AGP Executive Report

AI & Data Centers: Experts say Africa could become a major new battleground for AI infrastructure as US firms push data center deals across the continent amid power and permitting limits in mature markets. Security in African Waters: A Russian-flagged, US/EU-sanctioned cargo ship was hit by drone strikes off Africa, raising fears the Russia-Ukraine conflict could spill into regional ports and coastal routes. Digital SME Boost: Cameroon and the EU are aligning on financing, digitalization, and value-chain support for local SMEs, building on recent multi-million CFAF agreements including cross-border digital business programs that also cover Gabon. Central Africa Payments: BEAC is rolling out interoperable CEMAC QR payments to speed up trusted digital transactions across CEMAC countries, aiming for higher financial inclusion by 2029. Digital Identity Learning: African delegations visited India to study digital public infrastructure, focusing on digital identity, payments, and data systems for services like agriculture and healthcare. Health Tech (Glaucoma): Hexiris Ophthalmics plans first-in-human OBi glaucoma results at major fall meetings, highlighting a surgical access-focused instrument platform. Energy & Industry: The Africa Gas Forum 2027 puts “from discovery to delivery” at the center, spotlighting how gas can power energy security and industrial growth. Aviation Milestone: Ibom Air hit nearly five million passengers and added an Airbus A220-300A, with plans to expand routes including Libreville.

Gabon & Central Africa Digital Finance: BEAC is pushing interoperable payments across the CEMAC bloc, rolling out a CEMAC QR system that lets people pay across banks and mobile money wallets via GIMAC/GIMACPAY—aimed at boosting financial inclusion and modernizing trusted digital payments. Gabon Tech & Trade Links: The UAE is deepening trade and investment ties with Gabon under their CEPA framework, with talks focused on turning deals into real opportunities for mining, renewables, infrastructure, food security, logistics and tech. Gabon Health Tech (Global): African drugmakers are working to expand local sickle cell treatments, aligning with WHO’s push for wider hydroxyurea access and child-friendly formulations. Digital Identity Learning (Africa): UNDP’s Africa Accelerator mission sent delegations (including Rwanda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Zambia) to India to study digital public infrastructure—digital identity, payments and data systems for services like agriculture and healthcare. Energy & Industry (Africa): The Africa Gas Forum 2027 is set to focus on moving gas from discovery to delivery, with Gabon’s Cap Lopez LNG among projects in the spotlight. Cyber/Conflict Risk (Africa Waters): A Russian-flagged sanctioned cargo ship, Lady Mariia, was hit by drones off Africa, raising fears the Russia-Ukraine conflict could spill into African ports and coastal routes.

Digital SME Boost (Cameroon–EU): Cameroon and the EU are teaming up to help local SMEs with finance, digitalization, and value-chain development, backed by new funding agreements worth about CFAF 37.16 billion. Regional Payments Upgrade (CEMAC/BEAC): The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) is pushing interoperable digital payments across Cameroon, Chad, CAR, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Congo, including a CEMAC QR system routed via GIMACPAY. Gabon–UAE Trade Push: Gabon and the UAE are working to turn their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) into real business opportunities in mining, renewables, infrastructure, food security, logistics, and technology. Health Tech for Africa: Local drugmakers and researchers are linking local pharmaceutical production to sickle cell care, as WHO expands focus on hydroxyurea and child-friendly formulations. Gabon Data Transparency Concern: A new look at Gabon’s economic reporting says public data and outlook notes often lack the detail businesses and investors need for clear decisions. Aviation Growth (Ibom Air): Nigeria’s Ibom Air hit nearly 5 million passengers and added an Airbus A220-300, with plans to expand routes including Libreville (Gabon).

Digital SMEs Boost: Cameroon and the EU are teaming up to help local small businesses grow through new financing, digitalization, and value-chain support, building on recent EU deals worth about CFAF 37.16 billion (including regional digital programs that also cover Gabon). Trusted Payments in CEMAC: BEAC is pushing interoperable digital payments across Central Africa with a CEMAC QR system that lets people pay across banks and mobile wallets via GIMAC/GIMACPAY—aimed at boosting financial inclusion. Gabon Tech & Health Link: Hexiris Ophthalmics, founded by surgeons who worked in Gabon, says it will present first-in-human glaucoma results for its OBi platform—targeting better access to eye surgery beyond operating-room bottlenecks. Digital Identity Learning Trip: UNDP sent African delegations (including Gabon) to India to study digital public infrastructure for identity, payments, and services in areas like healthcare and agriculture. Energy & Infrastructure Outlook: The Africa Gas Forum 2027 (in Cape Town) will focus on moving from gas discovery to delivery, with projects including Gabon’s Cap Lopez LNG. Local Aviation Growth: Ibom Air hit nearly five million passengers and added an Airbus A220-300, with plans to expand routes that include Libreville (Gabon). Social Media Age Rules: South Africa says it won’t impose a blanket under-16 social media ban, arguing platforms should strengthen their own protections—while Gabon already enforces age verification.

Digital Payments in CEMAC: BEAC is pushing interoperable payments across Cameroon, Chad, CAR, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Congo with a CEMAC QR system routed via GIMAC/GIMACPAY—aimed at boosting financial inclusion. Gabon-UAE Trade Boost: Gabon and the UAE are moving to turn their CEPA into real business deals, with talks focused on mining, renewables, infrastructure, food security, logistics and investment. Digital Public Infrastructure Mission: UNDP’s AA4DPI brought delegations from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zambia to India to study digital identity and payments systems for services like agriculture and healthcare. Glaucoma Tech from Gabon Connections: Hexiris Ophthalmics will share first-in-human OBi glaucoma results in Europe/US, highlighting a focus on improving access to surgical care. Sickle Cell Local Manufacturing: African drugmakers are linking local production to WHO’s push for wider hydroxyurea access, including child-friendly formulations. Air Connectivity in the Region: Ibom Air hit ~5 million passengers and added an Airbus A220-300, with plans to expand routes including Libreville (Gabon). Congo Basin Water-Wars Warning: Former Gabon environment minister Lee White warns Congo Basin forest loss could destabilize Africa’s water cycle and trigger conflicts. Fraud-Fighting Authentication: Unico rolled out Smart Revalidation to calibrate authentication for AI-powered fraud attempts while keeping low-risk logins friction-free.

Digital Safety Policy: South Africa’s communications minister says there’s no plan for a blanket social media age ban for under-16s, arguing platforms should improve protections instead—while Gabon already enforced age verification and other countries are debating similar rules. Central African Payments: BEAC is pushing interoperable digital payments across CEMAC, including a CEMAC QR system that lets users pay across banks and mobile wallets via GIMAC/GIMACPAY. Digital Public Infrastructure: UNDP sent African delegations (including Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia, Gabon) to India to study digital identity and payments systems, focusing on how DPI can cut transaction costs and expand services. Gabon Tech & Trade: UAE officials met Gabon’s president to deepen trade and investment under a CEPA framework, with talks spanning mining, renewables, infrastructure, food security, logistics, and technology. Aviation Growth: Nigeria’s Ibom Air hit ~5 million passengers and added an Airbus A220-300, with plans to expand routes including Libreville (Gabon) and Malabo (Equatorial Guinea). Health Tech: African drugmakers are linking local production to sickle cell care as WHO pushes wider access to hydroxyurea and child-friendly formulations. Cyber & Fraud: Unico introduced “Smart Revalidation” to better match authentication strength to transaction risk and reduce AI-driven fraud attempts.

Digital Health & Access: Hexiris Ophthalmics will share first-in-human OBi glaucoma results across five fall meetings starting in London, aiming to tackle the operating-room access bottleneck behind irreversible blindness. Aviation Growth: Nigeria’s state carrier Ibom Air hit ~5 million passengers and added an Airbus A220-300 to bring its fleet to 10, with plans to expand routes including Libreville (Gabon) and Malabo (Equatorial Guinea). Central Africa Payments: BEAC is pushing interoperable digital payments in the CEMAC bloc, including a CEMAC QR system that routes transactions via GIMAC/GIMACPAY for cross-bank and mobile money use. Digital Public Infrastructure: UNDP’s AA4DPI mission saw African delegations study India’s digital identity and payments systems, focusing on how DPI can support agriculture, healthcare, and social protection. Energy & Gas Pipeline: The Africa Gas Forum 2027 (Cape Town, 4 March 2027) spotlights moving from gas discovery to delivery for energy security and industrial growth. Gabon Tech & Policy: A new look at Gabon’s economic management flags unreliable public data as a drag on business, investors, and research. Oil & Testing Funding: ReconAfrica completed an upsized $21.9m offering to fund horizontal sidetrack and production testing at Kavango West 1X.

Aviation & Connectivity: Akwa Ibom’s state carrier Ibom Air hit about 5 million passengers (4,953,512) after 65,152 scheduled flights and just added an Airbus A220-300, bringing its active fleet to 10; it’s now planning to grow to 12 destinations and 15 routes by 2027, including new links to Douala, Libreville and Malabo. Digital Identity & Payments: UNDP’s AA4DPI mission sent African delegations to India to study digital public infrastructure, including digital identity and payments systems. Regional Fintech: BEAC rolled out a CEMAC QR code system to enable interoperable digital payments across CEMAC countries, aiming to boost financial inclusion. Cyber & Fraud Tech: Unico introduced “Smart Revalidation” to better stop AI-powered fraud while keeping low-risk users friction-free. Health & Local Pharma: African drugmakers are pushing local sickle cell solutions, with WHO backing hydroxyurea and child-friendly formulations. Environment & Water Security: Former Gabon environment minister Lee White warns Congo Basin protection is crucial to prevent water wars across Africa. Energy & Industry: Africa Gas Forum 2027 will focus on moving gas from discovery to delivery, with Gabon’s Cap Lopez LNG among projects in the pipeline.

Personal Tech & Retail: Gaboni Jewelers says demand is rising for its complimentary custom laser engraving, letting buyers add names, dates, or messages at no extra cost—boosted by a lifetime warranty, competitive pricing, and free priority shipping. Health Tech & Local Manufacturing: African drugmakers in Senegal and Nigeria are linking local production to sickle cell care as WHO pushes wider access to hydroxyurea, including child-friendly formulations. Digital Payments for Central Africa: BEAC is rolling out a CEMAC QR system to enable interoperable merchant payments across banks and mobile money wallets in CEMAC, routed via GIMACPAY to support financial inclusion goals. Biometrics & Identity: OCR Studio has trademarked “One-shot KYC,” combining document OCR and selfie biometrics in a single local flow for faster, risk-based onboarding. Gabon–UAE Trade Push: The UAE and Gabon are discussing stronger trade and investment ties under their CEPA framework, targeting deals in priority sectors. Tech in the Region’s Economy: Cybastion backs Cameroon’s digital sovereignty with a $75M plan for AI-ready infrastructure, including a data center and power plant.

Health & Local Industry: African drugmakers are linking local production to sickle cell care as WHO pushes wider hydroxyurea access, including child-friendly formulations—aiming to cut crises and complications in a disease that hits sub-Saharan Africa hardest. Digital Payments in CEMAC: BEAC is rolling out interoperable CEMAC QR payments across Cameroon, Chad, CAR, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Congo, routing transactions through GIMACPAY to boost financial inclusion. Gabon-UAE Trade Push: The UAE and Gabon are discussing deeper investment ties under their CEPA framework, targeting sectors like mining, renewables, infrastructure, food security, logistics and technology. Biometrics for Faster Onboarding: OCR Studio trademarked “One-shot KYC,” combining document OCR and face biometrics from a single capture to speed remote identity checks for banks and fintechs. Aviation Growth in the Region: Nigeria’s Ibom Air added another Airbus A220-300, now with 10 aircraft and plans to expand routes including Libreville, Gabon. Tech & Fraud Security: Unico says AI-powered fraud attempts are surging and introduced “Smart Revalidation” to match authentication strength to risk without adding friction for low-risk users.

Sickle Cell Care Boost: African drugmakers and health researchers are linking local production to the WHO push for wider hydroxyurea access, including child-friendly formulations—aiming to cut painful crises and complications across sub-Saharan Africa. Regional Payments Upgrade: BEAC is rolling out interoperable CEMAC QR payments across Central Africa, using smartphone scans and routing via GIMACPAY to speed secure cross-border transactions and financial inclusion. Gabon-UAE Trade Talks: Gabon’s President met UAE trade officials to turn the CEPA framework into real business opportunities, with focus on mining, renewables, infrastructure, food security, logistics and technology. Digital Identity for Onboarding: OCR Studio trademarked “One-shot KYC,” combining document OCR and face biometrics in a single local flow for faster, risk-based customer onboarding. Air Connectivity in the Region: Ibom Air added another Airbus A220-300, bringing its fleet to 10 and setting sights on more domestic and regional routes, including Libreville, Gabon. Tech & Health Policy Hype: A new ibogaine book release arrives as US policy interest in psychedelic medicine grows, positioning the drug for more research and patient access.

Digital Payments for Central Africa: BEAC is pushing interoperable payments across CEMAC, rolling out a CEMAC QR system that lets people pay across banks and mobile money wallets via GIMAC/GIMACPAY—aimed at boosting financial inclusion. UAE–Gabon Investment Push: UAE trade and foreign officials met Gabon’s president in Libreville to turn the CEPA framework into real business deals, with focus on mining, renewables, infrastructure, food security, logistics and technology. Gabon’s Data Transparency Challenge: A new look at Gabon’s economic reporting says public data is often too patchy and not detailed enough for investors, researchers and citizens to judge what’s really happening. AI-Ready Digital Infrastructure: Cameroon’s Cybastion committed $75M for AI-ready digital infrastructure in Douala, including a data center and power plant—part of a digital sovereignty push. Biometrics for Faster Onboarding: OCR Studio trademarked “One-shot KYC,” combining ID scan and selfie biometrics in one flow for banks and fintech, targeting smoother remote onboarding. Aviation Growth in the Region: Ibom Air expanded its fleet to 10 aircraft and plans more domestic and regional routes, including Libreville and Malabo.

UAE–Gabon trade push: The UAE’s foreign trade minister, Thani Al Zeyoudi, met Gabon’s President Brice Oligui Nguema in Libreville to turn the CEPA framework into real business deals, with talks spanning mining, renewables, infrastructure, food security, logistics and investment. UAE–Senegal momentum: In Dakar, the same delegation highlighted growing UAE–Senegal non-oil trade and new opportunities in renewable energy, infrastructure and tech-linked logistics. Digital infrastructure in Cameroon: Cybastion pledged $75M for AI-ready data center and power infrastructure in Douala, aiming to strengthen Cameroon’s digital sovereignty. Biometrics for faster onboarding: OCR Studio trademarked “One-shot KYC,” combining document OCR and face checks in a single local flow to speed up identity verification for banks and telecoms. Fraud tech upgrade: Unico rolled out Smart Revalidation to sort authentication levels for AI-powered fraud attempts, claiming up to 90% of transactions pass with minimal friction. Aviation growth in the region: Nigeria’s Ibom Air added another Airbus A220-300, pushing toward 5 million passengers and planning new routes including Libreville and Malabo. Health manufacturing in Africa: Senegal’s Teranga Pharma expanded production of Drepaf (generic hydroxyurea) to cut reliance on imported sickle cell medicines across multiple African markets.

UAE–Gabon Trade Boost: The UAE and Gabon are pushing deeper economic ties, with UAE non-oil exports to Gabon rising 27% in 2025 to $61.1M and bilateral non-oil trade hitting $141.7M in H1 2026. Smart Mobility Tech: Dubai’s Salik renewed its 5-year contract with TransCore to keep upgrading tolling systems, with plans to add AI and advanced digital solutions for efficiency and reliability. Aviation Growth in the Region: Nigeria’s Ibom Air keeps expanding, adding another Airbus A220-300 to reach a 10-aircraft fleet and eyeing new routes including Libreville (Gabon) and Malabo. Digital Sovereignty Push: Cameroon’s Cybastion backs a $75M AI-ready data center and power plant project in Douala to strengthen digital sovereignty. Fraud Defense Upgrade: Unico introduced “Smart Revalidation” to better handle AI-powered fraud attempts using adaptive authentication that aims to reduce friction for low-risk users. Health Tech & Local Manufacturing: Senegal’s Teranga Pharma is expanding local generic hydroxyurea production for sickle cell, targeting multiple African markets. Public Data Transparency: A new look at Gabon’s economic reporting says unreliable and incomplete public data is still hampering business and investor decisions.

Smart Mobility & Payments: Dubai toll operator Salik renewed a 5-year contract with US firm TransCore, aiming to boost tolling system efficiency and reliability, with plans to explore AI and advanced digital solutions for future smart-mobility needs. Gabon-UAE Trade: In Libreville, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi met President Brice Oligui Nguema to push deeper trade and investment ties under the CEPA framework. Gabon Data Transparency: A new look at Gabon’s economic management flags unreliable and irregular public data, arguing it limits how businesses, investors, researchers, and citizens can track performance and plan ahead. Regional Aviation Growth: Nigeria’s Ibom Air story continues to trend as it expands its fleet and prepares new domestic and regional routes, including plans that would connect to Libreville and Malabo. Digital Infrastructure in Central Africa: Cameroon’s digital sovereignty gets a boost with Cybastion’s $75M plan for AI-ready data center and power infrastructure in Douala. Biometrics & Fraud Tech: Unico rolls out “Smart Revalidation” to better handle AI-driven fraud attempts, while OCR Studio trademarked “One-shot KYC” to speed up ID+selfie onboarding.

Gabon Data Transparency: Gabon’s economic decision-making is being slowed by unreliable, hard-to-access public data, with the DGEPF’s Q4 2025 outlook note criticized for gaps like missing volumes and limited forward-looking analysis. UAE–Gabon Ties: President Nguema met UAE trade and investment envoy Thani Al Zeyoudi, with both sides pushing to turn the CEPA framework into faster trade and investment results. Digital Infrastructure in Cameroon: Cybastion pledged $75M for AI-ready digital infrastructure in Douala, including a data center and dedicated power plant, as Cameroon accelerates “digital sovereignty.” Biometrics for Fraud Control: Unico rolled out “Smart Revalidation,” using many real-time signals to match the right authentication level to transaction risk and reduce AI-driven fraud attempts. Health Tech & Local Pharma: Senegal’s Teranga Pharma is expanding a locally made generic hydroxyurea for sickle cell (Drepaf), targeting broader African markets. Regional Research Network: Universities across Central Africa launched a network to build a civil society observatory focused on organized crime and violence, aiming for better data and policy action. Aviation Growth (Nigeria): Ibom Air added another Airbus A220-300, bringing its fleet to 10 and planning more domestic and regional routes including Libreville and Malabo.