible impeachment of President Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala “Farmgate” scandal. ADC Ticket Battles (Nigeria): Rotimi Amaechi won the ADC presidential primary in Bayelsa with 44,404 votes, while Omoyele Sowore was adopted as AAC consensus candidate for 2027 after winning the party’s primary. South Africa Governance & Jobs: Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela tabled a budget vote focused on TVET expansion, scholarships, and workplace learning to tackle youth unemployment. Corruption Watch (Ghana): Ghana’s audit service flags GH¢580m irregularities in the 2023 African Games, including overpricing and flawed procurement. Africa Day Momentum: Zambia’s Hichilema honoured 16 people for service and urged leaders to secure economic freedom through jobs and skills.

Mining Push: Nigeria is positioning itself as Africa’s next mining powerhouse, touting reforms that streamline licensing, boost local value-add, and court investors ahead of Nigeria Mining Week in Abuja. Ebola Alarm: South Africa pledged $5m to a $319m continental Ebola preparedness plan as Africa CDC and WHO warn the DRC-Uganda outbreak is accelerating, with 900+ suspected cases and 200+ suspected deaths. Anti-Migrant Crackdown: South Africa is stepping up action against illegal migration after protests escalated, insisting enforcement must stay within the law. Senegal Power Shift: Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye sacked PM Ousmane Sonko and named Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, as IMF debt pressure and political tensions mount. Ghana Integration Move: Ghana launched a free e-visa portal for African passport holders, signaling a push for easier travel under AfCFTA. ADC Primaries: Nigeria’s opposition ADC confirmed Atiku Abubakar’s win in Sokoto, while other states reported separate primary outcomes—keeping the 2027 race in flux.

AU Day, Ghana: Ghana used Africa Day to push Pan-Africanism and access—launching a new e-visa portal and scrapping visa fees for African travellers, aiming to make travel and business across the continent easier. South Africa immigration flashpoint: In Pretoria, ministers are holding urgent closed-door talks over illegal immigration and anti-foreigner protests, with a plan to tackle xenophobia and social cohesion and to set rules for demonstrations as tensions rise ahead of June 30 deadlines. Justice under pressure: South Africa’s Justice Minister has been asked to probe a magistrate in the Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni case after a high-profile decision that sparked an NPA appeal. Ebola watch: India stepped up Ebola preparedness at ports of entry, even as it reports no cases. Nigeria politics: Former VP Atiku Abubakar voted in the ADC presidential primary, while the party’s internal contest for 2027 heats up. Africa Day theme: Across the continent, leaders kept returning to unity, integration, and development—but South Africa’s migrant tensions are now the loudest test of those ideals.

Rapid Diagnostics Push: Abbott is expanding faster HIV and antenatal testing across East, Central and West Africa, arguing earlier detection can cut mother-to-child transmission. IMF Governance Scorecard: A new IMF view says sub-Saharan Africa still lags on governance, business regulation and market openness, with reforms that cut red tape and fix state firms flagged as the growth lever. Nigeria’s Digital State: Nigeria’s civil service says it’s going paperless and using AI tools for service delivery, with tens of thousands of staff interactions logged. ADC Presidential Turmoil: Nigeria’s opposition ADC is in factional chaos—Atiku urges “competence, not online hype,” while rival ADC groups claim different paths to the 2027 ticket, including Dumebi Kachikwu’s emergence in one faction. South Africa Xenophobia Fallout: Ghana’s parliament minority blasts delays in evacuating Ghanaians as xenophobic tensions keep driving fear and repatriation pressure. Ebola Alarm: Health coverage continues to track rapid test and response efforts as WHO flags escalating risk across parts of Africa. Benin-Nigeria Ties: Shettima backs deeper Nigeria-Benin cooperation at Wadagni’s inauguration.