AGP Executive Report

Ebola Surge: DR Congo’s confirmed Ebola caseload has passed 5,000, reaching 5,021 cases and 2,378 deaths across 55 health zones in six provinces, with WHO warning the outbreak is “far from being under control” and still accelerating. Public Health Pressure: Authorities are reinforcing surveillance near the Congo River to prevent spread toward Kinshasa, while Africa CDC urges faster action on the response, including support for deploying the Ervebo vaccine for the rare Bundibugyo strain. War and Governance: In eastern Congo, the conflict economy keeps grinding on—soldiers at mineral checkpoints in Fizi are described as effectively running a toll system, showing how fighting can become self-financing rather than decisive battle. Regional Diplomacy: President Félix Tshisekedi’s talks in Tanzania focus on trade, mining, energy, transport and security, including connectivity along the Central Corridor. Information Rights: CPJ says internet and mobile services were cut in Fizi Territory for more than a month, warning the shutdown fuels rumors and violates rights to information. Security Cooperation: A new analysis links M23 pressure to deeper DRC-Burundi coordination, expanding beyond military coordination into trade and infrastructure. Finance and Institutions: Reuters reports Afriland First Bank RDC is in deep trouble, with negative equity and insolvency risk after regulator action years ago.

Public Health Emergency: WHO says DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is “far from under control,” reporting 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths across 55 health zones in six provinces, with Tedros warning the epidemic is still outpacing response and could spread further inside and beyond the country. Deadliest Milestone: Government figures put deaths at 2,325, surpassing the 2018–2020 outbreak’s 2,299 toll, as the UN notes the outbreak is killing about one person every 30 minutes. Geographic Spread: The virus has reached a sixth province, adding Bas-Uele’s Buta health zone, while officials warn community transmission and contact-tracing gaps could prolong the crisis. Response Strain: Aid workers and WHO-linked reporting point to funding shortfalls, strikes over unpaid wages, and operational disruptions as treatment and vaccination efforts struggle—while Africa CDC pushes for rapid deployment of Ervebo. Regional Politics & Security: Kinshasa submitted a protocol for FDLR demobilization after the Washington peace agreement, with the US saying it has taken note. Connectivity & Rights: CPJ urges Kinshasa to restore internet and mobile service in Fizi Territory, saying the shutdown has lasted over a month amid fighting. Diplomacy: Tshisekedi is in Tanzania for talks with Samia Suluhu Hassan on trade, mining, infrastructure, healthcare, digital tech, and Great Lakes peace.

Ebola Emergency: The DRC says its Ebola outbreak has killed 2,325 people, making it the deadliest in the country’s history, with 4,945 confirmed cases and the UN warning it is the fastest-growing on record. Public Health Pressure: WHO says the outbreak is spreading about five times faster than past DRC outbreaks, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, while aid cuts and strained response capacity threaten containment. Regional Spread: The outbreak has reached a sixth province, with new deaths and cases reported as it accelerates across eastern areas. Information Rights: In South Kivu’s Fizi Territory, authorities have kept mobile and internet services shut for more than a month, prompting the Committee to Protect Journalists to demand an immediate restoration of communications. Diplomacy & Trade: President Félix Tshisekedi is in Tanzania for talks with Samia Suluhu Hassan on mining, trade, transport links, healthcare, digital technology, and Great Lakes peace and security. Connectivity Leap: Airtel Africa and SpaceX’s Starlink launched Africa’s first commercial satellite-to-phone service in the DRC, aiming to reach areas without conventional mobile coverage. Security Politics: Kinshasa submitted a demobilization protocol for the FDLR to implement the US-brokered peace process, while Washington says it has taken note.

Diplomacy & Regional Security: President Félix Tshisekedi has arrived in Tanzania for a two-day working visit with President Samia Suluhu Hassan, with talks expected to cover trade, investment, mining, energy, transport, healthcare and digital technology, alongside peace and security across the Great Lakes. Public Health Crisis: Congo’s Ebola outbreak has become the deadliest in the country’s history and the second-deadliest on record, with 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 deaths; WHO warns it is spreading about five times faster than past outbreaks and could eclipse the 2014–16 West Africa epidemic. War, Access & Rights: The CPJ says mobile networks and internet have been cut for over a month in Fizi Territory (South Kivu), disrupting communications for civilians and journalists amid intensifying fighting. Security-Linked Peace Process: Kinshasa has presented a protocol for demobilizing the FDLR, and Washington says it has taken note, as the region watches whether the peace agreement’s commitments move from paper to action. Connectivity & Economy: Airtel and SpaceX/Starlink launched Africa’s first commercial satellite-to-phone service in the DRC, aiming to extend SMS and limited data where mobile coverage is weak.

Ebola Emergency: Congo’s Ebola outbreak has crossed a grim milestone, becoming the country’s deadliest and the world’s second-deadliest on record, with 2,325 deaths out of 4,945 confirmed cases; officials warn the Bundibugyo strain is spreading about five times faster than earlier outbreaks, helped by delayed detection, conflict, and a lack of proven tools. Public Health Pressure: WHO says the outbreak is “on track” to eclipse the 2014-16 West Africa epidemic, while Africa CDC urges faster action on Ervebo vaccine deployment and highlights that many deaths are happening in communities, complicating contact tracing and safe burials. Frontline Strain: Response operations face added friction as treatment centers have been hit by strikes over unpaid wages, and aid cuts are said to be undermining outreach. Security & Rights: In South Kivu’s Fizi territory, authorities have kept mobile and internet services shut for over a month, prompting the Committee to Protect Journalists to demand restoration, saying the blackout fuels rumors and blocks reporting. Regional Politics: Kinshasa submitted a protocol for FDLR demobilization, a step Washington says it has taken note of, as FDLR supporters push a media campaign to rebrand the group.

Ebola Crisis Hits Record Toll: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with government figures saying 2,325 deaths from 4,945 confirmed cases, as the UN warns the virus is killing a person every 30 minutes and spreading faster than response efforts. Regional Spread and Capital Worry: The outbreak has reached a sixth province after a death in Bas-Uele, raising fears of wider transmission, including into Kinshasa, where health authorities say isolation capacity is ready. Vaccine Push for Bundibugyo: With no approved vaccine or treatment for the rare Bundibugyo strain, Africa CDC is urging immediate rollout of Ervebo and support for vaccine deployment and trials. Response Strained by Work Disruptions and Funding Cuts: Aid workers warn funding shortfalls are crippling field operations, while a strike at an Ituri treatment center temporarily shut services, adding to delays and community transmission concerns. Kinshasa Diplomacy and Security: Kinshasa submitted a protocol for FDLR demobilization under the Washington peace track, while the US says it has taken note—yet critics argue the move risks rebranding armed actors rather than delivering real commitments. Tech and Connectivity: Airtel Africa and SpaceX’s Starlink launched Africa’s first commercial satellite-to-phone service in the DRC, aiming to extend mobile access where towers fail.

Ebola Crisis Deepens: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has killed 2,325 people, now the deadliest in the country’s history, as cases surge past 4,600 and the virus spreads to a sixth province (Buta in Bas-Uele). Public Health Pressure: WHO says the outbreak is outpacing containment and could eclipse the 2014-16 epidemic; Africa CDC is pushing for urgent Ervebo vaccine deployment, while officials warn community transmission and contact-tracing gaps could prolong the crisis. Response Strain on the Ground: Aid workers report funding cuts are crippling operations, and a strike at an Ituri treatment center over unpaid wages temporarily shut services—raising fears the response could stall just as the outbreak accelerates. Kinshasa Preparedness: Health authorities say isolation facilities and labs are ready if the capital faces a suspected case. Conflict & Governance Spillover: In parallel, Kinshasa and M23 began releasing 15 detainees under the Doha peace process, but the broader eastern Congo security picture remains tense.

Ebola Escalation: Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is accelerating fast. The death toll has crossed 2,000 and cases are above 4,600 as the virus spreads to a sixth province, with Buta in Bas-Uele now affected. Capital Preparedness: Kinshasa health authorities say isolation capacity is ready, but officials warn community transmission and contact-tracing gaps could prolong the crisis. Vaccine Push: Africa CDC is urging immediate rollout of Ervebo and says the DRC has requested 100,000 doses to support vaccination of front-line responders and trials. Response Strain: WHO and aid workers point to funding cuts, insecurity, and strikes over unpaid wages— including a treatment center shutdown in Ituri— as the outbreak outpaces containment. Peace Process Watch: In parallel, the Doha framework saw the release of 15 detainees to M23, a first step that still leaves questions about follow-through.

Ebola Crisis Deepens: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surged to a sixth province, with Buta in Bas-Uele now affected and confirmed cases climbing past 4,600 as deaths top 2,000; WHO says the virus is spreading faster than containment and could eclipse the 2014–16 disaster. Response Strain: Officials warn persistent community transmission and contact-tracing gaps could prolong the outbreak, while aid workers cite funding cuts and strikes over unpaid wages that are disrupting treatment centers in Ituri. Vaccine Push: Africa CDC is urging immediate rollout of the Ervebo vaccine plan, even as WHO warns the outbreak may last up to a year without a faster, better-resourced response. Capital Preparedness: Kinshasa health authorities say isolation facilities are ready if a suspected case reaches the capital.

Ebola Emergency Escalates: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surged into a sixth province, with confirmed cases climbing to 4,727 and deaths to 2,214, as the new Buta health zone in Bas-Uele joins affected areas across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo. Transmission Warnings: Africa CDC says community transmission is driving the crisis, with more than 63% of deaths occurring outside treatment settings and contact follow-up still below what’s needed to stop spread. Response Strain: WHO and partners warn the outbreak is outpacing efforts, citing gaps in contact tracing and operational disruptions, including a strike that temporarily shut a treatment center in Ituri. Vaccine Push: Africa CDC urged immediate support for deploying the Ervebo vaccine as DRC seeks 100,000 doses to bolster frontline vaccination and trials against the rare Bundibugyo strain. Kinshasa Preparedness: Officials say isolation facilities and lab capacity are ready if a suspected case reaches the capital, Kinshasa.

Ebola Emergency Escalates: Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has surged to a sixth province, with confirmed cases reported around 4,665 and deaths above 2,180, as authorities warn the peak could take months and Kinshasa remains a looming risk. Vaccine Push: Africa CDC backed the government’s plan to deploy the Ervebo vaccine and urged faster rollout, citing the lack of approved tools for this rare strain. Response Strained on the Ground: WHO and partners warned the epidemic is outpacing containment, with strikes over unpaid wages shutting parts of care in Ituri and aid cuts undermining community outreach. Transmission Concerns: WHO says the outbreak likely began months earlier than the May declaration, meaning officials are still “chasing” a virus ahead of detection. Security-Politics Link: In parallel, the Doha peace process saw the release of 15 detainees to M23, a fragile step toward stability in eastern Congo.

Ebola Crisis Deepens: Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surged to a sixth province after a death in Bas-Uele, with Africa CDC saying the victim traveled from Haut-Uele to Buta; the outbreak is now killing fast—over 2,000 deaths and more than 4,500 cases—with WHO warning it could eclipse the 2014-16 epidemic. Frontline Disruption: In Ituri, a treatment center in Nizi was temporarily shut after a strike over unpaid wages, adding to operational strain as WHO says the response is being outpaced. Aid Cuts Pressure: Aid workers in Kinshasa warn international funding cuts are crippling community outreach and treatment capacity, while insecurity and misinformation keep contact tracing and isolation difficult. Peace Process Move: Separately, the Doha framework saw the release of 15 detainees from DRC to M23 via ICRC facilitation, a first step that still leaves questions about sustaining stability in eastern Congo.

Ebola Crisis Escalates: Congo’s fast-growing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has surged into a sixth province, with WHO saying a death was recorded in Bas-Uele after travel from Haut-Uele; overall figures put deaths above 2,000 (2,011) and cases at 4,381, as WHO warns the epidemic is on track to eclipse the deadliest ever and “outpacing” response efforts. WHO Pushes Faster Response: WHO says the outbreak likely began months earlier (sequencing points to February), and Tedros warns teams are “chasing” the virus while misinformation, threats to health workers, and delayed detection keep transmission chains hard to break. Kinshasa Not Yet Hit: Authorities reported no Ebola detected among quarantined boat passengers near Kinshasa, easing fears of spread to the capital. Peace Process, Eastern Congo: Under the Doha framework, DRC and M23 began implementing detainee releases via ICRC, with 15 detainees handed over to M23 after a convoy route through Uganda. Regional Tensions Spill Into Football: Rwanda’s APR FC threatened a CAF boycott over health and security concerns tied to the Ebola outbreak and eastern Congo conflict, putting a Champions League tie in suspense. Mining & Governance Watch: Kinshasa is investigating reports of uranium contamination in cobalt exports, while separate reporting says DRC’s copper/cobalt concentrate export ban could shift near-term price risk as details are clarified.

Ebola Crisis Hits 2,000 Deaths: WHO says DR Congo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak has become the second-largest on record, with confirmed cases rising to 4,449 and deaths to 2,061; Tedros warns the virus is “ahead of us,” noting most deaths occur in communities and transmission chains are still unclear. Frontline Strain and Response Gaps: Congo reports a 45.9% case fatality rate, with hundreds still in isolation and responders pushing for faster detection, contact tracing, and treatment capacity as aid workers report shortages and delays. Outbreak Started Earlier Than Declared: WHO says sequencing indicates the outbreak began in February, months before the mid-May declaration, after early cases were misattributed to malaria and typhoid. Kinshasa Quarantine Update: Fears of Ebola reaching the capital eased after tests on quarantined river-boat passengers came back negative. Doha Peace Process Moves: Congo and M23 began implementing the detainee-release mechanism, with 15 detainees handed over via ICRC facilitation, a first step under Qatar mediation. Mining Policy and Market Watch: A DRC ban on copper and cobalt concentrate exports is expected to have limited global market impact but may add near-term price risk as details emerge. Kinshasa Connectivity: Emirates scheduled its first-ever passenger flights to Kinshasa (FIH), starting Feb. 3, 2027, with daily service planned.

Ebola Emergency: WHO says DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is now the second-largest on record and moving faster than any prior outbreak, with confirmed cases at 4,449 and deaths at 2,061; WHO chief Tedros warns the virus is “ahead of us” as transmission chains remain unidentified and deaths keep occurring in communities. Frontline Response: UN and health officials say the epidemic has surged—1,000 deaths in about three weeks—and call for rapid scale-up, while reports note contact tracing is struggling and aid workers face attacks and misinformation. Peace Process (Doha): Kinshasa and M23 began implementing the Doha framework via the release of 15 detainees, transported by the ICRC from Beni through Uganda to Rutshuru, with Qatar hailing it as a confidence-building step. Minerals & Policy: A ministerial order banning exports of copper and cobalt concentrates is unlikely to move global prices much in the near term, but analysts warn it could add a short-term risk premium as details and waivers are clarified. Security Incident: An IS-linked ADF attack in Ituri reportedly killed 13 civilians and abducted 14, underscoring the volatile conditions complicating health operations.

Ebola Crisis: Congo’s Ebola death toll has crossed 2,000, with 2,011 deaths out of 4,381 confirmed cases across five provinces, as WHO warns the outbreak is outrunning the response and says the virus may have been spreading since February—months before the May declaration. Public Health Pressure: Officials report 700+ patients still in isolation or hospital care, while responders cite delayed detection, conflict, health-worker strikes over unpaid wages, and misinformation as major barriers to contact tracing and containment. Kinshasa Risk Management: A river boat quarantined near the capital after a suspected case has been cleared—passengers tested negative—prompting authorities to keep tightening controls on boats heading toward Kinshasa. Eastern Congo Peace Process: Under Qatar-mediated Doha talks, Kinshasa and M23 began implementing a detainee-release arrangement, with 15 detainees handed over via ICRC transport—though M23 has questioned whether the released names match its list. Security Update: In South Kivu, a mortar strike hit Rumbishi Market, killing at least nine civilians, with blame traded between M23 and FARDC.