AGP Executive Report

Digital Infrastructure Partnerships: Vertiv signed an MoU with U.S. firm Cybastion to speed up digital infrastructure projects across Northwest Africa, including Gabon, by pairing data-centre power and cooling expertise with Cybastion’s government digital-transformation relationships. Youth Skills Push in Gabon: Gabon announced its first nationwide rollout step: training 400 young people in Libreville, with plans to expand to all nine provinces, linking technical skills to job placement, financing support, and real value creation. Biodiversity & Conservation Model: São Tomé and Príncipe highlighted a new UNESCO-backed conservation approach where protecting habitats is tied to sustainable local livelihoods, replacing extractive informal activities with lower-impact micro-enterprises. Gabon’s Iboga Benefit-Sharing Gap: Gabon’s decree on benefit sharing for iboga and related traditional knowledge is still missing practical distribution mechanisms, even after legal shipments generated community income. Oil & Geoscience Update (Gabon): Record Resources says 3D seismic reprocessing and a resource report for its Ngulu block offshore Gabon are on track for completion by year-end, supporting next appraisal well planning. Wildlife Discovery (Gabon): National Geographic footage reveals Gabon’s dwarf crocodiles hunting bats in underground caves in a behavior never seen before.

Youth Skills Push in Libreville: Gabon has launched its first cohort of 400 young trainees in Libreville, part of a nationwide skills and job-placement drive led by the Commerce ministry, aiming to turn training into real employment and business value. Conservation Model Spotlight: São Tomé and Príncipe is using a new UNESCO-backed conservation approach where biodiversity protection is tied to sustainable livelihoods, replacing extractive informal activities with lower-impact micro-enterprises. Gabon’s Iboga Benefit-Sharing Gap: Gabon’s decree on benefit sharing for iboga and related traditional knowledge is still outpacing implementation, with communities reporting that promised downstream value has not yet reached them. Gabon Energy Update: ReconAfrica says 3D seismic reprocessing offshore Gabon is on track to finish by year-end, alongside a resource report plan for its Ngulu block. Regional Tech & Finance: Central African bankers and regulators meet in Bangui for Bangui Financial Days/CEMAC Bankers’ Days, focusing on SME lending and cross-border payments.

Gabon Biotech & Policy: Gabon’s decree on benefit-sharing for iboga and its derivatives is in place, but the money-flow mechanisms are still being built—one community association has earned about $50,000 from legal shipments since 2023 while promised downstream value hasn’t arrived, and enforcement abroad remains unclear. Gabon Energy Tech: Record Resources says 3D seismic reprocessing and a resource report for its Ngulu oil block in Gabon should be completed by year-end, using advanced Full Waveform Inversion to better map reservoirs and guide appraisal well planning. Central Africa Finance: Bangui hosts the Bangui Financial Days and CEMAC Bankers’ Days (Oct 1–3), aiming to turn regional financing ideas into deals for SMEs, cross-border payments, and faster capital delivery to the real economy. Digital Government: Jordan and Rwanda sign an MoU to cooperate on digital ID, digital government, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, data protection, digital payments, and interoperability. Health Systems: UNGA81 discussions stress that universal health coverage and pandemic preparedness depend on the same resilient, equitable primary health care systems. Wildlife Tech: National Geographic’s new Africa series highlights remote filming tech, including a never-before-seen hunt by Gabon’s cave-dwelling dwarf crocodiles.

Gabon Iboga Benefit-Sharing: Gabon has a decree requiring benefit sharing for commercial iboga and related traditional knowledge, but distribution mechanisms are still being built—communities say promised downstream value hasn’t arrived, and enforcement abroad remains unclear. Gabon Oil & Seismic Update: Record Resources says 3D seismic reprocessing and a resource report for its Ngulu oil block in Gabon will be completed by year-end, using advanced reprocessing to guide appraisal well planning. Gabon Wildlife Discovery: National Geographic footage reveals Gabon’s tiny cave-dwelling dwarf crocodiles hunting bats in underground lairs—an unseen behavior captured with remote camera setups. Central Africa Finance: Bangui hosts the Bangui Financial Days and CEMAC Bankers’ Days, aiming to turn regional financing debates into deals for SMEs, cross-border payments, and infrastructure. Digital Transformation (Regional): Jordan and Rwanda sign an MoU to cooperate on digital ID, digital government, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital payments. Health Systems at UNGA81: UNGA81 highlights UHC and resilient health systems as key to pandemic prevention, with calls for stronger local capacity and community engagement. Visa Policy Tech/Travel: The US State Department lists 50 countries needing visa bonds for B1/B2 visitor visas, with 30 African nations affected.

Gabon Iboga Trade: Gabon’s decree on benefit-sharing for iboga and its derivatives is in place, but distribution mechanisms are still being built—one community association says it has received about $50,000 from legal shipments since 2023 while promised downstream value hasn’t arrived. Oil & Gas Tech in Gabon: ReconAfrica says 3D seismic reprocessing at its Ngulu offshore Gabon project should finish by year-end, alongside a resource report and appraisal planning. Energy Exploration in Namibia/Angola: The company also reports thermogenic gas with liquid potential from Namibia’s KW1X flow tests and progress on Angola soil sampling pointing to an active petroleum system. Science & Nature in Gabon: New footage from National Geographic’s “Africa: Earth’s Wild Home” shows Gabon’s cave-dwelling dwarf crocodiles hunting bats in underground lairs. Digital Governance: Jordan and Rwanda signed an MoU to cooperate on digital ID and digital government, including AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital payments. Health Systems: UNGA81 discussions reaffirm UHC and pandemic preparedness depend on strong, equitable health systems.

Oil & Gas Tech in Gabon: Record Resources says 3D seismic reprocessing on its Ngulu block will finish by year-end, alongside a resource report and appraisal well planning—using Full Waveform Inversion to better map reservoirs. Energy Exploration Updates: ReconAfrica reports thermogenic gas with liquid potential from Namibia’s Kavango West 1X sidetrack, and says horizontal drilling could start in October; it also continues Gabon seismic reprocessing. Biodiversity & Field Science: National Geographic’s “Africa: Earth’s Wild Home” highlights Gabon’s cave-dwelling dwarf crocodiles hunting bats underground—captured with remote camera gear. Medicinal Plant Policy: Gabon’s iboga benefit-sharing decree is in place, but distribution mechanisms are still being built after community groups reported receiving only part of promised downstream value. Regional Finance: Bangui hosts the Bangui Financial Days and CEMAC Bankers’ Days to push more funding into SMEs, infrastructure, and cross-border payments across Central Africa.

Critical Minerals & Research: At Mintek-Sci 2026 in Johannesburg, ARM’s Margreth Tadie said Africa needs stronger research and industry-academia collaboration to turn critical minerals into real value, noting criticality shifts with demand, geopolitics and technology. Gabon Bioeconomy: Gabon’s iboga benefit-sharing decree is in place, but communities say promised downstream value still hasn’t reached them, while the country has also moved to halt exports as it builds a new framework. Gabon Wildlife Tech: National Geographic footage reveals Gabon’s tiny cave-dwelling dwarf crocodiles hunting bats underground using a sneak-attack behavior never seen before. Gabon Earth Science: A new study challenges how scientists read a 2-billion-year-old carbon signal, using drill-core data from the Francevillian Basin in Gabon to refine the story of early Earth oxygen changes. Oil & Gas (Gabon): Record Resources says 3D seismic reprocessing and a resource report for its Ngulu block offshore Gabon are due by year-end, using advanced reprocessing methods. Digital Governance: Jordan and Rwanda signed an MoU to cooperate on digital ID, digital government, AI, cloud, cybersecurity and payments.

Biodiversity in the spotlight: National Geographic’s new series “Africa: Earth’s Wild Home” is already turning heads, including a never-before-seen hunt by Gabon’s tiny cave-dwelling dwarf crocodiles that ambush bats in underground lairs. Medicinal plant policy: Gabon’s decree on benefit sharing for iboga and related traditional knowledge is in place, but communities say the promised downstream payments are still not reaching them, while export freezes are reshaping the trade. Gabon science meets deep time: A new discussion of Moroccan geologist Abderrazak El Albani highlights how his Gabon discovery of over-2-billion-year-old multicellular fossils is still reshaping theories about early life. Energy & tech in Gabon: Record Resources says 3D seismic reprocessing and a resource report for its Ngulu block offshore Gabon are due by year-end, using advanced full waveform inversion to guide next steps. Regional finance: Central African bankers and regulators meet in Bangui to push financing deals for SMEs, cross-border payments, and infrastructure—key for turning policy into real projects. Digital transformation: Jordan and Rwanda sign an MoU covering digital ID, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital payments.

Iboga Regulation in Focus: Gabon’s new decree on benefit-sharing for iboga and related traditional knowledge is meant to capture value from the global ibogaine boom, but distribution mechanisms are still being built—and exports were even halted while a national framework is drafted. Central African Finance Push: Bankers and regulators gather in Bangui (Oct. 1–3) for the Bangui Financial Days and CEMAC Bankers’ Days, aiming to turn financing debates into deals for SMEs, cross-border payments, and real-economy investment. Gabon in UN Spotlight: Libreville is set to lead at the UN General Assembly as Gabon takes the vice-presidency of the 81st session, with Foreign Minister Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeny steering priorities. Oil & Tech in Gabon: Record Resources says 3D seismic reprocessing and a resource report for its Ngulu block offshore Gabon will be completed by year-end, using advanced reprocessing methods to guide appraisal well planning. Digital Government Partnerships: Jordan and Rwanda sign an MoU to cooperate on digital ID, digital government, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital payments—an approach Gabon could watch as it modernizes services. Education Wellness Moves: New school Wellness Centers open at King City and Greenfield high schools, staffed with licensed therapists for counseling and crisis support.

UN Diplomacy: Gabon’s vice-presidency of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session puts Libreville at the center of global agenda-setting, with Foreign Minister Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeny leading the delegation. School Mental Health: King City and Greenfield high schools open new on-campus Wellness Centers, staffed by full-time licensed therapists for individual and group support, crisis intervention, and referrals. Gabon Energy & Geoscience: Record Resources says 3D seismic reprocessing and a resource report for its Ngulu oil block offshore Gabon will finish by year-end, using advanced reprocessing tech to guide appraisal drilling. Gabon Science Spotlight: A Caltech-led study revisits early-Earth carbon signals using Gabon drill-core data, while Moroccan geologist Abderrazak El Albani’s work continues to highlight Gabon’s 2-billion-year-old multicellular fossils. Digital Governance: Jordan and Rwanda sign an MoU to cooperate on digital ID, digital government, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and payments. Public Safety Tech: Police investigate a fake AI “Gaboon viper” photo after the creator admitted the image was generated with artificial intelligence.

Gabon UN diplomacy: Libreville is set to take a bigger global role as it assumes the vice-presidency of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, with Foreign Minister Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeny leading the delegation and pushing Gabon’s agenda at the heart of multilateral talks. Gabon science & climate: A new study is revisiting early-Earth carbon signals using drill-core data from places including the Francevillian Basin in Gabon, reshaping how scientists interpret the planet’s oxygen and life-changing transition. Oil & gas tech in Gabon: Record Resources says 3D seismic reprocessing and a resource report for its Ngulu oil block are on track to finish by year-end, using advanced full waveform inversion to better map reservoirs and guide appraisal well planning. Africa energy updates: ReconAfrica reports thermogenic gas with liquid potential at Namibia’s KW1X and is preparing horizontal drilling in October, while also continuing Gabon seismic reprocessing. Digital government: Jordan and Rwanda sign an MoU to cooperate on digital ID, digital government, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, payments, and data protection. Public tech & society: India is considering a ban on social media accounts for teens under 18, joining a wider global push over youth mental health. Wildlife research: Scientists report elephants preparing medicinal plant mixes for their calves, adding new detail to animal self-medication.

Deepwater Exploration: ReconAfrica says KW1X flow-test samples in Namibia confirm thermogenic natural gas with liquid potential, and it’s preparing for horizontal drilling and flow-testing offshore Gabon seismic reprocessing. UN Rights Watch: The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances published findings on Armenia, Belize, Gabon and Lesotho after reviewing implementation of the enforced disappearance convention. Digital Transformation (Regional): Jordan and Rwanda signed an MoU to cooperate on digital ID, digital government, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, data protection, digital payments and interoperability. Gabon Diplomacy: Gabon’s UN General Assembly 81st session vice-presidency puts Libreville’s foreign ministry at the center of multilateral agenda-setting. Gabon Food Tech & Trade: Gabon’s planned frozen chicken import ban from Jan 1, 2027 is now a WTO dispute, with Libreville arguing for local industry and food security. Conservation Science: New research reports elephants around Mount Elgon in Kenya prepare and administer medicinal plant mixtures to their calves. Africa Energy/Ports: A look back at Kribi’s deep-water port shows how the project reshaped Cameroon’s logistics economy over 15 years.

Ancient Life Breakthrough (Gabon): Moroccan geologist Abderrazak El Albani’s latest work revisits his 2008 Gabon discovery of the oldest known multicellular fossils—over 2 billion years old—reshaping theories on early life and even linking to research on Mars. Deep-Sea Port Impact (Cameroon): Kribi’s deep-water port story continues: what was once Mboro’s quiet coastline is now a growing industrial and logistics hub, built after decades of planning to complement Douala. Digital Government (Jordan–Rwanda): Jordan and Rwanda sign an MoU to cooperate on digital ID, digital government, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, data protection, digital payments, and interoperability. Energy & Power (Gabon/Region): ReconAfrica reports progress on 3D seismic reprocessing at Ngulu offshore Gabon and outlines next steps for drilling and testing in Namibia. UN Spotlight (Gabon): Gabon takes the vice-presidency of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, with Foreign Minister Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeny leading the delegation. Wildlife Science (Kenya): New research finds elephants in Mount Elgon prepare medicinal plant mixtures and feed them to their calves—an unusually sophisticated animal behavior.

Gabon at the UN: Libreville is set to take the vice-presidency of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, with Foreign Minister Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeny leading the delegation and pushing Gabon’s agenda on multilateral diplomacy. Digital Government: Jordan and Rwanda signed an MoU to cooperate on digital ID, digital government, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, data protection, telecoms, digital payments and interoperability. Energy & Tech for Education: Delta State’s DIDA met AAKS Bros. Ventures on a solar-plus-storage plan to cut diesel costs at two state universities within 180 days. Oil & Data for Gabon: ReconAfrica updated progress on Ngulu offshore Gabon 3D seismic reprocessing and Namibia’s KW1X flow testing, with horizontal drilling potentially starting in October. Wildlife Science: New research reports African elephants in Kenya preparing medicinal plant mixtures for their calves—mixing chewed plants with breast milk. Food Security Clash: Gabon’s planned frozen chicken import ban from Jan 1, 2027 is framed as a WTO dispute and a push to protect local poultry jobs. Innovation Pipeline: Congo Basin Innovation Days in Brazzaville shortlisted 10 start-ups (including from Gabon) for Innovation Outre-Mer 11 in Paris. Digital Finance Security: An ITU lab initiative highlights how regulators can better tackle mobile money fraud and cybersecurity risks.

Oil & Energy: ReconAfrica says Kavango West 1X (KW1X) flow-test samples point to thermogenic gas with a liquid-capable system, while Jarvie-1 rig work has resumed and horizontal drilling could start in October; it also reports progress on Ngulu offshore Gabon 3D seismic reprocessing. Diplomacy: Gabon is set to take the UN General Assembly vice-presidency (81st session), with Foreign Minister Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeny leading Libreville’s push on global priorities. Maritime Security: Nigeria’s Navy says it will use technology and tighter regional cooperation to curb illicit drugs and arms smuggling across the Gulf of Guinea. Biodiversity & Science: New research reports African elephants in Kenya preparing medicinal plant mixtures for their calves, adding a rare example of animal “medicine-making.” Conservation & Food Systems: A study warns foreign bottom trawlers are draining nutrients from West Africa, hurting local vitamin and mineral intake. Local Tech/Innovation: Congo Basin Innovation Days shortlisted 10 start-ups (including from Gabon) for Innovation Outre-Mer 11 in Paris.

Gabon at the UN: Libreville has taken the vice-presidency of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, with Foreign Minister Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeny leading the delegation and pushing Gabon’s agenda at the heart of global diplomacy. Gabon–US poultry standoff: Gabon’s planned ban on frozen chicken imports from Jan 1, 2027 is escalating into a WTO dispute, as Libreville argues it’s about protecting local producers and food security. Digital security for finance: The ITU highlights how its security lab and partner work are strengthening trust in digital financial services, tackling fraud and cybersecurity risks as mobile money grows. Wildlife science: New research reports elephants around Mount Elgon in Kenya preparing medicinal plant mixtures and feeding them to calves, adding a surprising layer to animal behavior. Forests under pressure: A new study warns Central African forests are losing more carbon than they gain, using high-resolution biomass mapping. Maritime tech & governance: A transatlantic symposium in Lagos says Nigeria will use technology and better coordination to curb illicit drugs and arms smuggling in the Gulf of Guinea.