AGP Executive Report

Internet Blackout Watch: Iran’s internet blackout—now about 80 days—has disrupted education, commerce, and basic communication, with monitoring groups calling it the longest state-imposed shutdown in a modern connected society. Humanitarian Pressure: A new report says displaced children jumped 46% to about 13 million in 2025, as conflict-driven displacement keeps outpacing climate disasters. Ebola Escalation: WHO has declared the Congo and Uganda Ebola outbreak a public health emergency, with Indonesia stepping up regional monitoring after the alert. Sudan-Linked Strain: UN agencies warn hunger is deepening in Sudan, where conflict is also driving repeated child displacement. Food Costs: Food inflation is back above 20% in 11 states, squeezing household purchasing power. Aviation Connectivity: Qatar Airways is adding flights across Africa, including new service to Port Sudan starting July 2. Local Governance: Morobo County (South Sudan) says security and basic services—health, schools, and water—are its top priorities.

Ebola Emergency: WHO declared the Congo–Uganda Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, with Indonesia stepping up monitoring after the May 17 alert and reporting cross-border risk from mobility and weak health systems. Sudan Humanitarian Pressure: UNHCR says it must cut more jobs and reform as funding drops sharply, even as crises mount—while Sudan remains a key displacement and hunger hotspot. Sudan Economy & Resources: Qatar Airways plans more flights including a new Port Sudan route, and Qatar Mining is restarting Sudan operations with a major $800m copper project—signs of economic re-engagement amid ongoing instability. Food & Water Stress: Western Nebraska farmers are planting far less due to water shortages, a reminder of how drought and delivery limits ripple into livelihoods. Culture & Community: Liberia’s Kpelle association marks its first anniversary, calling for unity and youth empowerment.

Ebola Emergency Escalation: WHO has declared the latest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern, with the rare Bundibugyo strain and no approved vaccines or treatments—raising pressure on already strained health systems. Sudan Hunger Pressure: WFP/FAO/UNICEF warn famine risk is still rising, with nearly 19.5 million people facing acute food insecurity, as the conflict keeps pushing civilians deeper into crisis. Sudan Mining Restart: Qatar is restarting mining after war disruption, targeting an $800 million copper project—while concessions are limited to “safe and stable” areas. Abyei Child Return: After six years, an 11-year-old boy was reunited with family in Abyei following abduction by Messiriya youth, signaling fragile local improvements. Desert Archaeology: Satellite surveys in Sudan’s eastern desert mapped 260 massive circular burial enclosures—evidence of complex pastoralist societies long before Egypt’s pyramids.

Hunger Crisis Deepens in Sudan: WFP says nearly 19.5 million people are in crisis-level hunger, with some already in catastrophic conditions, and famine risk rising in coming months as conflict, displacement, and collapsed markets keep stripping families of their ability to eat. Humanitarian Access Blocked: Aid groups warn operations can’t keep up with needs because insecurity, bureaucratic hurdles, and attacks on supply routes are stopping food from reaching millions—especially ahead of the lean season. Children at Extreme Risk: FAO, WFP and UNICEF report 825,000 children under five are expected to suffer severe acute malnutrition in 2026, with hotspots across Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan. Local Life Under Pressure: Amid the wider crisis, community kitchens and volunteers remain a lifeline, but they’re stretched thin as the war drags on. Eid Al Adha Markets: Separately, livestock markets are surging as Eid nears, with authorities pushing inspections to protect prices and supply.

Sudan Hunger Crisis: The UN’s WFP says Sudan’s hunger is now deepening, with nearly 19.5 million people in crisis levels and some already in catastrophic conditions, as conflict, displacement, collapsed markets, and blocked aid routes keep pushing families toward famine risk. Humanitarian Access: WFP warns operations can’t match the scale of need due to insecurity, bureaucratic hurdles, and attacks on supply lines—so it’s calling for food support to ramp up before the lean season. Abyei Update: In a rare bright spot, an 11-year-old boy abducted in 2020 has been reunited with his family in Abyei after six years, following improved relations with neighboring communities. Regional Politics: AU and UN leaders urged Tigray’s parties to fully implement the Pretoria Agreement amid rising tensions. Older Context (Sudan): Coverage over the week repeatedly stressed that the crisis is not a sudden shock—it’s a fourth-year spiral.

Sudan Hunger Alarm: WFP says hunger in Sudan is deepening fast: nearly 19.5 million people are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity, with some already in catastrophic conditions and famine risks rising in coming months as conflict, displacement, collapsed markets, and blocked aid routes keep families from feeding themselves. Humanitarian Access Under Strain: WFP warns operations can’t match needs due to insecurity, bureaucratic hurdles, and attacks on supply lines, pushing an urgent call to scale up food assistance before the lean season. Regional Pressure on Peace: The AU and UN urged Tigray leaders and the federal government to fully implement the Pretoria Agreement, using established mechanisms to manage disputes as tensions rise. New Sudan Archaeology: Satellite work in Sudan’s Atbai Desert mapped 260 huge burial monuments—evidence of mobile pastoralist communities building large ceremonial sites long before Egypt’s pyramids.

Famine deepens in Sudan: WFP says hunger is now widespread and worsening, with nearly 19.5 million people facing crisis levels and some already in catastrophic conditions, as conflict, displacement, collapsed markets, and blocked aid routes keep families trapped. Child malnutrition alarm: FAO/WFP/UNICEF warn 825,000 children under five are at risk of severe acute malnutrition in 2026, with famine hotspots in Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan expected to deteriorate during the lean season. Aid access under pressure: Humanitarian operations can’t keep up due to insecurity, bureaucratic hurdles, and attacks on supply routes. New context from the desert: Satellite mapping found 260 ancient stone funerary monuments in Sudan’s Atbai Desert—older than Egypt’s pyramids—showing the region was far from empty long before today’s crisis.

Sudan Hunger Crisis: WFP/FAO/UNICEF and IPC updates say hunger is deepening fast in Sudan: nearly 19.5 million people are in crisis levels, with 14 hotspots at risk of famine in coming months and 825,000 children under five facing severe acute malnutrition. Humanitarian Access: Aid groups warn insecurity, bureaucratic barriers, and attacks on supply routes are stopping help from reaching millions, and they’re pushing for major scaling up before the lean season. Conflict Reality Check: A new on-the-ground account from Khartoum describes destruction on an “apocalyptic” scale and argues the world still isn’t grasping how much worse the crisis is than official figures suggest. Archaeology & Heritage: Satellite work in Sudan’s Atbai Desert reports 260 giant stone tombs—a reminder that even as war rages, Sudan’s deep history is being uncovered. Culture & Hope: Sudanese-American artist Dua Saleh keeps spotlighting grief and resilience through their album Of Earth and Wires.

Sudan Hunger Crisis: New IPC data warns nearly 19.5 million people in Sudan face high acute food insecurity, with 825,000 children projected to suffer severe acute malnutrition in 2026 and 14 areas at risk of famine—while basic services collapse and displacement keep widening the gap. Conflict Escalation: UN-linked reporting says drone strikes drove over 80% of civilian deaths in Sudan in early 2026, with Kordofan hit hard as attacks spill into markets and homes. Governance on the Ground: The Tasees administration says it’s accelerating state-building in areas it controls, including forming a new police force aimed at “neutral” representation and rights-based policing. Regional Pressure: India’s BRICS lead warns West Asia instability is threatening energy and maritime routes, explicitly naming Sudan among the conflicts with a “heavy human cost.” Broader Context: Satellite work also highlights Sudan’s deep past—new desert surveys found hundreds of ancient mass-burial monuments—underscoring how today’s violence is erasing lives, not just livelihoods.

Acute Hunger Spike in Sudan: New IPC data says nearly 19.5 million people face high levels of acute food insecurity, with 825,000 children under five projected to suffer severe acute malnutrition in 2026—plus 14 areas flagged at risk of famine. War Escalation: UN warnings point to a deadlier phase as drone strikes surge, with OHCHR reporting drones drove over 80% of civilian deaths in Sudan’s first months of 2026. Local Governance Under Strain: The Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasees) is pushing to finish institutions in areas it controls, including forming a new police force aimed at neutrality and rights. Regional Ripples: India’s BRICS push is also echoing Sudan’s crisis—Jaishankar urged stronger cooperation, UN reforms, and warned that “peace cannot be piecemeal.” Humanitarian Pressure: With basic services collapsing and displacement soaring, the scale of need is widening fast.

Sudan Atrocity Alarm: AU and UN investigators warn Sudan’s war is deepening into a wider catastrophe—ethnic cleansing, starvation, sexual violence, and attacks on civilians—with RSF abuses described as “particularly widespread and systematic,” urging stronger international pressure for ceasefire, justice, and civilian rule. Local Governance Push: In areas under its control, the Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasees) is moving to build state institutions, including forming a new police force meant to be independent and rights-based. Arms Pipeline Exposed: A new US indictment says Turkey helped function as a key hub in an Iranian covert arms network supplying Sudan’s military. Regional Ripples: Egypt and Uganda are coordinating on Sudan and Nile challenges, while broader regional politics remain tense. Migration Risk: Coverage also flags that migration is getting riskier even as some routes shift, underscoring how conflict and hunger keep driving displacement.

Africa Forward Summit: Nigeria’s Tinubu used the Nairobi meeting to push for reform of the global financial architecture, warning debt servicing is draining about half of Nigeria’s 2026 income and arguing Africa is “at the receiving end” of unfair rules. UN–AU Partnership: UN chief António Guterres and the AU reaffirmed their strategic alliance in Addis Ababa, tying Africa’s peace and development to global governance reform, including calls for fairer credit and UN Security Council changes. Sudan in the spotlight: Egypt’s Al-Sisi and Uganda’s Museveni met to coordinate on Sudan and other regional crises, while rights and humanitarian coverage continues to frame Sudan as a worsening driver of displacement. Humanitarian logistics: Dubai Humanitarian reported 14,297 tonnes of aid worth Dhs404m delivered to 101 countries in 2025. Environment & heritage: Satellite work in Sudan’s Atbai Desert mapped 260 ancient cattle-linked enclosure burials, adding new depth to Eastern Sahara history. Also notable: The US flagged Sudan among resurgent ISIS-linked terror fronts in its 2026 counterterrorism strategy.

Sudan Crisis: A new wave of attention is still needed as Khartoum’s war damage keeps deepening—one recent visit describes near-empty streets, widespread shelling, and a hunger emergency affecting millions, with disease outbreaks compounding the collapse of basic services. Global Displacement: A major IDMC/UN-backed report says conflict drove a record 32.3 million internal displacements in 2025, pushing the world total to 82.2 million—Sudan is flagged as the biggest displacement hotspot. Security & Terror: The US counterterrorism strategy flags Sudan among active fronts tied to ISIS remnants moving into fragile governance zones. Food Pressure: With wars disrupting fertilizer and supply chains, hunger risks are rising again—Sudan is repeatedly cited in the wider food-crisis picture. Regional Diplomacy: UN chief Guterres used the Africa-France summit in Nairobi to press for African representation at the UN Security Council and more support for humanitarian work, including in Sudan. Environment & Heritage: In Eastern Sudan’s Atbai Desert, researchers report 6,000-year-old cattle-linked burial monuments—an unexpected reminder of deep pastoral roots beneath today’s turmoil.

Sudan Crisis, Children at Risk: UNICEF warns renewed drone attacks across Blue Nile and Khartoum are “exponential” threats to children, disrupting aid deliveries and putting humanitarian infrastructure in the line of fire. Displacement Reality Check: A new IDMC/UN-backed report says 82.2 million people were internally displaced worldwide by end-2025, and for the first time wars and violence drove more new displacement than disasters—32.3 million from conflict versus 29.9 million from storms and floods. Food Security Pressure: The Holy See links wars and extreme weather to lethal food-system strain, noting Sudan and Gaza recorded famines in 2025 and calling for action to cut hunger and waste. Governance & Accountability: In Banjul, The Gambia’s attorney general stressed that no government can claim legitimacy without accountability, as civic space faces pressure. Sahel Land Recovery: Nigeria’s Great Green Wall tree-planting shows slow, steady progress against desertification. Regional Diplomacy: Egypt’s Al-Sisi met UN chief Guterres on Gulf security and humanitarian support for Sudan and Gaza.

Sudan Humanitarian Alarm: UNICEF warns that renewed drone attacks across Blue Nile and Khartoum are escalating into an “exponential threat” to children by hitting humanitarian supplies and infrastructure—UNICEF says it will keep operating but needs attacks to stop. Returns Under Strain: IOM reports nearly four million people have returned inside Sudan, but damaged housing, broken water and electricity, and disrupted health and farming make many returns hard to sustain. Migration Pressure Beyond Sudan: More than 600 migrants have reached Greece’s Crete and Gavdos in recent days, with arrivals linked to favorable weather—local authorities fear what summer could bring. Regional Signals: EU Day events in Zimbabwe spotlight renewed calls for dialogue as conflicts—including Sudan—drive food and energy shocks. Business Watch: Zain Group’s Q1 results show Sudan revenue up 34%, alongside strong net profit growth.

Child Safety Under Drone Fire: UNICEF’s Sudan rep Sheldon Yett says renewed drone attacks in Blue Nile, Khartoum and beyond are an “exponential threat” to children—hurting UNICEF’s ability to deliver supplies and services, with attacks on humanitarian infrastructure making more child deaths likely. Humanitarian Access at Risk: He stresses UNICEF is not shrinking operations, but warns that aid routes and facilities must be protected for deliveries to reach children. War’s Wider Climate: In the background, coverage this week links conflict to broader instability—ranging from how violence disrupts food and aid systems to how militarized thinking crowds out diplomacy. Sudan Returns, But Not Recovery: Separate reporting notes that while nearly four million people have returned inside Sudan, damaged housing and broken water and electricity systems are making returns hard to sustain. Diplomacy Pressure: EU officials also flagged Sudan among conflicts driving urgent calls for dialogue and restraint, warning the ripple effects reach far beyond battlefields.