AGP Executive Report

Energy Governance: Energia appoints Tai Adetokunbo Oshisanya as an Independent Non-Executive Director, strengthening board oversight with decades of finance and energy leadership. Internet & Power Reliability: A nationwide internet outage hits major telecoms after power loss at the ACE submarine cable station in Sukuta, showing how electricity disruptions can quickly spill into digital services. IMF Support for Gambia: The IMF steps up funding access for The Gambia, including a requested 20% augmentation of its existing programme, as the Iran-linked war shock drives higher fuel and food risks. Petroleum Update: The Gambia moves to unlock offshore potential as Eni takes over Block A1, bringing a deepwater operator into the licensing push. Public Health: The Gambia records an 8% drop in TB notifications in 2025, but officials say progress toward global targets remains slow. Electricity Access (Regional): The World Bank reports major West Africa grid buildout—over 4,000 km of transmission lines—expanding access to millions, including in The Gambia. Digital Learning/Research: Gambian infant brain-connectivity research links early undernutrition to later cognitive flexibility, using fNIRS findings from community settings. Tax & Digitalisation: GRA ramps up domestic tax mobilisation through reforms and digitalisation, aiming to raise the revenue-to-GDP ratio by 2028. Science Capacity Building: Armscor hosts African scientists for an analytical chemistry course under the Chemical Weapons Convention, boosting regional lab skills.

Internet & Power: The Gambia faced a major internet outage after power loss at the ACE submarine cable station in Sukuta, disrupting connectivity for Africell, Comium and other ISPs. Energy & Economy: IMF says it is stepping up support for Ethiopia, The Gambia and Burkina Faso to cushion fallout from the US–Israel war on Iran, including fuel and food price pressures. Offshore Oil: The government awarded Eni rights to explore Block A1 offshore, a deepwater push to unlock Atlantic Margin potential. Policy for Fuel Costs: UTG’s policy institute urges replacing the “blanket fuel subsidy” with a transparent, time-bound diesel tax waiver as fuel prices reportedly jumped up to 40%. Health Tech & Research: The Gambia reported an 8% drop in TB notifications in 2025, while still lagging End TB targets—highlighting the need for stronger research-to-impact. Science Capacity: Armscor hosted African scientists for an analytical chemistry course under the Chemical Weapons Convention. Digital Governance: A Gambian-relevant regional theme emerged as Nigeria pushes digital identity and “.ng” for economic growth, echoing wider West African tech policy momentum.

IMF Support for Gambia: The IMF says it is stepping up and accelerating funding for Ethiopia, The Gambia and Burkina Faso to cushion the economic shock from the US–Israel war on Iran, including a requested 20% augmentation and possible six-month extension for The Gambia’s existing $172m programme. Internet Disruption: A major internet outage hit telecom and ISP customers after power loss at the ACE submarine cable station in Sukuta, delaying restoration. Offshore Energy Push: The Gambia awarded Eni rights to explore offshore Block A1, a deepwater bid to unlock Atlantic Margin hydrocarbon potential. Food & Climate Debate: Experts urged a shift toward plant-based diets to strengthen food security, cut emissions and ease pressure on land and water. TB Update: The Gambia reported an 8% drop in TB notifications in 2025, but said progress toward global targets remains slow. Electricity Access: A World Bank regional power programme says it has expanded electricity access to over three million people and boosted cross-border trade across West Africa. Analytical Chemistry Training: Armscor hosted African scientists for an advanced analytical chemistry course linked to Chemical Weapons Convention capacity building. Tax & Digital Governance: GRA reforms and digitalisation efforts aim to raise domestic revenue, while UTG policy experts call for replacing blanket diesel subsidies with a transparent tax waiver.

Offshore Energy: The Gambia has signed a Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Licence Agreement for Block A1, awarding deepwater exploration rights to Eni, as the government pushes to unlock Atlantic Margin potential. Internet & Power: A nationwide internet outage hit major telecoms and ISPs after power loss at the ACE submarine cable station in Sukuta, worsening frustrations during ongoing electricity cuts. Economic Shock Watch: UTG’s policy institute warns Iran-related conflict risks for The Gambia, citing fuel price jumps, rising subsidy costs, and exposure through remittances, tourism, and imported food. IMF Support: The IMF says it will step up or accelerate funding for Ethiopia, The Gambia, and Burkina Faso, with The Gambia seeking a 20% augmentation and a possible six-month extension. Health Data: The Gambia recorded an 8% drop in TB notifications in 2025, though it still lags End TB targets, with incidence and mortality reductions remaining behind schedule. Capacity Building: Armscor hosts African scientists for an Analytical Chemistry course under the Chemical Weapons Convention, boosting regional technical skills. Governance & Tech: UTG urges replacing the blanket fuel subsidy with a transparent, time-bound diesel tax waiver, arguing it’s more cost-effective amid the Iran-driven crisis. Local Courts: A Banjul High Court ordered compensation of over D1.95 million for an unlawful, unfair dismissal case involving a former Oryx Energy IT manager.

Internet & Power: Gamtel says a major internet outage hit telecom users after power failed at the ACE submarine cable station in Sukuta, leaving Africell, Comium and other providers scrambling to restore connectivity. Energy & Cost of Living: A UTG policy brief warns Iran-linked conflict shocks are already raising fuel prices by up to 40% and driving over D500m in fuel subsidies in two months, with knock-on risks for remittances, tourism and imported food. Macroeconomic Support: The IMF is stepping up financing for Ethiopia, The Gambia and Burkina Faso to cushion war-driven energy and fertilizer disruptions, including a requested 20% augmentation and possible extension for The Gambia’s existing programme. Public Health: The Gambia recorded an 8% drop in TB notifications in 2025, but officials say progress toward global targets remains slow. Science & Skills: Armscor is hosting African scientists for an Analytical Chemistry course under the Chemical Weapons Convention to boost regional lab capacity. Governance & Tech Policy: UTG urges replacing the blanket fuel subsidy with a transparent, time-bound diesel tax waiver, while a separate court ruling awards a former Oryx Energy IT manager D1.95m for unlawful dismissal. Regional Integration: Visa-free moves for African passport holders gain momentum, supporting easier travel for trade and tourism across the continent.

Digital Identity & Sovereignty: Nigeria’s Tech Convergence 3.0 pushed a “digital independence now” agenda, spotlighting policy, digital identity, and the role of .ng for economic growth. Migration & Mobility: Pope Leo XIV plans visits to Europe’s migration flashpoints (Spain’s Canaries and Italy’s Lampedusa), while more African states expand visa-free travel to boost AfCFTA-era integration. IMF Support for War Fallout: The IMF is stepping up funding access for Ethiopia, The Gambia, and Burkina Faso, citing energy and food supply shocks linked to the US–Israel–Iran conflict. Power & Connectivity: The World Bank says West Africa’s regional power programme has added 4,000+ km of transmission lines, improving cross-border trade and electricity access for 3+ million people. Gambia Health Update: The Gambia reported an 8% drop in TB notifications in 2025, but progress toward global targets remains slow. Tax Modernisation in The Gambia: GRA reforms aim to raise the revenue-to-GDP ratio via digitalisation, automation, and compliance drives. Energy Policy Debate: UTG urged replacing a blanket fuel subsidy with a transparent, time-bound diesel tax waiver. Court Ruling: A Banjul High Court ordered compensation of over D1.95m for unlawful dismissal of a former Oryx Energy IT manager. Tech & Telecom Spotlight: Africell won Gambia’s Largest Taxpayer Award for the 7th time. Research & Gender in Media: A study highlights “exit from power” barriers for women in Gambian newsrooms, pointing to opaque promotions and weak protection.

IMF Support for Gambia: The IMF says it will step up and accelerate funding for Ethiopia, The Gambia and Burkina Faso to cushion economies hit by the US–Israel war impact on Iran, including a request for a 20% augmentation and a possible six-month extension for The Gambia’s existing $172m programme. Electricity Access: The World Bank reports major West Africa power gains, with over 4,000km of transmission lines linking 15 countries and electricity access reaching more than three million people since 2019, including The Gambia. GRA Tax Modernisation: A Gambia Revenue Authority push to modernise tax collection via digitalisation, automation and taxpayer education aims to raise the revenue-to-GDP ratio from 12% (2022) to 15% by 2028. TB Progress: Health officials say TB notifications fell from 2,860 (2024) to 2,627 (2025), an 8% drop, though targets remain far off. Energy Policy Debate: UTG’s think tank urges replacing the “blanket fuel subsidy” with a transparent, time-bound diesel tax waiver. Court Ruling: A Banjul High Court awards former Oryx Energy IT manager Momodou Jallow over D1.95m for unlawful and unfair dismissal. Telecom Tax Win: Africell wins Gambia’s largest Taxpayer Award for the 7th time, citing over a billion dalasi in annual taxes. Digital/Tech Diplomacy: The Gambia seeks deeper cooperation with South Korea on trade, infrastructure, agriculture, technology and digital transformation.

Energy Access: The World Bank says its West Africa power integration push is expanding electricity supply across 15 countries, building over 4,000 km of transmission lines and helping more than 3 million people gain access since 2019. Digital Identity: Margins CEO Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr argues national digital ID systems only matter if they interoperate across sectors, warning against siloed databases that stall digital services. Smart Transport: Montréal is rolling out Derq’s AI safety and mobility system across 100 intersections to spot risks earlier and improve traffic flow. Green Finance: Ecobank issues a Nature Bond on the London Stock Exchange to fund biodiversity protection via sustainable agriculture and water systems. Gambia Media Equity: A Gambian study finds women in journalism face “exit from power” barriers, with opaque promotions, gendered assignments, and weak protection limiting leadership. Sports Diplomacy: The Gambia and Spain’s Canary Islands wrestling federations sign an MoU to promote traditional wrestling for youth, education, and cultural exchange.

Digital Identity & Interoperability: Margins CEO Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr says national digital ID systems only matter if they can work across sectors, warning that siloed databases won’t deliver real public and private services. Local Tech & Research Funding: The Thanzi Programme (CHE) secures a new grant to expand health systems research and capacity-building into Namibia and Zambia, strengthening universal health coverage policy work. Gambia Media & Gender Equity: A study by Gambian master’s student Muhammed Lamin Drammeh finds women’s problem in journalism is “exit from power,” citing opaque promotions, gendered assignments, harassment, and weak protection. Energy & Infrastructure: NAWEC reports major electricity shortages in the Kombos due to reduced imports from regional technical issues and fuel constraints, with load management prioritising hospitals and water production while supply should ease by mid-June. Science & Environment Finance: Ecobank launches an ICMA commercial bank-issued Nature Bond on the London Stock Exchange to fund biodiversity protection via African farmers and water systems. Regional Cooperation: The Gambia calls for deeper economic cooperation with South Korea in trade, infrastructure, agriculture, technology and digital transformation.

Gambia–South Korea Cooperation: The Gambia is pushing for deeper economic cooperation with South Korea, with talks in Seoul focused on trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, technology and digital transformation, and a call to turn commitments into measurable results. Power Reliability in Focus: NAWEC says electricity imports have been cut by up to 60MW due to regional technical issues and fuel shortages, with demand shortfalls over 50% and emergency load management prioritising hospitals and water services, aiming for gradual normalisation by mid-June. Health Research Funding: The Thanzi Programme’s CHE Thanzi Konse project secured a new grant to expand health systems research and capacity-building into Namibia and Zambia, aligning studies with national priorities for universal health coverage and policy use. Digital Identity Interoperability: Margins CEO Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr. argues national digital identity systems only matter if they interoperate across sectors, warning that siloed IDs become isolated databases instead of service foundations. Nature Finance for Biodiversity: Ecobank launched an ICMA commercial Nature Bond on the London Stock Exchange, raising $450m to help protect African ecosystems through community-linked financing for farmers and water systems. Malaria Tech Breakthrough: Researchers report successfully freezing and reviving Anopheles gambiae larvae, a step toward storing genetically engineered mosquito strains more reliably for future malaria control.

Education Equity: New research questions whether WASSCE exam questions across West Africa are culturally responsive, arguing that language and everyday context can disadvantage students even when the test is “standardised.” Digital Identity: Margins CEO says national digital ID systems only work if they interoperate across sectors, warning that siloed databases won’t power real public and private services. Health Research: The Thanzi Programme’s new grant expands health systems research and capacity-building into Namibia and Zambia, aiming to strengthen universal health coverage and policy use of local evidence. Mosquito Science: Researchers report successfully freezing and reviving Anopheles gambiae larvae, a step toward storing genetically engineered malaria-control strains more reliably. Power Crisis: NAWEC says electricity imports are down due to technical issues and fuel shortages, with emergency load management prioritising hospitals and water services while supply may normalise by mid-June. Tech & Mobility: Montréal is rolling out Derq’s AI safety analytics across 100 intersections to spot risks earlier and improve traffic flow. Gambia-South Korea Ties: The Gambia calls for deeper cooperation with South Korea in trade, infrastructure, agriculture, technology and digital transformation.

Digital Identity & Interoperability: Margins CEO Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr says national digital ID systems only work if they interoperate across sectors, warning that siloed databases won’t power digital trade or services. AI for Safer Roads: Montréal is rolling out Derq’s AI INSIGHT across 100 intersections to spot emerging safety risks and improve traffic flow, with plans to expand citywide. Health Research Funding: The Thanzi Programme’s CHE Thanzi Konse project secured a grant to extend health systems research and capacity-building into Namibia and Zambia, supporting universal health coverage policy work. Malaria Tech Breakthrough: Researchers report successfully freezing and reviving Anopheles gambiae larvae, a step toward long-term storage of genetically engineered mosquito strains. Water & Food Security Risk: A water expert warns salinization and saltwater intrusion into freshwater could trigger food crises and migration, especially where groundwater is overused. Gambia Energy Reality Check: NAWEC says power imports were cut due to technical issues and fuel shortages, with emergency load management prioritising hospitals and water production while supply normalises by mid-June. Regional Tech Diplomacy: Egypt pushes deeper Africa–Korea cooperation focused on infrastructure, industrialisation, technology transfer, and energy, food, and water security.

Water & Food Security: A water expert warns that salinization from saltwater intrusion into freshwater could trigger food crises and push migration, especially where groundwater is overused. Digital Identity: Margins CEO says digital identity must be built for interoperability from day one to unlock real public and private services, not siloed databases. Health Research Funding: The Thanzi Programme’s CHE Thanzi Konse project secures a grant to expand health systems research and capacity-building into Namibia and Zambia, supporting universal health coverage and policy use. Malaria Tech: Researchers report freezing and reviving Anopheles gambiae larvae, a step toward storing genetically engineered mosquito strains more reliably for future malaria control. AI for Safer Roads: Montréal is rolling out Derq’s AI INSIGHT across 100 intersections to spot emerging safety risks and improve traffic flow. Energy & Industry: The Africa Energy Forum returns 16–19 June in Cape Town, focusing on scaling infrastructure for industrial power and renewables. Gambia Power Update: NAWEC says electricity imports are down due to technical issues and fuel shortages, with emergency load management prioritising hospitals and water production while supply normalises by mid-June.

Malaria Tech Breakthrough: Researchers report they’ve successfully frozen and revived Anopheles gambiae mosquito larvae, a step toward storing genetically engineered malaria-control strains without maintaining fragile live colonies. Climate & Accountability: Delegates at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) council meeting say biodiversity and climate funding must come with stronger safeguards so local communities and smaller implementers aren’t left behind. Digital Mobility for Africa: Ghana’s e-Visa launch signals a push for easier travel and trade across the continent, with African passport holders set to apply online and pay no visa fee. Health Care Practice: A review highlights kangaroo mother care for premature and low-birth-weight babies, focusing on whether starting immediately after birth can be delivered safely in routine hospitals. Tech Policy & Learning: University of Ghana launches the UGA Network App to reconnect alumni and support mentorship, events, and research ties. Energy & Industry Outlook: The Africa Energy Forum returns in June, spotlighting grid, renewable, and industrial power projects meant to move the continent from access to large-scale infrastructure.

Gambia Flagged Shipping Under Fire: U.S. forces disabled the M/V Lian Star after it ignored 20 warnings while trying to break a blockade toward Iran, firing a Hellfire missile into the engine room; Iran says it’s still managing Strait of Hormuz transit and warns of strict responses. Diplomacy Stalls: Trump sent back proposed Iran peace text with tougher language on nuclear commitments and reopening Hormuz, extending talks another week as Iran denies any final deal. Maritime Safety Alert: Oman warned seafarers about a suspected floating mine in the Strait of Hormuz, urging extreme caution. Digital Travel Push for Africa: Ghana launched an e-Visa platform and removed visa fees for African passport holders, aiming to boost tourism and trade access. Neonatal Care Research: A new review highlights that starting kangaroo mother care immediately after birth may improve outcomes for premature and low-birth-weight babies. University Tech for Alumni: University of Ghana launched the UGA Network App to reconnect graduates, support mentorship, and streamline event participation. Local Tech/Service Angle: Repairs are underway outside a local police station after a water main break.

Maritime Security: The U.S. disabled a Gambia-flagged ship, M/V Lian Star, in the Gulf of Oman after repeated warnings as it tried to breach a blockade tied to Iran. Digital Travel & Trade: Ghana’s e-Visa launch is being framed as a major boost for African tourism and cross-border business, with visa-free access and fee elimination for African passport holders. Neonatal Care Research: New guidance and reviews highlight that starting kangaroo mother care immediately after birth can improve outcomes for premature and low-birth-weight babies. Health & Innovation: Micron Biomedical announced progress toward needle-free dissolvable vaccine/therapeutic delivery, including a new CFO as it pushes commercialization. Education Tech & Networks: The University of Ghana launched the UGA Network App to reconnect alumni, support mentorship, and drive research and institutional partnerships. Climate & Cities: Leaders at the World Urban Forum warned that flooding and rapid urbanisation are outpacing Africa’s housing and resilience funding. Healthcare Costs in the Region: Reports say The Gambia’s hospital fees were increased, with staff alleging the plan was leaked ahead of elections. Higher Education: AIUWA held its 10th convocation, graduating 322 students and announcing new postgraduate programmes.