AGP Executive Report

Education Innovation: Dakar will host the first-ever Yidan Prize Conference in Africa (June 29–July 1), bringing 200+ delegates to spotlight how education can drive development, with Senegal’s Ministry of National Education as host. Science Capacity Building: TWAS runs a June 16–18 Accra workshop for returning African researchers, training them in scientific writing, responsible AI use, mentoring, and science communication under the SG-NAPI programme. Regional Tech & Cybersecurity: Nigeria won the $10,000 grand prize at ECOWAS’s 4th Regional Cybersecurity Hackathon in Accra, beating teams across 12 member states including Senegal with solutions targeting ransomware, phishing, fraud, and threats to critical infrastructure. Mining & Environment: Fortuna Mining says Senegal has approved the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Diamba Sud Gold Mine, clearing a key step toward its mining permit. Public Health: DR Congo reported a sharp one-day rise in Ebola cases (72 new cases), with weak contact tracing and funding gaps complicating the response. World Cup, Senegal Connection: France vs Senegal in Group I revives Dakar’s 2002 “national holiday” memory after the Lions of Teranga’s 1-0 upset.

Mining & Permits (Senegal): Fortuna Mining says it has received Senegal’s environmental decree approving the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Diamba Sud Gold Project, clearing a key step toward the mining permit and early construction. Ebola Update (DR Congo): Congo reports 72 new Ebola cases in 24 hours, bringing confirmed totals to 782, with contact tracing coverage down to 56% amid insecurity, weak tracing, and funding gaps. Cybersecurity (West Africa): Nigeria wins the $10,000 grand prize at the 4th ECOWAS Regional Cybersecurity Hackathon in Accra, beating teams across 12 member states with solutions targeting ransomware, phishing, fraud, extortion, and threats to critical infrastructure. Science (Senegal): New research on savanna chimpanzees in southeastern Senegal finds they hunt army ants using strategies similar to those used by chimps elsewhere, challenging ideas that harsh conditions force entirely new methods. Research Capacity (Ghana): TWAS runs a June 16–18 Accra workshop for returning African principal investigators, focusing on scientific writing, responsible AI use, mentoring, and science communication to help researchers thrive at home.

Cybersecurity in West Africa: Nigeria won the 4th ECOWAS Regional Cybersecurity Hackathon 2026 in Accra, taking the $10,000 grand prize with a solution tackling ransomware, phishing, online fraud, digital extortion and threats to critical infrastructure. The 4-day event drew teams from 12 ECOWAS states, including Senegal. Science & wildlife in Senegal: Researchers studying savanna chimpanzees in Senegal report that the animals hunt dangerous army ants using strategies similar to chimpanzees in very different habitats—showing how survival skills can travel across environments. Education innovation in Senegal: Dakar will host the first-ever Yidan Prize Conference in Africa (29 June–1 July), focused on how education can drive a new era of development. Tech & society beyond Senegal: A Lighthouse Reports investigation says visa outsourcing is becoming a costly “visa empire” for African applicants, raising concerns about how borders are monetized.

Ebola Response: A new Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and spillover into Uganda is a fast-moving health emergency, with families avoiding clinics and frontline workers facing extreme risk—another reminder that infectious threats don’t respect borders. Sports Tech & Data: Brazil is using wearable “smart vests” to track player movement, workload, and recovery ahead of the World Cup, aiming to give coaches more decision support. Senegal Science Spotlight: Senegalese researchers studying chimpanzees in harsh savannas found the animals hunt army ants using familiar strategies rather than inventing new ones—showing how behavior can stay consistent even under tough conditions. Digital Policy (Africa): Libya has adopted an AI Ethics Charter and launched a National AI Strategy 2026–2030 with targets spanning government AI use, digital identity, skills training, and AI startups. Education Innovation (Senegal): Dakar will host the first Yidan Prize Conference in Africa (29 June–1 July) focused on education as a driver of development. Visa & Access Friction: A week of reporting highlights how visa processing and entry rules are turning travel into a costly bottleneck for fans across Africa.

Digital Identity & Biometric Tech: Libya adopted an AI Ethics Charter and launched a National AI Strategy 2026–2030 with 35 initiatives, including AI use in 80% of government entities and a national digital identity for 70% of people. Education Innovation: Dakar will host the first-ever Yidan Prize Conference in Africa (29 June–1 July), focused on how education can drive a new era of development. Senegal Science in the Spotlight: Researchers in Senegal found savanna chimpanzees hunt dangerous army ants using strategies similar to distant chimp groups—showing how animals adapt without reinventing everything. Regional Tech & Finance: West Africa’s BRVM stock exchange urged international investors to increase exposure to African capital markets, positioning the WAEMU-wide exchange as a growth engine. Digital Performance for Fans: Dynatrace says some World Cup-linked platforms may load too slowly for supporters, with Senegal among the faster federation sites. World Cup Tech in Sport: Brazil is using wearable “smart vests” to track player movement, workload, and recovery ahead of the 2026 tournament.

Education & Innovation in Senegal: Dakar will host the first Yidan Prize Conference in Africa (June 29–July 1), focused on how education can drive a new era of development. Digital Identity in West Africa: ID4Africa’s 2026 AGM spotlighted a shift from bulky biometric kits to mobile identity credentials that work online or offline, with Senegal-based providers among the growing ecosystem. Finance & Investment: BRVM’s CEO urged international investors to “come to Africa,” arguing West Africa’s regional stock exchange is ready to better finance fast-growing economies. Tech for the Real World: Dynatrace warns many World Cup-related digital platforms may struggle under heavy demand, though Senegal’s federation sites reportedly load relatively fast. Health & Equity: A new discussion on menopause highlights how institutions were built around an “ideal worker” who never menstruates or gives birth. Science & Nature: Researchers developed a fish-like walking robot to study how early vertebrates may have learned to move on land. Sports Tech & Data: The World Cup’s official ball is described as using a motion sensor to track match action in real time.

Digital Identity in Africa: ID4Africa’s 2026 AGM spotlighted a shift from suitcase biometrics to mobile identity credentials that work online or offline, with Senegal-based Oumou Group among the growing local players. Regional Finance: BRVM’s CEO urged global investors to “come to Africa,” pitching the West African stock exchange as a multi-country gateway for fast-growing WAEMU economies. Cybersecurity (West Africa): ECOWAS ran a regional cybersecurity hackathon in Accra, with a local firm (00SEC) designing the challenges for teams from 12 member states. Climate & Accountability: Senegal’s billion-tree project faces scrutiny over “ghost carbon” claims, raising questions about how climate credits are sold. Health Tech & Research: A Cambridge-led study used a fish-like robot to explain how early vertebrates may have learned to walk on land. World Cup Tech & Rules: FIFA’s expanded 48-team tournament is also driving new tech and policy debates, from match-ball tracking to visa rules for content creators. Sports + Science Angle: Robot fish research and World Cup-era stadium tech both show how engineering is reshaping how we study movement and host events.

World Cup Tech & Security: The 2026 FIFA World Cup is kicking off with a bigger, faster, more connected setup—and bigger cyber and fraud risks. FIFA and partners are warning about scam sites and attacks, while the U.S. is also cracking down on digital creators: tourist-visa holders who earn from YouTube/TikTok during the tournament could face deportation. Senegal & Region Tech: Senegal’s climate story is under scrutiny after a “billion-tree” project was accused of selling “ghost carbon,” with scientists saying much of it never existed. AI & Robotics Research: Cambridge researchers unveiled a fish-like robot that helps explain how early vertebrates may have learned to walk on land, using an “undulating tripod” gait model. Digital Skills in West Africa: Ghana hosted an ECOWAS cybersecurity hackathon where a local firm (00SEC) designed the challenge scenarios for 12 national teams, pushing homegrown defense capacity. Water & Climate Tech: Morocco is expanding desalination to secure drinking water for millions, betting on ocean-to-freshwater as drought becomes structural. Sports Tech Policy: New World Cup rules include bans on “tactical timeouts,” plus expanded VAR and sensor-enabled match tech.

AI in Browsers: Google expands “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, bringing built-in AI search help to more African users. Cybersecurity Skills: ECOWAS runs a regional cybersecurity hackathon in Accra with a West African firm (00SEC) designing the challenges for 12 national teams, aiming to build local capacity to defend governments, banks and infrastructure. Health Tech & Access: A West Africa-focused report highlights how IVF is becoming a social lifeline for couples facing infertility, but remains costly and hard to access across Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. Sports + Tech Policy: The US warns foreign influencers that using tourist visas to earn money from content during the World Cup counts as unauthorised work, risking visa cancellation and bans. Water & Climate: Morocco pushes desalination to secure drinking water, with a major plant near Casablanca—raising questions on cost, brine disposal and fair access. Senegal Climate Integrity: Senegal’s “billion-tree” project is accused of selling “ghost carbon,” with scientists saying much of it may not have existed. Regional Sports Talent: Beach volleyball empowerment pairs from Senegal and the Gambia win medals at CAVB Zone II in Bissau, qualifying for the 2026 Africa Nations event.

AI in Browsers: Google is rolling out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to more African markets, including Senegal, as part of a wider AI-first Chrome push. Climate Integrity in Senegal: Scientists say Senegal’s “billion-tree” mangrove restoration sold “ghost carbon,” raising questions about voluntary carbon credits. Food Tech for Resilience: Korea’s KAFACI rice program is moving into a second phase, developing drought-, cold- and salinity-tolerant seeds with faster breeding methods. Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline: A West Africa ECOWAS hackathon in Accra is tackling the region’s cyber workforce gap, with teams from Senegal and 11 other countries building practical defenses. Digital Infrastructure (Nigeria): Nigeria’s telecom regulator reports major fibre expansion and thousands of new network sites, plus compensation for subscribers hit by poor service. World Cup Tech & Rules: FIFA is introducing mandatory hydration breaks during matches, while the tournament’s 48-team format and host-stadium pitch upgrades keep dominating the tech-and-sport conversation. US Visa Crackdown on Creators: US authorities warn influencers that “tourist visa” content creation for US income counts as work and needs the right visa.

Climate & Carbon Integrity: Senegal’s billion-tree mangrove push is under scrutiny after scientists say many sold carbon credits were “ghost carbon” — removals claimed by the market that may never have been stored. Cybersecurity: Twelve West African countries are battling cybercrime in Accra at the ECOWAS cybersecurity hackathon, with teams building practical defenses for governments and institutions. Telecom & Connectivity: Nigeria’s telecom regulator reports 5,000+ new network sites deployed and 75m+ subscribers compensated for poor service, alongside fibre expansion as fixed broadband grows. Vector Control Science: Researchers are revisiting sterile insect techniques as screwworm and mosquito-borne disease threats return, weighing effectiveness and ecological safety. Wildlife Enforcement: Guinea arrested four alleged wildlife traffickers and seized dried seahorses and shark/ray fins, highlighting West Africa’s role in illegal marine trade. Global Heat: May 2026 ranked among the world’s warmest on record, with NOAA and NASA data pointing to worsening baseline temperatures. World Cup Tech & Rules: FIFA’s 2026 law changes aim to cut time-wasting and adjust VAR powers, while free-to-air TV coverage expands access. AI Infrastructure: The World Economic Forum named 100 “Technology Pioneers” building software and physical infrastructure for the next era of AI.

Senegal Politics: A new rupture in Senegal’s ruling camp is unfolding as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former PM Ousmane Sonko clash over who should govern after the 2024 transition, raising questions about democratic resilience. Gambia Energy: The Gambia signed an offshore Block A1 exploration deal with Eni, but public skepticism remains high after past licence changes and stalled exploration—GNPC’s 10% carried interest is framed as a modest boost, not a breakthrough. World Cup Tech & Rules: FIFA reversed its water-bottle ban after backlash, and is also rolling out new disciplinary rules aimed at stopping walkoffs and disruptive conduct—while TV coverage is set to keep matches on free-to-air BBC/ITV. World Cup Security & Visas: The US White House defended World Cup entry restrictions on “security” grounds, including denials affecting some officials and teams, with critics pointing to opaque decisions and harsh border treatment. West Africa Tax Digitalization: WATAF says countries including Senegal are reforming how they tax digital services, and is pushing regional tools, training, and apps to help administrations keep up. Biomanufacturing Skills: WHO selected Senegal as a regional training centre for biomanufacturing workforce development, aiming to strengthen local vaccine and biologics production capacity. Public Health & Drugs: Reports highlight the spread of tapentadol being mixed into “kush” synthetic opioids across West Africa, intensifying mental health and addiction concerns. Marine & Climate: UN reporting warns oceans are under severe stress as sea-level rise accelerates, adding urgency to coastal and marine protection efforts.

Visa & security friction around World Cup: A White House official defended U.S. entry restrictions affecting some World Cup participants, while reports describe detentions, heavy border checks, and visa denials for players and staff from countries including Iran, Iraq, and Senegal—raising fresh questions about how “security” rules are applied. FIFA rules tweak: FIFA reversed its earlier ban on refillable water bottles after backlash, allowing limited sealed disposable bottles instead. Digital tax reform in West Africa: WATAF’s Jules Tapsoba says countries including Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana and Benin are modernizing tax collection for digital services, with plans for regional tools and training to keep up with online economies. Biomanufacturing skills push: WHO selected Senegal-linked training capacity (via NIBRT’s WHO role) to strengthen biomanufacturing workforce training for vaccines and biologics. Health research for chikungunya: Institut Pasteur launched ACT-CHIK to accelerate chikungunya vaccine clinical trials in Africa and prepare for local manufacturing. Energy safety in the region: OMC says a vessel carrying off-spec fuel was rejected in The Gambia after lab tests, highlighting the need for faster West African information-sharing on fuel quality. Blue economy & women: A feature spotlights Senegalese women expanding fisheries, aquaculture and marine conservation as engines of the country’s blue economy. Cybersecurity supply-chain warning: Reports flag dozens of malicious Microsoft-linked packages digitally signed with an official key, underscoring ongoing risks to developer tooling.

Cancer Care Capacity: Merck Foundation marks World Cancer Day 2026 by expanding its Cancer Access Program, training the first African oncologists and cancer care teams across multiple countries, including a push for more specialists to tackle late diagnosis. Ocean Crisis: A new UN World Ocean Assessment warns oceans are under “severe and accelerating” pressure, with sea-level rise speeding up and pollution and overfishing driving biodiversity loss. Chikungunya Vaccine Push: Institut Pasteur launches ACT-CHIK, a €15.3m, four-year project to advance a chikungunya vaccine through large Phase Ib/III trials in four African countries and prepare regional manufacturing. Senegal Food & Pharma Lab: In The Gambia, President Adama Barrow publicly flagged NAWEC’s debt to Senegal’s Senelec after commissioning a national food and drug quality control laboratory. Senegal Pitch Panic Fact-Check: A viral “dead bounce” soccer-ball video tied to World Cup pitches was actually from a Senegal warm-up friendly, not tournament grounds. Trade & Tech in Agriculture: Uzbekistan’s BMB Holding ships Uzbek raisins to Senegal for the first time, citing digital monitoring and quality systems to protect supply chains. Maritime Governance: Nigeria will host a regional port state control capacity-building workshop for 22 West and Central African countries, aiming to strengthen maritime safety oversight.

Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa: Institut Pasteur has launched ACT-CHIK, a €15.3m, four-year project to speed up chikungunya vaccine clinical trials in four African countries and prepare technology transfer for local production. Ocean Health Watch: The UN warns oceans face “severe and accelerating” stress, with sea-level rise doubling over the past decade and only 27% of the ocean floor mapped by 2025. Senegal Energy & Water Governance: In The Gambia, President Adama Barrow says NAWEC owes a major debt to Senegal’s Senelec, spotlighting cross-border utility finance pressures. Marine Conservation Funding: GIZ earmarks €20m for marine conservation (2026-2031), including support for Senegal, under the BBNJ push to expand protected areas and collect scientific data. Senegal Climate Tech Accountability: A Senegal mangrove restoration project is scrutinized for selling “ghost carbon,” raising questions about carbon credit integrity. Nature-to-Engineering Research: A Cambridge-led study uses computer models and robot fish to explain how fish-like walking may have helped ancient animals move onto land. World Cup Tech & Misinformation: A viral Senegal “no bounce” ball clip is fact-checked as a warm-up, not a World Cup pitch. Maritime Safety Training: Nigeria will host a regional port state control workshop for 22 West and Central African countries, aiming to strengthen maritime governance and safety standards.

Marine Conservation & Data: GIZ earmarked 20 million euros (2026–2031) for marine conservation, including Senegal, to support Marine Protected Areas and help partners collect scientific data beyond national waters under the BBNJ push. Carbon Markets Reality Check: A Senegal mangrove restoration project is spotlighted for how “ghost carbon” sales can go wrong, raising questions about integrity in nature-based offsets. Public Health & Travel Risk: With the 2026 World Cup drawing teams and fans across the US, officials warn that weakened disease monitoring and staffing cuts could leave gaps as infectious threats like Ebola remain a concern. Senegal in the Spotlight (Sports + Policy): Senegal’s group-stage path is framed as tough but promising, while Senegal’s nomination of Birame Diop for ECOWAS President keeps regional governance in focus. Energy Transition Minerals: China’s Green Mineral Initiative is examined as a potential bridge between critical minerals mining and global climate goals, with Beijing positioning cooperation for “green and low-carbon” mineral supply. World Cup Tech & Climate Angle: Heat and extreme weather risks are flagged for host cities, including lightning stoppages in warm-ups—an early reminder that climate resilience matters for big events.