AGP Executive Report

Telecom-to-banking push: MTN Group is exploring banking licences in selected African markets where its mobile-money base is large enough to justify taking deposits and, over time, lending from its own balance sheet—CEO Ralph Mupita said the plan targets places with big wallet “floats,” while MTN keeps partnership lending alongside the shift. Fintech infrastructure upgrade: MTN and Ericsson have migrated MTN MoMo to a cloud-native setup in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, cutting processing overhead and speeding API responses to support faster, more reliable mobile financial services. Congo trade diplomacy: Namibia’s foreign minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi urged deeper Namibia–Congo investment and trade after a business forum in Pointe-Noire, pointing to agro-processing and beef value chains as quick wins. Remote work reality check: A Remitly study of LinkedIn listings found the Republic of the Congo among Africa’s top remote-job markets (95.4%), while South Africa lagged (17.6%). Water supply disruption: Durban-area residents were warned of a 10-hour water shutdown starting 21:00 Wednesday (chlorine carrier piping replacement at Midmar Water Treatment Works). Congo Basin agroecology push: Yaoundé hosted a 15-nation summit on agroecology, food security and biodiversity protection across the Congo Basin.

Mobile Money Push: MTN is moving closer to becoming a lender by considering banking licences in selected markets, after years of fintech growth that now spans about 70 million MoMo customers and $500bn in transaction value. Cloud Upgrade for Fintech: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed migration of MTN MoMo to a cloud-native platform in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, cutting processing overhead and speeding APIs to support higher transaction volumes. Copper Supply Watch: Zijin said flooding at its Kamoa-Kakula complex in Congo could reduce output by up to 57,000 tons, adding to global supply concerns as copper trades near record levels. Regional Trade Diplomacy: Namibia and Congo signed MoUs to deepen cooperation in health, culture and the arts, with ministers also pushing for more trade and investment “economic content.” Business Risk & Governance: A Congolese mine flood and MTN’s fintech modernization both underline how infrastructure and regulation can quickly reshape costs, supply and financial access.

Mobile Money Modernization: MTN Group Fintech and Ericsson have migrated MTN MoMo to a cloud-native, Ericsson Fintech Platform in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, cutting CPU overhead and database load by up to 86% and speeding some API responses by as much as 80%, with similar work underway in Cameroon and discussions to bring Benin, Republic of the Congo and Zambia onto the same path. Diplomacy & Trade: Namibia’s foreign minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi visited Brazzaville to deepen Namibia–Congo ties, with a focus on expanding trade, investment and economic cooperation. Regional Cooperation Deals: Namibia and the Republic of Congo signed MoUs in Brazzaville to boost collaboration in health and in culture and the arts, aiming to turn political ties into tangible economic benefits. Mining & Supply Risks: Zijin Mining said flooding at its Kamoa-Kakula complex in Congo could reduce output by up to 57,000 tons this year, adding to global copper supply concerns as the metal trades near record levels.

Mobile Money Modernisation: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech have migrated MTN MoMo to a cloud-native platform in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, cutting CPU overhead and database load by up to 86% and speeding API responses by as much as 80%, with similar work underway in Cameroon and talks to bring Benin, the Republic of Congo and Zambia onto the same transformation path. Trade & Diplomacy: Namibia’s foreign minister visited Brazzaville to deepen Namibia–Congo ties, with a push to add “economic content” to cooperation in trade, investment and infrastructure, following the countries’ joint commission meeting earlier this year. Mining & Copper Supply: Zijin warned its copper output target is under pressure after flooding at the Kamoa-Kakula complex in Congo, potentially reducing its share of output by up to 57,000 tons, adding to global supply concerns as copper prices hover near record levels. Regional Business Watch: A new MoU push between Namibia and Congo also targets cooperation in health and culture/arts, aiming to turn political ties into tangible benefits.

Mobile Money Modernisation: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech have completed the Mobile Money (MoMo) Evolved Migration across key markets (including Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda), with plans to extend the cloud-native transformation to Cameroon and discussions underway for Benin, Republic of the Congo and Zambia—aiming for faster performance and a scalable base for digital finance growth. Copper Supply Watch: Zijin Mining said its 2026 copper output target is under pressure after flooding at the Kamoa-Kakula complex in Congo, warning of potential production shortfalls as global prices hover near record levels. Trade & Diplomacy: Namibia and Congo moved to deepen economic cooperation, signing MoUs on health and culture/arts and pushing for more “economic content” in bilateral ties. Digital Finance Expansion: The MoMo upgrade is also positioned as a foundation for MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, with developers and merchants expected to benefit from improved API responsiveness. Governance & Accountability: A Congo-related truth and reconciliation commission story highlights stalled funding and unpaid commissioners, underscoring how institutional capacity gaps can delay justice processes.

Digital Finance Modernization: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed the cloud-native migration of MTN MoMo in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, with plans to extend to Cameroon and discussions to bring Benin, Republic of the Congo and Zambia onto the same transformation path. Energy & Investment: Chevron confirmed a major oil and gas condensate discovery in Angola’s Block 0 (Lower Congo Basin), reporting a 600+ meter condensate column and potential tie-back development to nearby facilities. Bilateral Trade/Cooperation: Namibia and the Republic of Congo signed two MoUs in Brazzaville to deepen cooperation on health, culture and the arts, aiming to turn diplomacy into tangible economic benefits. Local Governance & Revenue: A revenue-sharing dispute in Liberia between the Monrovia City Corporation and townships is escalating into a sanitation and public health risk, spotlighting transparency and accountability in local revenue remittances. Security/Immigration Spillovers: Reports say U.S. deportees sent to Liberia resisted deplaning and were moved onward to Equatorial Guinea, underscoring the growing complexity of third-country deportation deals.

Digital Finance Modernization: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed the Mobile Money (MoMo) Evolved Migration in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, with plans to extend the cloud-native upgrade to Cameroon and discussions to bring Benin, Republic of the Congo and Zambia onto the same path—aiming for faster performance and a stronger base for digital financial services. Energy & Investment Signals: Chevron confirmed a major oil and gas condensate discovery in Angola’s Block 0 (Lower Congo Basin), with a >600m column and >90m net pay, to be assessed for a tie-back to nearby facilities—another reminder of continued Sub-Saharan upstream momentum. Regional Diplomacy with Economic Angle: Namibia and the Republic of Congo signed MoUs in Brazzaville to deepen cooperation in health and culture/arts, with ministers explicitly linking ties to tangible economic benefits. Cross-Border Migration Pressure: Liberia’s first reported “third-country” deportation flight saw some deportees resist and be moved onward, highlighting how fast-changing removals deals are affecting regional stability and costs. Local Business/Trade Context: Malaysia reported RM2.16tn total trade for Jan–Jul 2026 (+24.7% y/y), a useful global backdrop for exporters and importers watching demand.

UN Payment Watch: The U.S. says it will pay $850 million toward $5 billion owed to the UN, including $725 million to the regular budget and $125 million for peacekeeping in Haiti and Congo—an effort tied to ongoing pressure over UN funding. Digital Finance Modernization: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed a cloud-native migration of MTN MoMo in markets like Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, with plans to extend the transformation to Cameroon and discussions to bring Benin and the Republic of Congo onto the same path. Energy & Oil Signals: Chevron confirmed a major oil and gas condensate discovery in Angola’s Block 0, with a potential tie-back to existing facilities—another boost for Sub-Saharan exploration momentum. Health & Culture Diplomacy: Namibia and the Republic of Congo signed MoUs to deepen cooperation in health, culture and the arts, aiming to turn ties into tangible economic benefits. Aviation Capacity Snapshot: Africa’s top 10 airlines accounted for 8.08 million scheduled departing seats in August, showing capacity concentration and shifting rankings.

Bilateral Deals: Namibia and the Republic of Congo signed two MoUs in Brazzaville to boost cooperation in health and culture/arts, with both sides aiming to turn long-standing ties into tangible economic benefits. Digital Finance: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed the cloud-native migration of MTN MoMo in several African markets and are now discussing expansion to Republic of the Congo, signaling a push to modernize mobile money infrastructure. Energy Investment Watch: Chevron confirmed a major oil and gas condensate discovery in Angola’s Block 0 (Lower Congo Basin), with potential tie-back development—another reminder of continued sub-Saharan exploration momentum relevant to the wider Congo Basin region. Migration Pressure: Reports say US deportation flights to Liberia saw some deportees resist deplaning and were moved onward to another country, highlighting the third-country deportation model’s operational and humanitarian friction. Regional Enforcement: Nigeria’s immigration authorities paraded 55 irregular migrants from Cameroon and Congo in Osun, citing unauthorised entry and lack of travel documents—an ongoing cross-border mobility and compliance issue for the region.

Mobile Money Modernization: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech completed the cloud-native migration of MTN MoMo in Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, boosting performance (up to 80% faster API response) and setting up further expansion to Cameroon, with plans to bring Benin, Republic of the Congo and Zambia onto the same transformation path. Oil & Gas Investment: Chevron confirmed an oil and gas condensate discovery at the 105-4X well in Angola’s Block 0, reporting a 600+ meter condensate column and 90+ meters net pay, with plans to assess development via a tie-back to nearby facilities—another signal of continued Sub-Saharan drilling momentum. Trade & Finance Context: African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town (Oct 12–16) will feature South Africa’s IDC and CLG, highlighting how development finance and legal advisory are being positioned to turn energy and industrial commitments into bankable projects. Local Tech Media Growth: Equator Voice Africa said it is expanding its digital journalism footprint from Kampala, adding business, tech and regional analysis desks for a wider Pan-African audience. Reparations Debate: Congolese voices at an international conference in Baku renewed calls for reparations for Belgium’s colonial legacy, arguing compensation must also address long-term economic and social damage.

Land Rights & Logging: Cameroon’s Ebo Forest spotlight is also a business-and-governance story, as Banen communities press for secure customary land rights after industrial logging concessions were opened in 2023, raising the question of who decides the forest’s future. Media & Tech Expansion: Equator Voice Africa says it’s expanding its digital journalism footprint from Kampala, building a pan-African platform with localized business and socio-economic coverage. Colonial Reparations Debate: Congolese UNESCO youth officials and the Baku Initiative Group argue Belgium’s colonial legacy still drives Congo’s economic and social crisis, saying reparations should go beyond cash to restore historical justice. Oil & Gas (Angola): Chevron confirms an oil and gas condensate discovery in offshore Angola’s Block 0, with a potential tie-back to existing facilities—another signal of continued Sub-Saharan exploration momentum. Central Africa Energy Infrastructure: Cameroon’s SCDP and CABEF discuss preparations for a 2026 energy summit, including the Kribi Hydrocarbons Terminal and regional stakeholder consultations. Digital Infrastructure (Congo region): Energy Conference Network announces a Brazzaville summit focused on CEMAC data centers, energy and AI infrastructure, alongside a West Africa event in Lagos.

Angola Oil & Gas: Chevron says it has found an oil and gas condensate discovery in offshore Angola’s Block 0 (105-4X), hitting a 600m+ column and 90m+ net pay in the Pinda reservoir, with plans to assess a tie-back to nearby facilities—another boost for Sub-Saharan investment. Central Africa Energy & Digital: Energy Conference Network announced a Brazzaville summit (Oct 20-22, 2026) on CEMAC data center, energy and AI infrastructure, aiming to pull in regulators, telecoms, investors and power players to fund “bankable” digital backbone projects. Congo-Africa Media Tech: At the China-Africa Media Cooperation Forum in Beijing, African delegates praised China’s push to narrow the digital divide, with AI and broadcasting modernization on the agenda. Healthcare Finance (India, but investor-relevant): Manipal Hospitals reported Q1 FY27 revenue of ₹3,091 crore (+38.1% YoY) and EBITDA of ₹749 crore (+26.4%), citing occupancy gains and growth in oncology and orthopedics. Agribusiness Trade Link: Venezuela’s delegation took part in Congo’s Great Agricultural Fair, pitching value-add processing for crops like coffee and cocoa.

Energy & Regional Infrastructure: SCDP in Cameroon says preparations are intensifying for the CABEF 2026 summit, with discussions also covering the Kribi Hydrocarbons Terminal (KHT) and plans for broader consultations with regional bodies including APPO (headquartered in Brazzaville) and CEMAC. Oil & Gas Investment: Chevron confirms an oil and gas condensate discovery at the 105-4X well in Angola’s Block 0, reporting a 600+ metre column and 90+ metres of net pay, and says it will assess a tie-back to nearby facilities to speed development. Digital Infrastructure: Energy Conference Network announces an inaugural CEMAC Data Center, Energy & AI Infrastructure Summit in Brazzaville (Oct 20–22, 2026), targeting sovereign data infrastructure, AI-ready compute, fiber connectivity, cybersecurity, and financing frameworks. Business & Compliance: A report on NGO compliance in Malawi highlights funding and auditor costs as key reasons some groups miss annual reporting requirements, with compliance below 70% for active NGOs. Public Health & Labor Risk: AP reports Ebola in Congo has surpassed 5,000 confirmed cases, while miners in eastern Congo keep working amid monitoring gaps, raising risks for containment efforts.

Oil & Gas Investment: Chevron confirmed an oil-and-gas condensate discovery at the 105-4X well in Angola’s Block 0 (Lower Congo Basin), reporting a column over 600m and more than 90m of net pay, with plans to assess a tie-back to nearby facilities to cut development costs. Regional Energy & Digital Infrastructure: Energy Conference Network announced the inaugural CEMAC Data Center, Energy & AI Infrastructure Summit in Brazzaville (Oct 20-22, 2026), aiming to bring together regulators, telecom operators, cloud/data center developers and financiers around sovereign data infrastructure, AI-ready compute, fiber connectivity and power for data centers. Public Health & Business Risk: Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 5,000 confirmed cases (Bundibugyo virus), with health officials warning it could become one of the country’s worst outbreaks—an escalating risk for workforce mobility, logistics and local commerce. Trade Governance: Several African countries, including the Republic of the Congo, signed the Mombasa Declaration to curb illegal fishing via better vessel transparency and tracking, while reports say China declined to sign. Migration Policy Impact: The US realigned routine visa services in Africa to regional hubs, including Brazzaville, effective Aug 1, which could affect business travel and cross-border deal timelines.

EU-Backed Development Finance: Cameroon’s MINFI says the EU has mobilised over €953m in grants since cooperation began, with another €244m earmarked under the 2021–2027 framework, spanning infrastructure, energy, agriculture, private sector, governance, peace and security. Illegal Fishing Crackdown: The Republic of Congo signed the Mombasa Declaration to curb IUU fishing, pushing for vessel transparency and beneficial ownership data—while China reportedly refused to sign. Refugee Pressure on Trade: In Durban, Congolese refugees camped on Che Guevara Road are blamed for hurting sales and pushing businesses out, as local associations accuse authorities of inaction. Ebola Risk to Mining Livelihoods: AP reports artisanal gold miners in eastern Congo are hard to monitor as Ebola spreads, raising concerns for health response in remote, mobile sites. Oil & Gas Investment Signals: Chevron confirmed an oil and gas condensate discovery in Angola’s Block 0 (105-4X), with plans to assess development via nearby infrastructure—good news for regional energy investment momentum. Power Infrastructure Watch: Cameroon’s Sonatrel launched tenders for 225-kV lines and substations under the Cameroon–Chad power interconnector, aimed at enabling electricity exports from the Nachtigal dam.

Oil & Gas Investment: Chevron confirmed a new oil and gas condensate discovery at the 105-4X exploration well in Angola’s offshore Block 0, hitting a hydrocarbon column of over 2,000 feet and more than 300 feet of net pay in the Pinda reservoir, with “excellent” reservoir quality; the company says it will now assess whether the find can be developed via a tie-back to nearby existing facilities to speed up and cut costs. Energy & Regional Trade: A broader push for better power connectivity is highlighted by ongoing focus on cross-border grids and investment needs, as unreliable electricity and weak regional networks continue to limit industrial growth and trade across Africa. Sports & Business Governance: Véron Mosengo-Omba, president of Congo’s football federation (Fecofa) and an Infantino ally, defended FIFA leadership amid pressure over the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, underscoring how sports finance decisions can ripple into national federations. US Visa Operations: The US State Department announced a realignment of routine visa services in Nigeria and several African locations, including Brazzaville, shifting processing to regional visa hubs from Aug. 1, 2026.