AGP Executive Report

Mining & Security: A Swiss national conducting a mining survey was killed in an attack north of Bangui, along with a Central African Army soldier, as unidentified armed bandits struck about 50 km from the capital—another reminder of how insecurity can disrupt CAR’s resource economy. Justice & Detention: CAR’s main court resumed criminal trials after a two-year halt, aiming to cut Bangui prison overcrowding and clear a backlog of cases tied to financial constraints. Wildlife Tourism: Dzanga-Sangha National Park is testing whether stability can translate into steadier wildlife tourism, with modest visitor growth and continued interest in forest elephants and habituated lowland gorillas. Health & Aid Pressure: Reporting on neonatal and maternal health across vulnerable communities links worsening survival outcomes to global aid cuts, with CAR’s broader regional context underscoring how funding gaps can hit basic care. Water & Sanitation Diplomacy: At the AU Executive Council in Addis Ababa, ministers put sustainable water availability and safe sanitation at the center of Agenda 2063—issues that directly shape environmental health and resilience.

Wildlife & Tourism in CAR: Dzanga-Sangha National Park is seeing modest, uneven growth in visitors, with forest elephants and habituated lowland gorillas still the main draw—local officials link gains to relative stability around Bayanga. Aid Cuts & Health Impacts: New UNHCR-linked data across 20 nations shows neonatal mortality rising 81% from 2025 to 2026 among refugee women, alongside broader child survival declines—reported alongside warnings that aid cuts are worsening access to lifesaving maternal and child health services. Security Pressure on Livelihoods: Insecurity and shrinking grazing routes are pushing Fulani herders out of Nigeria toward Cameroon, Chad and CAR, as open-grazing bans and lack of alternatives collide with conflict and cattle rustling. Critical Minerals Partnerships: M2i Global signed a non-binding strategic collaboration with Evrensel Impact Group to identify and develop critical mineral projects across Africa, including CAR. Water, Flood Risk & Disaster Readiness: Cameroon and Egypt discussed boosting civil protection capacity for floods, landslides and urban fires—training and emergency preparedness cooperation aimed at faster crisis response. Travel Restrictions: The UK updated CAR travel advice, warning against all travel to most of the country except Bangui, with “all but essential” limits even there.

Wildlife & tourism in CAR: Dzanga-Sangha National Park is seeing modest, steadier visitor growth despite the wider insecurity narrative, with around 800 tourists in 2025 and continued interest in forest elephants and habituated lowland gorillas—local lodges and guides report more consistent work and some income that helps with school fees and medical care. Health & aid cuts: Newborn deaths across sub-Saharan Africa have risen sharply as global aid shrinks, including among refugee women; UNHCR-linked data cited by The Independent shows neonatal mortality up 81% from 2025 to 2026, alongside worsening child survival indicators. Regional insecurity & grazing pressure: Insecurity and lack of grazing routes are pushing Fulani herders out of Nigeria toward Cameroon, Chad, Niger and CAR, as traditional routes are blocked by expanding farmlands and state alternatives remain scarce. Water, sanitation focus at AU: Foreign ministers are meeting in Addis Ababa for an AU Executive Council session centered on sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems, with CAR among the delegations. CAR-linked travel warning: The UK updated travel advisories, warning against all travel to CAR except Bangui, with even the capital under “all but essential travel” restrictions. Church-linked rural access: A US bishops’ Solidarity Fund is backing bicycle support for Marianist sisters in CAR to reach remote villages, tied to broader environmental stewardship and community programs.

Wildlife & Tourism in CAR: Dzanga-Sangha National Park is seeing modest, steadier visitor growth in Bayanga, with forest elephants and habituated lowland gorillas still the main draw—locals link gains to relative stability and consistent lodge activity, even as benefits remain uneven. Pastoralism Under Pressure: Insecurity and blocked grazing routes are pushing Fulani herders out of Nigeria toward Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Central African nations, as farmlands replace traditional routes and states fail to provide alternatives like ranches. Water, Sanitation & Policy Focus at AU: Foreign ministers arriving for the AU Executive Council in Addis Ababa put water security and safe sanitation at the center, with the Central African Republic among those attending. Environmental Stewardship via Church Funding: The U.S. bishops’ Solidarity Fund is backing projects in the CAR that include environmental stewardship alongside community access efforts—such as bicycles helping Marianist sisters reach remote villages. Regional Infrastructure with Environmental Stakes: Cameroon’s procurement for the Douala–Bangui corridor (including CAR’s component) signals major trade and land-use change pressures along the route.

Wildlife Tourism in CAR: Dzanga-Sangha National Park is seeing modest, steadier visitor growth in its southwest, with about 800 tourists in 2025, driven mainly by forest elephants and habituated lowland gorillas—locals link gains to relative stability and park services. Human Mobility & Grazing Pressure: Insecurity and shrinking grazing routes are pushing livestock herders from Nigeria toward Cameroon, Chad and CAR, as families report banditry, cattle rustling and lack of ranch alternatives. Conservation & Community Livelihoods: Reporting from the park’s edge highlights uneven benefits—more consistent work for guides and trackers, but limited scale—while residents challenge the idea that the whole region is equally disrupted. Regional Trade Infrastructure (CAR-linked): Cameroon has started procurement for its share of the Douala–Bangui corridor program (PACE-DB), a World Bank-backed effort meant to improve trade with the Central African Republic. Environmental Stewardship via Faith Funding: The U.S. bishops’ Solidarity Fund is backing projects in CAR that include bicycle support for Marianist sisters reaching remote villages, alongside broader environmental stewardship aims.

Pastoralist displacement & grazing pressure: Insecurity and shrinking grazing routes are pushing Fulani herders out of Nigeria into Cameroon, Chad, Niger and parts of Central Africa, with herders citing Boko Haram, banditry and cattle rustling plus the lack of state-backed alternatives like ranches. Wildlife tourism in CAR: Dzanga-Sangha National Park is seeing modest visitor growth in Bayanga, with forest elephants and habituated lowland gorillas drawing tourists and local officials linking steadier tourism to pockets of stability. Water & sanitation focus at AU: Foreign ministers, including CAR’s, are meeting in Addis Ababa under an AU theme on sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems—an issue closely tied to environmental health and resilience. CAR security travel warning: The UK updated travel advisories, warning against all travel to CAR except Bangui, and even there limiting movement to “all but essential,” reflecting ongoing instability that also affects conservation and rural livelihoods. Church-linked rural access: A US bishops’ Solidarity Fund is backing bicycle support for Marianist sisters in CAR, helping reach remote villages—also supporting environmental stewardship and community services.

Wildlife Tourism in CAR: Dzanga-Sangha National Park is seeing modest visitor growth, with about 800 tourists in 2025, driven by forest elephants at Dzanga Bai and habituated lowland gorillas—locals link gains to steadier conditions around Bayanga and steadier lodge income for guides and trackers. Critical Minerals Deal-Making: M2i Global signed a non-binding strategic collaboration with Evrensel Impact Group to identify and evaluate critical mineral projects across Africa, with EIG expanding its footprint including the Central African Republic. Community Access via Mobility (Faith & Stewardship): The U.S. bishops’ Solidarity Fund is backing Pope Leo’s unity call through grants that include bicycles for Marianist sisters in CAR, helping reach remote villages and supporting environmental stewardship and leadership formation. Regional Infrastructure for Trade: Cameroon launched procurement for its share of the Douala–Bangui Economic Corridor, a World Bank-backed corridor meant to improve trade with the Central African Republic. Security Context: The UK updated travel advisories, warning against all travel to CAR outside Bangui, and “all but essential travel” even there.

Wildlife & Tourism in CAR: Dzanga-Sangha National Park in the southwest is seeing modest visitor growth, with about 800 tourists in 2025, driven mainly by forest elephants at Dzanga Bai and habituated lowland gorillas—local officials say steadier conditions are helping lodges, guides, and trackers earn more, even as benefits remain uneven. Community Access & Stewardship: The U.S. bishops’ Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa is backing Pope Leo XIV’s unity push by funding bicycles for Marianist sisters in the Central African Republic, helping reach remote villages and supporting programs that include environmental stewardship. Regional Minerals Push: M2i Global and Evrensel Impact Group announced a non-binding collaboration to explore critical minerals opportunities across Africa, aiming to link government networks with “responsible resource development” goals. Security Context: The UK updated travel advisories warning against all travel to the Central African Republic (with only limited exceptions for Bangui), citing serious security risks—relevant for tourism and field operations.

Critical Minerals Partnerships: M2i Global signed a non-binding strategic collaboration with Evrensel Impact Group to identify and develop critical mineral projects across Africa, aiming to expand access to government-linked opportunities while pushing “responsible resource development.” CAR Rural Access & Stewardship: The U.S. bishops’ Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa backed Pope Leo’s unity push by funding bicycles for Marianist sisters in the Central African Republic, helping reach remote villages and supporting environmental stewardship alongside evangelization. Regional Trade & Corridor Works: Cameroon launched procurement for its share of the Douala–Bangui Economic Corridor (PACE-DB), a World Bank-backed program meant to improve trade with the CAR, with €362.9m (about CFA238bn) earmarked for Cameroon’s component. Port Modernization: Douala Port advanced its Port Information System (SIP) rollout to digitalize cargo handling and revenue management, with live testing already processing vessel calls, manifests, and invoices. Disaster Risk & Resilience: Cameroon and Egypt agreed to strengthen civil protection and disaster management cooperation, focusing on floods, landslides, urban fires, and training for faster emergency response. CAR Security Advisory: The UK updated travel advisories, warning against all travel to the Central African Republic except Bangui, which still faces “all but essential travel” restrictions. Work & Well-Being: A 2026 ranking of overworked African countries lists the Central African Republic among the most overworked, highlighting pressure from long hours and rising living costs.

Church & Environment in CAR: The U.S. bishops’ Africa Solidarity Fund is backing Pope Leo XIV’s unity call with 2025 grants totaling over $3 million, including a Central African Republic project that equips Marianist sisters with bicycles to reach remote villages and support “environmental stewardship” alongside Bible and rosary distribution. Regional Infrastructure for CAR Trade: Cameroon has launched procurement for its share of the Douala–Bangui Economic Corridor (PACE-DB), a World Bank-backed corridor meant to improve trade with the Central African Republic, with Cameroon’s component valued at about CFA238 billion (€362.9m). Security & Risk Advisory: The UK Foreign Office updated travel advisories for 2026, warning against all travel to the Central African Republic except Bangui (and even there, “all but essential travel”), citing severe security risks. Water & Sanitation Focus at AU: Foreign ministers arrived in Addis Ababa for the AU Executive Council session on “Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems,” with CAR among the delegations. Work & Livelihood Pressure: A 2026 ranking of Africa’s most overworked countries lists the Central African Republic among the most pressured, reflecting long hours driven by economic strain.

Regional Infrastructure & Trade: Cameroon has started procurement for its share of the Douala–Bangui Economic Corridor (PACE-DB), a World Bank-backed corridor meant to boost trade with the Central African Republic, with €362.9m (about CFA238bn) covering works, studies and consulting for Cameroon’s component. Disaster Risk & Resilience: Cameroon and Egypt also agreed to strengthen civil protection and disaster management cooperation, focusing on floods, severe winds, landslides and urban fires, including technical training for emergency preparedness. Water & Sanitation Policy: Foreign ministers are arriving in Addis Ababa for the AU Executive Council session themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems,” with CAR among the delegations—an issue closely tied to public health and environmental stability. Security Travel Warning: The UK updated travel advisories placing the Central African Republic under “all travel” restrictions (with only Bangui partially excepted), underscoring ongoing instability that can disrupt environmental and humanitarian work.

Disaster Risk & Civil Protection: Cameroon and Egypt agreed to deepen cooperation on disaster management, focusing on floods, severe winds, landslides and urban fires, with plans to upgrade civil protection skills through technical training and emergency preparedness. Travel Safety & Conflict Exposure: The UK updated 2026 travel advisories, warning against all travel to the Central African Republic except Bangui, where “all but essential travel” still applies—highlighting ongoing insecurity risks for visitors and aid operations. Water & Sanitation Policy: Foreign ministers are arriving in Addis Ababa for the AU Executive Council session on “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems,” with water security and sanitation set as top priorities for Agenda 2063. Early Warning to Action: Africa’s early warning systems must be matched by timely political action to prevent mass atrocities, with experts warning that delays continue to cost lives. Work & Livelihood Pressure: A 2026 ranking of the most overworked African countries lists the Central African Republic among the hardest-pressed, underscoring how economic strain can worsen daily living conditions.

AU Water Agenda: Foreign ministers, including CAR’s Sylvie Baïpo-Temon, arrived in Addis Ababa for the AU Executive Council session (July 28–29) focused on “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems,” with water security and sanitation highlighted as key to Agenda 2063. Refugee Returns Watch: In a meeting with UNHCR, Cameroon’s MINAT leadership said Cameroon hosts 412,521 refugees and 21,223 asylum seekers, and urged renewed action on the 2019 Tripartite Agreement to restart voluntary, safe repatriation of Central African refugees. Fuel Infrastructure Push: Dangote Group says it is considering a petroleum products storage terminal in Cameroon to strengthen Central Africa fuel distribution and strategic reserves, with possible pipeline links to cut road haulage impacts—details still under discussion. Port Pollution Risk: Cameroon gave the owner of the container ship “Black Rhino” 15 days to submit a recovery plan after it ran aground in the Port of Douala-Bonabéri access channel, with pollution prevention and container removal central to the required steps. Labor & Wellbeing Lens: A 2026 ranking of “most overworked” African countries lists CAR among the most pressured, adding another angle to how economic strain can affect daily life and health.

Ebola Logistics in the Great Lakes: UNICEF says coordinated humanitarian logistics in eastern DRC is helping children recover from Ebola in conflict-affected Ituri and beyond, with the outbreak reported across five provinces and thousands of cases and deaths as of mid-July. AU Water Agenda: Foreign ministers, including CAR’s Sylvie Baïpo-Temon, arrived in Addis Ababa for the AU Executive Council session focused on “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems,” linking governance to public health and resilience. Refugee Returns Watch: Cameroon’s MINAT met CAR and UNHCR to review obstacles to voluntary, safe repatriation under the 2019 tripartite agreement, with hundreds of thousands of CAR refugees hosted and tens of thousands already returned. Fuel Storage Plans (Regional Spillover): Dangote Group is discussing a petroleum products storage terminal in Cameroon to strengthen Central Africa fuel supply—potentially cutting road transport impacts if pipelines are included.

Women, Peace & Security: A DRC event marked International Day of Women in Diplomacy, urging women’s full, meaningful participation in peace talks and the practical use of UN Security Council 1325 action plans—an approach that matters for regional stability, including the Central African Republic. Poverty & Climate Pressure: A new look at the world’s poorest countries points to compounding drivers—conflict, weak governance, debt, and severe climate conditions—highlighting why CAR remains stuck in deep deprivation. Labor Conditions: A 2026 ranking of the most overworked African countries lists the Central African Republic among the hardest-pressed, renewing calls for stronger labor protections and healthier working conditions. Early Warning, Late Action: ACILA’s William Nyarko argues that Africa’s early warning systems must be matched by timely political action to prevent mass atrocities—relevant to CAR’s ongoing protection needs. Refugee Returns (CAR-linked): Cameroon and CAR officials met with UNHCR to review obstacles to voluntary, safe repatriation of Central African refugees, citing progress under the 2019 Tripartite Agreement. Conservation Note: Research on habituating wild gorillas to non-threatening humans in Cameroon suggests lessons for managing wildlife in areas affected by poaching and human disturbance.

Fuel & Infrastructure: Dangote has proposed a petroleum products storage terminal in Cameroon to strengthen fuel security and expand refined exports across Central Africa, with possible pipeline links to cut road logistics and reduce environmental impacts; details like location, capacity, cost, and timeline are still under discussion. Refugee Returns: Cameroon’s MINAT met UNHCR and Central African authorities to review barriers to voluntary, safe repatriation under the 2019 tripartite agreement, citing 28,067 Central African refugees already returned and aiming to restart operations. Work & Wellbeing: A 2026 ranking of the most overworked African countries lists the Central African Republic among the top, highlighting long hours and labor strain that can worsen health and productivity. Atrocity Prevention: ACILA’s William Nyarko says Africa’s early warning systems must be matched by early political action to prevent mass atrocities—otherwise credible alerts still cost lives. Wildlife Conservation: Concordia University research suggests habituating wild gorillas to non-threatening humans can help them recover from long-term poaching pressure, with lessons relevant to Central Africa’s conservation and ecotourism.