AGP Executive Report

Humanitarian Push: Qatar Charity sent a food aid convoy to Massaguet near N’Djamena, delivering 310 baskets for about 2,170 people as Chad braces for a June–August lean season where over 3 million face acute food insecurity. Counterterrorism in the Lake Chad Basin: Nigeria’s forces also arrested a 50-year-old woman in Borno accused of supplying ISWAP with high-nutrient food packs and disguise items, underscoring how family logistics networks keep insurgents fed. ISIS Leadership Shake-Up: President Tinubu confirmed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki—described as ISIS’s global second-in-command—was killed in a joint U.S.-Nigeria operation, a move that could reshape Sahel and Lake Chad threat patterns. Health Security: Gilead and WHO renewed a five-year push to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, including 400,000+ vials of AmBisome and $9.2m through 2030. Trade & Logistics: MSC expanded door-to-door intermodal links by integrating Cameroon’s Kribi port to connect Cameroon with Chad and CAR.

Debt-Trade Reality Check: A new look at “debt-trap diplomacy” says China isn’t just lending anymore—it’s increasingly collecting, with record repayments in 2025 raising the question of whether the trap has already snapped shut. Central Africa Logistics Push: MSC is folding Cameroon’s Kribi port into door-to-door routes that link Chad and the Central African Republic to global markets, betting on faster, less congested shipping. Lake Chad Security Pressure: Nigerian troops arrested a woman in Borno accused of supplying ISWAP with food and disguise items, while attacks on fishermen and loggers in Borno underline how fragile “calm” pockets remain. Health Funding for Kala-Azar: Gilead and WHO renewed a five-year push to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, including 400,000+ vials of AmBisome and $9.2m through 2030. Maritime Modernisation Warning: Nigeria’s ports chief says Africa can’t grow with obsolete infrastructure—deep-sea capacity and tech upgrades are now the price of staying competitive.

Counter-Terror Crackdown (Lake Chad): Nigerian troops arrested a 50-year-old woman in Borno for allegedly smuggling logistics to her ISWAP-linked son, seizing nutrient food packs and hijabs used for disguise during a checkpoint stop in Kukawa. Regional Security Pressure: The same week keeps spotlighting Lake Chad instability, with reports of kidnappings for ransom and deadly attacks on fishermen and firewood sellers. Global Health Deal (Kala-azar): Gilead Sciences renewed a five-year partnership with the WHO, pledging $9.2m and 400,000+ vials of AmBisome to speed visceral leishmaniasis elimination, with a sharper focus on East Africa and support extending to Chad and Djibouti. Trade & Logistics (Central Africa): MSC expanded door-to-door logistics by integrating Cameroon’s Kribi port, linking it to Chad and CAR to move cargo faster and reduce transshipment delays. Maritime Investment Push: Port leaders in West and Central Africa again warned that outdated infrastructure is holding back growth—modern ports and deep-sea capacity are the next competitive battleground.

Global Health Deal: Gilead renewed a five-year partnership with the WHO to help eliminate visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), pledging 400,000+ vials of AmBisome and $9.2m through 2030, with a heavy focus on East Africa and support extending to Chad and Djibouti. Maritime Push: Nigeria’s ports chief Abubakar Dantsoho says Africa can’t grow with obsolete infrastructure, urging deep-sea upgrades and digital tech as regional logistics expand. Security Pressure: In Nigeria’s northeast, Boko Haram attacks killed 33 fishermen and loggers in Borno, while Abuja troops arrested 10 suspected illegal miners in an FCT raid. Terror Financing Link: US AFRICOM warned that terrorism across West Africa and the Sahel is increasingly tied to drug trafficking, citing a massive cocaine seizure. Haiti Deployment: The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force is set to become operational next June, with Chadian troops already arriving as violence surges.

Boko Haram Attacks: Boko Haram killed 33 fishermen and loggers in Borno in two separate raids—27 shot dead near Mafa and six loggers executed in Dikwa—showing how violence is still hitting livelihoods in the Lake Chad belt. Counterterror Push: Nigeria and the U.S. say they’ve struck hard against ISIS-linked ISWAP, killing at least 175 militants including senior commanders, after earlier operations that removed top figures in the region. Security Credibility Fight: Civil society groups are now publicly challenging Nigeria’s security “coordination” and even the story around high-profile killings, arguing institutional collapse is fueling confusion. Lake Chad Recovery: The EU-backed RESILAC2 recovery program is expanding to reach 125,890 people by 2028, aiming to stabilize communities through jobs, cohesion, and land management. Trade & Ports: Nigeria’s ports chief warns Africa can’t grow with obsolete infrastructure as Nigeria handles 70%+ of regional cargo, while new deep-seaport approvals and Cameroon-Chad corridor digitalization target faster, cheaper shipping. Public Health Watch: Chad’s bird-flu simulation highlights a real fear: governments may hesitate to notify the WHO quickly due to stigma and economic fallout.

Counterterror Ops: Nigeria and the U.S. say a joint campaign has killed at least 175 ISIS-linked militants in Borno, hitting weapons, checkpoints, and financial networks, after the earlier Lake Chad Basin strike that removed senior ISIS figure Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. School Security: Boko Haram attacks in Borno killed 33 fishermen and loggers in two incidents, while separate reporting highlights how school abductions in Oyo are forcing fresh calls for tougher protection. Ports & Trade: Nigeria’s ports authority says it has cleared five deep-sea port projects for investment—Badagry, Olokola, Ibom, Bakassi, and Bonny—aimed at reclaiming 70% of cargo traffic. Sahel Pressure: Analysts warn Russia’s Sahel push is struggling as insecurity deepens and extremist alliances spread. Aid & Logistics: Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force is expected to start operating next June, with Chadian troops already in place. Regional Business: Cameroon and Chad signed a deal to speed up the Douala–Kribi to N’Djamena corridor using linked systems and electronic tracking. Housing Stress: A UN report says about 40% of the world is affected by the housing crisis.

Haiti Security Buildout: The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is expected to be operational next June, with about 750 Chadian troops already in place and up to 5,500 personnel targeted by year-end, funded by a $232M trust fund plus $400M from UN sources. ISIS Pressure in West Africa: US and Nigerian forces carried out joint strikes in Nigeria’s Lake Chad region, killing senior ISIS figure Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and then hitting additional ISIS positions afterward, while Nigeria’s RSF in Sudan denies claims that “Abu Lulu” has been released. Housing Crunch Hits Globally: A UN report says roughly 40% of the world’s population is affected by a housing crisis, with prices rising faster than incomes and rental affordability worsening. France’s Africa Pivot: Macron co-chaired the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya, while critics argue France is trying to reassert influence as its Sahel footprint shrinks. Trade Corridors Get a Tech Push: Cameroon and Chad signed a deal to speed cargo along the Douala–Kribi to N’Djamena route using linked information systems and electronic tracking. Business & Tech: IOC secured free-to-air broadcast rights for the 2028–32 Olympics across 44 sub-Saharan countries via MMS.

Counterterrorism: The U.S. and Nigeria carried out fresh coordinated strikes in Borno’s Metele area, killing more than 20 ISWAP militants, as the hunt continues after the high-profile elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Manuki in the Lake Chad region—raising the big question of whether Nigeria’s intelligence reach is finally catching up to its insurgency problem. U.S. Politics: Alabama GOP and Democrats are set for a governor rematch, with AP projecting Tommy Tuberville vs. Doug Jones after primary results. Energy Policy: Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s bill would expand energy-storage safety testing and fund projects aimed at preventing thermal runaway. Trade & Logistics: Cameroon and Chad signed a deal to cut cargo delays on the Douala–Kribi to N’Djamena corridor via linked systems, electronic tracking, and faster procedures. Culture/Film: Samuel L. Jackson’s thriller “Just Play Dead” has locked major international distribution deals after Cannes.

Pan-Africanism vs France’s pivot: Macron’s “Pan-Africanist” pitch landed in Nairobi amid furious pushback over France’s shrinking footprint after being pushed out of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Senegal—now France is reportedly angling toward Anglophone hubs like Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda. AI adoption map: In Q1 2026, AI use is led by the UAE (70% of working-age adults) and Singapore (63%), while the US—despite building the tech—sits outside the top 20. Lake Chad counterterror surge: Nigeria and the US carried out additional airstrikes in Borno’s Metele area, killing 20+ ISWAP militants, following the high-profile joint operation that removed ISIS’s Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. Digital welfare in Lomé: A World Bank-backed regional workshop in Togo is pushing interoperable, digital social benefit payments across 10 West and Central African countries. Cameroon infrastructure finally moves: After a 15-year delay, Cameroon secured CFA130.4B to revive the Ebolowa–Kribi highway.

Counterterror Ops: The U.S. Africa Command and Nigeria carried out more coordinated airstrikes in Borno’s Metele area, killing 20+ ISWAP militants, as the hunt for ISIS leadership continues after the recent joint operation that removed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. Regional Security Reality Check: The latest strikes land amid warnings that U.S. force reductions have left an “intelligence black hole” in Africa, even as militants keep shifting and rebuilding. Humanitarian Pressure: In Ukraine, drone and attack waves hit cities like Dnipro and Odesa, while Haiti reports escalating violence against children. Development & Trade: Cameroon finally secured CFA130.4B to revive the long-delayed Ebolowa–Kribi highway, and Cameroon–Chad shippers signed a corridor deal aimed at cutting cargo delays. Digital Welfare: Lomé hosted a World Bank-backed workshop on modernizing social benefit payments across 10 West and Central African countries. Refugee Partnership: UNHCR marked 10 years of partnership with KFAED, highlighting support from camps in Iraq to responses in Sudan and Chad.

Counterterror Surge in Nigeria: AFRICOM and Nigeria’s military carried out fresh airstrikes in Borno’s Metele area, hitting suspected IS targets after a joint U.S.-Nigeria operation killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s global second-in-command—officials say more than 20 militants were killed and no U.S. or Nigerian personnel were harmed. Security Fallout: The strikes come as Nigeria faces renewed pressure from insurgents, including reports of 42 schoolchildren abducted in Borno, while U.S. officials urge Americans to heighten personal security. Terror Financing Focus: Nigeria’s National Defence College is pushing stronger regional coordination to disrupt evolving terror funding networks, from cyber-enabled transfers to smuggling and informal cash systems. Humanitarian Strain: In Lake Chad’s orbit, Borno Governor Zulum promises relief and resettlement support for displaced residents in Monguno amid ongoing insecurity.

Counterterrorism Update: The US and Nigeria say they killed ISIS/ISWAP’s global second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in a Lake Chad Basin operation, but Nigeria’s military is now walking back Trump’s wording: no American troops were on the ground—Washington provided intelligence and surveillance support. Local Fallout: Even as officials trade details, Nigeria reports terrorists abducted 42 schoolchildren in Borno, raising fears of retaliation. Debate Over Names: Defence HQ says confusion over an earlier 2024 “al-Minuki” death came from aliases—ISWAP and Boko Haram reuse similar names to throw off tracking. Geopolitics Watch: Separate coverage argues Africa is the real arena in US–China competition, with minerals and growth making it the “main event,” not a side plot.

Counterterrorism: The U.S. and Nigeria say they killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS’s global second-in-command, in a joint Lake Chad Basin operation, with Trump calling it “meticulously planned” and Tinubu praising the “heavy blow” to ISIS networks. Dispute Over Details: Nigeria’s Defence HQ pushed back on claims of American troops on the ground, saying the U.S. role was intelligence and surveillance while Nigerian forces handled the boots-on-the-ground work—and it also blamed earlier 2024 “killed” reports on mistaken identity and alias confusion. Retaliation Risk: Even as the strike was announced, Nigeria faced fresh pressure as reports emerged of terrorists abducting 42 schoolchildren in Borno, underscoring how quickly violence can follow major counterterrorism moves. Health & Society: In the UK, a study links weekly arts activities to slower brain ageing, adding to the week’s mix of security and everyday-life headlines.

Counterterrorism: Nigeria and the U.S. say they killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS’s “global second-in-command,” in a joint Lake Chad Basin operation, with Trump calling it “flawlessly executed” and Tinubu praising the “effective collaboration.” Operational Details: Nigeria’s Defence HQ describes a “highly complex precision air-land” raid carried out over about three hours, with no reported casualties, and AFRICOM releasing footage while officials say the strike hit a fortified compound near Metele. Identity Confusion: DHQ and the Presidency moved to clarify earlier name-mixups, saying similar aliases are common across ISWAP and Boko Haram. Aftershocks: Sheikh Gumi condemned the killing’s “hands stained” framing, while the broader fight continues as ISIS activity concentrates in Africa. Sahel Economy/Travel: Separate from the raid, Chad and Mauritania are seeing rising Sahara tourism interest as visa systems go online and desert expeditions expand.

Counterterror Strike: US President Trump and Nigeria’s Tinubu confirmed the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s global No. 2, in a joint operation in the Lake Chad Basin, with AFRICOM releasing footage and both sides calling it a major blow to ISIS networks. On-the-Ground Fallout: The announcement lands as Nigeria’s search for abducted schoolchildren continues after a suspected Islamist attack in Borno, keeping pressure on security forces. What’s Known/Not Known: Officials shared broad claims—months of coordination, a precision air-land raid, and no US casualties—but still haven’t released the exact location or full mission details. Diplomacy & Messaging: Trump framed it as a “flawless” mission at his direction, while Nigeria emphasized intelligence sharing and “effective collaboration,” as analysts watch whether leadership losses disrupt ISIS-linked operations across the Sahel.

Sudan Escalation: After the first international flight landed at Khartoum’s airport since the war began, drones hit May 4—damaging the airport and SAF installations—prompting the government to recall its ambassador from Ethiopia. Humanitarian Food Access: Utah State University is partnering with a Salt Lake City refugee community to expand affordable protein options, including a new goat-and-chicken farm. Nutrition Push in West Africa: A Lomé conference adopted the Lomé Declaration, setting a three-year plan to tackle stunting and anemia across 22 countries, with Chad’s strained health system flagged as a pressure point. UK Politics: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson became the first Cabinet minister to back Andy Burnham’s return, while keeping the door open to future leadership. Chad-Region Security: UN human rights officials urged independent probes into alleged Nigerian and Chadian airstrike civilian deaths, as militaries trade blame.