AGP Executive Report

Ebola Crisis in DR Congo: The country’s Ebola outbreak has become the deadliest in its history, with at least 2,325 deaths and 4,945 confirmed cases after 101 new cases were reported in 24 hours. The outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved vaccines or treatments, and has now hit six provinces—with Ituri still the epicentre. Response Strain: UN officials say Ebola is killing one person every 30 minutes, while unpaid health workers and insecurity are disrupting surveillance and care, including a strike that temporarily shut a treatment center. Cross-Border Monitoring: DR Congo has urged Uganda to ease border restrictions, warning that closed official crossings are pushing people to use illegal routes, making Ebola monitoring harder. Regional Politics: Malawi’s Enock Chihana called for SADC unity as the bloc faces crises including security problems in eastern DR Congo. Connectivity Update: Airtel Africa has launched Starlink mobile commercially in DR Congo, aiming to extend basic mobile service to remote areas beyond tower coverage.

Ebola Emergency: DRC’s Ebola outbreak has surged into a sixth province, with confirmed cases reported around 4,727 and deaths about 2,214; Buta in Bas-Uele is newly affected, while Ituri remains the epicentre. Health authorities warn that persistent community transmission and gaps in contact tracing could keep the outbreak going longer than expected, with most deaths occurring outside treatment centres. Global Pressure for Aid: The UN says the epidemic is killing someone every 30 minutes and is urging faster, bigger international support—more treatment capacity, stronger contact tracing, and more safe burials—warning the outbreak could become the deadliest on record. Connectivity Boost: Airtel Africa has commercially launched Starlink satellite-to-mobile service in the DRC, aiming to extend basic mobile connectivity to areas beyond traditional tower coverage. Regional Diplomacy: Rwanda and the DRC agreed on additional monitoring steps under the Washington Accords, advancing their peace process through a Geneva security mechanism. Local Culture & Music: Congolese artists Alicios and Ninita released a reimagined version of “Nideke,” blending new vocals while keeping the song’s original emotion.

Ebola Emergency in DRC: The World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading faster than containment efforts, with the UN warning it is killing a person every 30 minutes and could become the deadliest on record. New Province, Rising Numbers: Congo health authorities report the outbreak has reached a sixth province, with confirmed cases climbing past 4,600 and deaths above 2,000, as community transmission and contact-tracing gaps threaten to prolong the crisis. Response Pressure: Africa CDC is urging rapid rollout of the Ervebo vaccine and stronger safe burials and contact tracing, while UN officials call for “speed, scale and solidarity” as international funding remains under strain. Connectivity Boost: In a separate development, Airtel Africa has commercially launched Starlink satellite-to-mobile service in DRC, aiming to extend basic messaging and SMS to areas beyond traditional cell coverage. Kinshasa Preparedness: A public health alert is still a concern, but officials say Kinshasa’s isolation facilities and labs are ready to quickly identify and confirm suspected cases.

Ebola Crisis in DRC: The deadly Ebola outbreak has spread to a sixth province, with confirmed cases rising to about 4,727 and deaths to about 2,214, as Buta in Bas-Uele is now affected; health authorities warn persistent community transmission and contact-tracing gaps could prolong the outbreak, while UN officials say the epidemic is killing a person every 30 minutes and that the world must act faster. Health Workers Under Strain: The International Council of Nurses says many nurses and health workers have gone unpaid for months while facing serious risks, urging immediate pay, protection, and safer working conditions. Aid and Accountability Pressure: WHO reports more than 10,000 attacks on healthcare since 2018 with no cases entering accountability systems, highlighting how violence against clinics and staff undermines outbreak control. Preparedness for Kinshasa: Congo’s biomedical institute says isolation facilities and labs are ready if a suspected case reaches Kinshasa, but officials stress the virus is spreading faster than response efforts. Connectivity Boost: Airtel Africa and Starlink launched satellite-to-mobile service in DRC, aiming to extend messaging and light data coverage beyond terrestrial network reach.

Ebola Emergency: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is accelerating fast. A UN humanitarian chief says the virus is killing someone every 30 minutes and warns it could become the deadliest on record. Province Spread: The government confirmed a sixth province is now affected—Bas-Uele—after a fatal case in Buta, bringing confirmed cases to about 4,665 and deaths to about 2,184. Aid Strain: Aid workers warn funding cuts are crippling field response, leaving communities without the outreach and supplies needed to slow transmission. Health Workers Under Pressure: The nurses’ federation says many health workers have gone unpaid for months while facing high risk, urging pay, protection, and regular support. Wider Health Violence: WHO also reported more than 10,000 attacks on healthcare since 2018, with no cases entering accountability systems—an alarming backdrop for Congo’s overstretched services. Vaccine Push: Africa CDC urged immediate rollout of the Ervebo vaccine plan, including support for clinical trials and frontline vaccination.

Ebola Update: Congo’s Ebola outbreak has spread to a sixth province, Bas-Uele, after a man died in Buta following travel from Haut-Uele—raising fears of wider transmission as confirmed cases climb to about 4,665 with over 2,100 deaths. Health System Strain: Aid workers warn that international funding cuts are crippling field response, while WHO says attacks on healthcare in conflict zones are averaging more than four a day in 2026, including incidents reported in the DRC. Outbreak Outlook: WHO leadership says the epidemic is “chasing” the response and could become the deadliest on record, with no approved vaccine or standard treatment for the rare Bundibugyo strain. Maternal Health Fallout: Direct Relief reports maternal deaths have doubled in the Ebola epicenter as pregnant women avoid hospitals and routine maternity care is disrupted. Community & Rights: Indigenous communities in South Kivu are pushing back on mining expansion, reclaiming land rights amid environmental and social harm.

Ebola Crisis Deepens in DRC: Congo’s Ebola outbreak has spread to a sixth province, with a death confirmed in Bas-Uele after a motorcycle taxi driver traveled from Haut-Uele and died in Buta—raising fears of wider transmission and spillover risk toward South Sudan. Deadliest-on-Record Warning: WHO says the outbreak is moving faster than any previous one and could eclipse the 2014-16 epidemic; current figures cited include 4,566 confirmed cases and 2,128 deaths, with the rare Bundibugyo strain and no approved vaccines or treatments. Health System Strain: Reports highlight how transmission may have been underway months before detection, complicating containment amid insecurity, misinformation, and limited access to care. Cholera Adds Pressure: UNICEF warns cholera is spreading along shared river and trade routes across six countries, with the DRC carrying the heaviest toll while it battles Ebola. Kinshasa Connectivity Boost: Emirates has scheduled its first-ever passenger flights to Kinshasa (N’djili) starting Feb 3, 2027, signaling improved regional air links as the city grows. Trade & Logistics Update: DP World reported H1 2026 revenue of $12.7bn (+13.1%), citing resilience across Africa and other regions despite Middle East disruption.

Ebola Emergency: WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says DR Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is moving so fast it could eclipse the 2014–2016 West Africa disaster, with at least 4,449 confirmed cases and 2,061 deaths; officials warn many deaths are happening in communities outside known contact lists, meaning hidden transmission chains are still active. Response Pressure: WHO says it hopes to bring transmission under control within three months, but that won’t necessarily end the outbreak; the virus is believed to have started spreading in February, weeks to months before the May 15 declaration, leaving teams “chasing” a head start. Kinshasa Connectivity: Emirates announced its first-ever passenger flights to Kinshasa (N’djili), starting Feb. 3, 2027, a daily 777-300ER service that could boost travel and cargo links. Sports & Accountability: A FIFA-banned Congolese youth coach accused of sexual abuse is still reportedly training players in Kinshasa, while local legal reporting also highlights prolonged police custody in a copper-cathode theft case.

Ebola Emergency: WHO says DRC’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is now the second-largest on record and moving faster than any previous outbreak, with confirmed cases rising to 4,449 and deaths to 2,061; WHO chief Tedros warns the virus is “ahead of us,” noting most deaths are happening in communities and transmission chains remain unclear. Response Push: WHO and partners aim to reverse spread within three months if actions are scaled across five transmission zones, while DRC health teams expand surveillance, contact tracing, and treatment capacity; the WHO also signals a shift toward using the licensed Ervebo vaccine in trials for this strain. Kinshasa on the World Stage: DRC has taken the rotating UN Security Council presidency, using debates to link eastern conflict dynamics to critical minerals governance and to strengthen international legal action against conflict-related sexual violence. Minerals & Markets: A DRC ban on exporting copper and cobalt concentrates is expected to have limited immediate impact on global prices but could add short-term risk as waivers and the new tax regime are clarified. Regional Energy: SADC ministers in Pretoria renewed commitments to speed up cross-border electricity links and regional critical mineral processing to reduce vulnerability to shortages and climate shocks.

Ebola Emergency in Eastern DRC: The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola crisis has surged to 4,449 confirmed cases and 2,061 deaths, with the outbreak now described as the largest and fastest-spreading on record. Health agencies say the virus likely began spreading months before the May 15 declaration, and conflict, delayed detection, weak services, and community distrust are slowing contact tracing and isolation. New Clues on the Virus: A study points to a previously unseen Bundibugyo variant, suggesting a fresh animal-to-human spillover that then spread between people, including links to Uganda. Response Shift: Africa CDC and WHO leaders are pushing for a village-level, community-centered approach and expanding treatment capacity, including upgrades to facilities such as Lita. Regional Readiness: Kenya says its Ebola readiness is near 90% after training and simulations, even though it has recorded no cases. Doha Peace Process: In a separate development, the DRC and M23 began implementing the Doha deal by exchanging 15 detainees, with ICRC facilitating the handover.

Ebola Emergency in Eastern DRC: The Democratic Republic of Congo says Ebola has killed 2,011 people out of 4,381 confirmed cases, with deaths doubling in about three weeks and cases reported across five provinces, including Ituri as the epicenter. Why It’s Spreading Faster: Health officials and WHO warn the outbreak is outrunning response because it likely spread for months before detection, conflict and weak services slow contact-tracing, and misinformation keeps people away from care. New Clues on the Virus: A study in Nature Medicine links the outbreak strain to a fresh animal-to-human spillover, not a reactivation of older human strains, and notes the Bundibugyo form has no approved vaccine or treatment yet. Human Cost Beyond Ebola: In Ituri, maternal deaths are nearly doubling as women avoid clinics, with facility-assisted deliveries dropping sharply. Aid and Funding Push: The U.S. announced an extra $242 million for regional Ebola response and preparedness, including surveillance, labs, isolation care, and community messaging. Politics at Home: Civil society groups urge President Félix Tshisekedi to drop plans for a constitutional referendum, saying the war, displacement, and economic crisis should come first.

Ebola Crisis: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has crossed a grim 2,000-death milestone, with 2,011 deaths among 4,381 confirmed cases across five provinces, as officials warn the virus is still outpacing the response; the fatality rate is put at 45.9%, and 704 patients remain in isolation or hospital care. WHO Warning: The WHO says the outbreak likely began in February—months before the May 15 declaration—after early cases were misdiagnosed, and it stresses that insecurity, strained health services, and community barriers are slowing containment. Vaccine Push: WHO experts recommend prioritizing a clinical trial of the Ervebo vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain, after earlier guidance that its cross-protection was uncertain. International Support: The US announced an additional $242 million (Ksh31 billion) for Ebola response and preparedness in the region, including strengthening Kenya’s health system and border screening. Kinshasa Watch: A suspected Ebola case in Israel is under testing after travel from DR Congo, while DR Congo also reported that quarantined boat passengers near Kinshasa tested negative.

Ebola Emergency: The WHO says DR Congo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak likely began in February—months before the May 15 declaration—after genetic sequencing, with confirmed cases now around 4,200 and deaths topping 1,900; WHO Africa chief Mohamed Yakub Janabi warned, “We are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us,” citing insecurity, delayed diagnosis, health worker strikes, and misinformation. Kinshasa Risk Check: A river boat quarantined near Kinshasa after an Ebola-like death has tested negative for the Bundibugyo strain, easing fears of spread to the capital. Health System Strain: Reports highlight that responders are reaching only a fraction of cases, while attacks on health facilities and shortages of protective gear keep people away from treatment. Security Shock: In Ituri, an attack blamed on an ISIS-linked ADF group killed at least 13 civilians and abducted 14, worsening conditions for an already overwhelmed response. Mining & Uranium Probe: Kinshasa says it will investigate claims of undeclared uranium hidden in cobalt exports, while carefully avoiding naming key countries tied to the allegations.

Ebola Update (Kinshasa Watch): Congolese health authorities say no Ebola cases were found among more than 200 passengers quarantined on a river boat near Kinshasa (port of Maluku). Samples from symptomatic passengers tested negative for the Bundibugyo strain and the vessel was decontaminated, easing fears of spread to the capital. Outbreak Toll (DRC): Meanwhile, the national death toll has risen to 1,887 with 4,120 confirmed cases, as WHO warns the outbreak is outrunning the response. Vaccine Push (WHO): WHO recommends prioritising the Ervebo vaccine for a Phase III trial against the Bundibugyo strain, citing potential cross-protection from early animal data. Eastern Congo Peace (Doha Process): Qatar-mediated talks continue to move: 15 detainees were released and handed over to AFC/M23 via ICRC transport, traveling from Beni through Uganda to Rutshuru. Security Incident (South Kivu): A mortar shell hit Rumbishi Market in Ziralo, South Kivu, killing at least nine civilians and injuring others, with blame traded between M23/AFC and FARDC.

Ebola Update: Congo health authorities say no Ebola cases were found among more than 200 passengers quarantined near Kinshasa after a suspected death on a river boat; samples tested negative for the Bundibugyo strain, easing fears for the capital. Outbreak Toll: The wider epidemic continues to worsen, with DRC reporting Ebola deaths rising to 1,887 and confirmed cases to 4,120, as response efforts struggle to keep up. Peace Process: Qatar-mediated talks show movement in eastern DRC: Kinshasa released 15 detainees to the AFC/M23 via an ICRC-run handover, though M23 says the released names don’t fully match its submitted list. Security Shock: In Ituri, an attack attributed to an ISIS-linked group killed at least 13 people, with residents reporting missing persons after homes and businesses were burned. Minerals Pressure: DRC is also moving to tighten control of copper-cobalt exports amid allegations of uranium in cobalt shipments to China, raising new scrutiny over radioactive by-products. Public Health Planning: WHO recommends prioritizing the Ervebo vaccine for a clinical trial against Bundibugyo in the DRC, aiming to close a protection gap as the outbreak spreads.

Ebola Response Update: Merck’s Ervebo vaccine and Gilead’s remdesivir are set for wider use in eastern DR Congo as the outbreak outpaces control efforts, with Africa CDC citing observational signals of protection for Bundibugyo cases while formal studies are fast-tracked. Security in the East: Militants linked to the Islamic State-affiliated ADF attacked Banana École near Mambasa in Ituri, killing at least 13 and burning homes, as residents flee amid fears of Ebola spread. Peace Process Tension: Kinshasa released 15 detainees under the Doha mechanism and handed them to AFC/M23 via ICRC, but M23 says only nine match its submitted list, raising questions over implementation. Minerals Policy Shock: DR Congo’s ban on copper and cobalt concentrate exports is tightening supply and pushing prices toward record levels, while separate reports allege uranium may be leaving with cobalt shipments—prompting further scrutiny. Local Development & Health: In Chienge, leaders pledged progress on roads, schools and healthcare, including mortuary equipment for local facilities.