AGP Executive Report

Ebola Crisis Escalates: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has become the country’s deadliest on record, with official figures putting deaths at 2,325 and confirmed cases at 4,945 after the outbreak surpassed the previous 2018–2020 toll of 2,299. Fast Spread, Tough Response: The UN says the virus is “winning,” with one death every 30 minutes, and WHO warns the outbreak could eclipse the 2014–2016 West Africa disaster if transmission isn’t reversed soon. Bundibugyo Strain Challenge: The outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, leaving health teams to rely on strained surveillance and containment efforts amid insecurity. Health System Strain: MSF warns the Ebola focus must not crowd out other urgent needs in eastern DRC, where measles, cholera, and malaria continue to surge. Regional Context: As SADC leaders meet in Durban, the eastern DRC crisis—alongside migration tensions—remains a central concern for the region.

Ebola Crisis in DRC: The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with official figures putting deaths at 2,325 and confirmed cases at 4,945, a case fatality rate of about 47%. WHO warns the outbreak is moving faster than past epidemics and could eclipse the worst recorded wave in West Africa. Health System Strain: Fear of infection is keeping pregnant women away from clinics, worsening maternal and newborn risks as routine care collapses in affected areas. Regional Politics: As SADC leaders meet in Durban for a summit on security, trade and industrialisation, the agenda also includes eastern DRC security concerns and the Ebola emergency. Connectivity Push: Separately, Airtel Africa and Starlink launched a satellite-to-phone service in the DRC, aiming to extend mobile access to remote areas where network coverage is weak.

Ebola Crisis in DRC: The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surged to 4,665 confirmed cases and 2,184 deaths, with WHO warning it is expanding faster than past outbreaks and could become the deadliest on record. The virus is now in six provinces (Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo and Bas-Uélé), reaching 55 health zones, and health officials say community transmission and gaps in contact tracing are slowing containment. Cross-Border Surveillance: DRC health officials urged Uganda to ease border restrictions, saying closures are pushing people onto illegal crossing routes that are harder to monitor for Ebola spread. Frontline Workers Under Strain: The International Council of Nurses says DRC nurses and health workers have gone unpaid for two to three months while facing extreme risk, calling for urgent payment and protection so the response can scale up. Connectivity Push: Airtel Africa has commercially launched Starlink Mobile in DRC, letting compatible phones connect via satellite for SMS and limited data in areas without conventional coverage—aimed at supporting remote communities and emergency communications. Regional Politics: As SADC leaders meet in Durban, South Africa takes the chair of the Council of Ministers and pushes integration, industrialisation and critical-mineral beneficiation, while Zimbabwe’s foreign minister calls for a fast-track regional development fund.

Ebola Crisis in DRC: The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is spreading fast and now affects a sixth province, with DRC health authorities reporting about 4,727 confirmed cases and 2,214 deaths, as community transmission and contact-tracing gaps threaten to prolong the epidemic. Health Workers Under Strain: The International Council of Nurses says frontline nurses have gone unpaid for months while facing extreme risk, urging the DRC health minister to pay and protect staff immediately. UN Push for Emergency Scale-Up: UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warns “Ebola is winning,” calling for faster, bigger response efforts and announcing an extra $30.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund, alongside more safe-burial teams and strengthened tracing. Peace Process Watch: DRC and Rwanda, with US, Qatar, Togo and the African Union, agreed on new steps to monitor and verify Washington Accords commitments after the sixth Joint Security Coordination Mechanism meeting in Geneva. Connectivity Leap: Airtel Africa has commercially launched Starlink satellite-to-phone service in DRC, offering basic messaging and light data in areas without conventional coverage. Regional Politics: South Africa is set to take over the SADC chair as leaders meet in Durban, with migration, trade, critical minerals, industrialisation and security on the agenda.

Ebola Emergency: The UN says the DRC’s Ebola outbreak is killing one person every 30 minutes, with deaths now reported above 2,100 and confirmed cases around 4,700 as the virus spreads to a sixth province, including Buta in Bas-Uele; WHO and Africa CDC warn Bundibugyo Ebola has no approved vaccine and that community transmission and gaps in contact tracing could prolong the crisis. Peace Monitoring: The DRC and Rwanda agreed to strengthen monitoring and verification under the Washington Accords after the sixth Joint Security Coordination Mechanism meeting in Geneva, including a trilateral planning conference in October. Connectivity Leap: Airtel Africa and Starlink launched satellite-to-phone service in the DRC, extending mobile coverage where terrestrial networks fail. Health Infrastructure: Tanzania’s? (No) In DRC coverage, a separate regional health story: Tanzania funds a cancer centre in Mbeya—showing broader African investment in specialist care. Regional Context: UN-linked reporting highlights how insecurity in eastern DRC is complicating response efforts.

Ebola Crisis in DRC: The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak has spread to a sixth province, with confirmed cases now at 4,727 and deaths at 2,214. Health authorities say the new affected area is Buta in Bas-Uele, while Ituri remains the epicenter. UN Warning: UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher says the epidemic is “killing someone every 30 minutes” and warns the response is being outpaced, urging “speed, scale and solidarity.” Response Strain: Officials note community transmission is driving deaths, with gaps in contact tracing that could prolong the outbreak. Health Attacks Trend: The WHO reports attacks on healthcare in conflict zones average more than four per day in 2026, including incidents recorded in the DRC—raising pressure on already stretched services. Tech and Connectivity: Airtel Africa and Starlink launched satellite-to-mobile service in the DRC, aiming to extend connectivity where traditional networks fail. Regional Security Talks: DRC and Rwanda agreed to strengthen monitoring and verification of the Washington Accords under a joint security mechanism in Geneva.

Ebola Escalation: The DRC confirmed Ebola has reached a sixth province, Bas-Uele, after a fatal case in Buta, pushing totals to 4,665 confirmed cases and 2,184 deaths; health officials warn the outbreak could spread further as delayed detection, conflict, and strained services keep slowing the response. Aid and Response Strain: WHO and Africa CDC say the virus is moving faster than containment efforts, with Africa CDC warning the emergency could become the deadliest in the country’s history. Healthcare Under Attack: WHO also reported more than 10,000 attacks on healthcare since 2018, with no one held accountable, and 2026 alone averaging over four attacks a day—an added threat to DRC’s already stretched frontline. Frontline Conditions: The International Council of Nurses urged DRC authorities to pay and protect Ebola workers, saying many have gone unpaid for months while facing high risk. Connectivity Boost: In a separate development, Airtel Africa and Starlink launched satellite-to-mobile service commercially in the DRC, aiming to extend coverage to areas without traditional network reach.

Ebola Crisis Deepens: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has spread to a sixth province after a fatal case was recorded in Bas-Uele, raising fears of wider transmission and spillover toward South Sudan. Health authorities report about 4,566 confirmed cases and more than 2,128 deaths, with the outbreak driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain and WHO warning it could eclipse the 2014–16 disaster. Response Strain: In Ituri, a treatment center in Nizi was temporarily shut after a strike over unpaid wages, underlining how stalled pay and weak access to care are hurting containment. Cross-Border Risk: The Bas-Uele death involved a motorcycle taxi driver who traveled from Haut-Uele and visited multiple health facilities before dying, complicating contact tracing. Maternal Fallout: UN-linked reporting says maternal deaths have doubled in the epicenter as pregnant women avoid hospitals and routine services collapse. Community & Rights: In South Kivu’s mining areas, Indigenous communities are pushing back on land rights amid expansion, with local groups training residents to claim protections and demand consent.

Ebola Crisis Escalates: WHO chief Tedros says DRC’s Ebola outbreak is on track to eclipse the deadliest in history, with over 2,000 deaths and more than 4,300 cases; sequencing suggests it began months earlier than the May 15 declaration, and the rare Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or treatment. New Province Hit: Africa CDC reports a death in Bas-Uele, making it the sixth affected province, raising fears of wider spread beyond eastern hotspots. Response Under Strain: Health workers face strikes over unpaid pay, insecurity, and misinformation; experts warn transmission is outpacing containment, with many deaths occurring outside known contact chains. Public Health Spillover: UNICEF warns cholera is spreading across borders in West and Central Africa, hitting six countries as DRC battles record Ebola. Mobility and Trade Links: Trafigura appoints Hervé Otschudi as executive director for its DRC operations, while Emirates schedules its first passenger flights to Kinshasa from Feb 2027.

Ebola Emergency in Eastern DRC: WHO chief Tedros warned the DRC outbreak is on track to eclipse the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, with 4,449 confirmed cases and 2,061 deaths and most deaths happening in communities outside treatment centers. WHO says the virus “had a big head start” and is moving faster than response efforts, with sequencing showing it began months earlier than the May 15 declaration. Vaccine Push: DRC and WHO talks are advancing to start a Phase 3 trial, and the country has submitted an emergency request for Ervebo vaccine doses from the stockpile. Cross-Border Spillover Fears: The CDC is temporarily restricting entry for travelers from the DRC and ordering 21 days of monitoring, reflecting global concern as cases surge. Security and Trade Pressure: Kenyan truckers are grounding cargo to the DRC after killings of drivers on the Beni–Kisangani route, threatening Northern Corridor flows. Justice and Accountability: In Zambia, a former Copperbelt police boss, Mwala Yuyi, remains in custody two weeks after arrest over alleged theft of copper cathodes, with lawyers saying he hasn’t been taken to court. Sports Scandal: A FIFA-banned coach in the DRC for sexual abuse is reportedly still training young players in Kinshasa.

Ebola Crisis in DRC: The World Health Organization says the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC is on track to become the deadliest on record, with government figures putting deaths at 2,061 and confirmed cases at 4,449 across five provinces as transmission accelerates beyond known contact chains. Vaccine Shift: WHO has cleared the way for a clinical trial using Ervebo, the world’s only licensed Ebola vaccine, after previously ruling out its use for this strain. Frontline Strain: Health workers in Ituri report mounting workloads and stretched treatment capacity as response teams push to raise contact tracing and expand isolation beds. Research on Origins: A new genetic study suggests the outbreak began with a fresh animal-to-human spillover, with the strain distinct from earlier Bundibugyo outbreaks. Regional Response: Africa CDC and WHO urge community-led, village-level action, while neighboring countries step up preparedness. DRC Economy & Minerals: A DRC policy shift banning copper and cobalt concentrate exports is unlikely to move global markets immediately, but analysts warn it could add short-term price risk as details are clarified.

Ebola Emergency in Eastern DRC: The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak has crossed 2,000 deaths, with 2,011 fatalities reported among 4,381 confirmed cases across five provinces, as the virus keeps outpacing response efforts. Fast Spread, Weak Access: Health officials say delayed detection, conflict, and strained services are driving the surge, with many new cases appearing outside monitored contact chains. New Clues on Origin: A study in Nature Medicine suggests the outbreak likely began with a fresh animal-to-human spillover of the rare Bundibugyo strain, linking cases in Uganda to the Congo outbreak. WHO and Partners Scale Up: WHO is expanding treatment capacity, including doubling beds at a facility in Lita, while international agencies push for stronger community action and faster, village-level detection. Travel Warning: The US upgraded its advisory to urge Americans to avoid travel to Ituri and North Kivu, and to reconsider non-essential trips to Haut-Uélé and Tshopo. Human Toll Beyond Ebola: UN-linked reporting highlights rising maternal deaths in Ituri as women avoid clinics for fear of infection.

Ebola Toll Hits 2,000: DR Congo says the Ebola outbreak has killed 2,011 people out of 4,381 confirmed cases, with transmission active across five provinces and officials warning the peak may not be reached yet. Outbreak Speed, Weak Access: Health workers and aid groups blame delayed detection, conflict, strained services, and difficulties reaching remote communities—while many patients die before getting care. New Clues on Origin: A new genetic study suggests this Bundibugyo strain likely began with a fresh animal-to-human spillover, not a reactivation of an older outbreak, underscoring the need for faster testing and sequencing. Human Cost Beyond Ebola: In Ituri, maternal deaths are nearly doubling as women avoid clinics for fear of infection, cutting facility-assisted deliveries sharply. Response Pressure: WHO and partners are pushing to expand treatment and consider vaccine trials, as the crisis keeps outpacing the response. Civil Society Pushback: Separate from the health emergency, 65 Congolese civil society groups urge President Félix Tshisekedi to drop plans for a constitutional referendum, citing war, displacement, and economic strain.

Ebola Emergency in Eastern DRC: WHO says the current Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak likely began in February—months before the May declaration—after genetic sequencing found early cases were misdiagnosed as malaria or typhoid; confirmed cases now top 4,200 with deaths above 1,900, and WHO warns the virus is “outpacing our response” as contact follow-up lags and insecurity, delayed care, and fear keep people away from treatment. Vaccine Push: WHO recommends prioritizing the Ervebo vaccine for a clinical trial against Bundibugyo Ebola in DRC, citing possible cross-protection from early animal data. Kinshasa Border Alert: Authorities released a quarantined riverboat near Kinshasa after tests found no Ebola cases, while health officials keep monitoring travelers. Trade Corridor Watch: Dar es Salaam port reports a 17% rise in transit cargo in 2025/26, with DRC-bound shipments up 30% and making up over half of transit volumes. DRC in the Courtroom: A 32-year-old man from the DRC, Nicolas Mondani Oleko, faces U.S. federal charges over a business email scam worth more than $113,000.

Ebola Update: WHO says DR Congo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak likely began in February—months before the May 15 declaration—after sequencing showed early cases were misread as malaria or typhoid; confirmed cases have reached about 4,200 with nearly 1,900 deaths, as insecurity, unpaid health workers, and community mistrust keep response capacity stretched. Public Health Response: WHO vaccine experts are pushing for a Phase III trial of the Ervebo vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain, with a ring-trial approach around known cases. Kinshasa Precaution: Authorities quarantined more than 200 boat passengers near Kinshasa after an Ebola-like death, but testing found no Ebola cases, easing fears of spread to the capital. Critical Minerals Watch: Kinshasa finally responded to reports that undeclared uranium may have been shipped hidden inside cobalt exports, carefully avoiding naming China despite the allegations centering on Chinese operations. Security in the East: An attack in Ituri blamed on an IS-linked ADF group killed at least 13 civilians and abducted others, worsening conditions for an already fragile Ebola response.

Doha Peace Process: The DRC released 15 detainees and handed them to the Congo River Alliance/M23 in Rutshuru, with the ICRC transporting them from Beni via Uganda—Qatar called it a confidence-building step for eastern Congo. Ebola Crisis: The outbreak keeps accelerating: DRC figures cite 4,120 confirmed cases and 1,887 deaths, with WHO warning transmission is outpacing response; WHO also recommended a clinical trial of Merck’s Ervebo vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain, while Africa CDC and partners move toward wider use of Merck’s vaccine and Gilead’s antiviral. Public Safety in the Capital: Health authorities say no Ebola was detected among 200+ passengers quarantined near Kinshasa after a suspected case—tests for Bundibugyo came back negative. Security in Eastern DRC: A mortar strike hit Rumbishi Market in South Kivu, killing at least nine civilians; M23/AFC and FARDC blamed each other. Mining & Markets: Congo’s copper-cobalt concentrate export ban is expected to have limited impact on Chinese firms with local processing, even as copper prices consolidate above $14,000 amid supply worries. Regional Cooperation: EASF verified UPDF readiness for regional peace support operations.