AGP Executive Report

Global Health Partnerships: Gilead has renewed its WHO deal for another five years to speed elimination of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), pledging 400,000+ vials of AmBisome and $9.2m through 2030, with a sharper focus on East Africa and added support for Chad and Djibouti. Public Health Readiness: A WHO simulation in Chad highlighted a painful dilemma: when a possible new bird-flu variant is suspected, notification rules clash with fears of economic fallout and stigma. Conflict & Safety: In Nigeria’s Lake Chad region, suspected ISWAP fighters reportedly killed at least 29 people in Mafa while targeting firewood sellers and fishermen—raising alarms for civilians already living with repeated attacks. Environment & Health Roots: New analysis points to ancient rock art as a reminder that biodiversity was once “sacred” in everyday life—an echo as modern ecosystems face rapid destruction. Diplomacy Watch: A separate analysis asks whether China’s “debt trap” narrative is shifting, with Beijing now portrayed more as a demanding collector than a generous lender.

Global Health Partnership: Gilead Sciences has renewed its WHO deal for another five years to push visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) toward elimination, pledging over 400,000 vials of AmBisome and $9.2m in support through 2030, with a sharper focus on East Africa and expanded help for countries including Chad and Djibouti. Health Security & Preparedness: In a WHO simulation tied to Africa’s next pandemic threats, officials discussed how delays in notifying outbreaks can happen when governments fear stigma and economic fallout. Aid Under Pressure: MSF says humanitarian access in South Sudan is being restricted and aid is being used for political and military aims, leaving communities short of life-saving support. Regional Humanitarian Response: In Cameroon’s Minawao refugee camp area, EU and UNHCR partners launched “durable solutions” efforts aimed at education, health, water, energy, and income for families displaced by Boko Haram violence.

Global Health Partnerships: Gilead renewed its five-year deal with the WHO to speed up elimination of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), pledging 400,000+ vials of AmBisome plus $9.2m through 2030, with a heavy focus on East Africa and support extending to countries including Chad. Pandemic Readiness: In a WHO simulation outside Nairobi, officials discussed how a suspected bird-flu event in eastern Chad could stall if governments hesitate to notify the WHO—highlighting the tension between health security and fear of stigma or economic fallout. Haiti Security & Rights: The UN-backed gang suppression force is finally arriving in Haiti as violence surges, with mounting reports of sexual violence and armed groups complicating the mission. Refugee Support in Chad: EU diplomats visited Minawao camp, backing education, health, water and jobs through a new “durable solutions” initiative for tens of thousands of refugees. Health Policy Watch: A UK political shake-up follows Wes Streeting’s resignation as Health Secretary, while broader debates on healthcare and costs keep bubbling.

Kala-Azar Push: Gilead renewed a five-year WHO partnership to speed elimination of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), pledging $9.2m through 2030 plus 400,000+ vials of AmBisome, with extra focus on high-burden East Africa and support expanding into Chad and Djibouti. Pandemic Readiness Drill: In a WHO simulation near Nairobi, leaders including Nobel laureate Denis Mukwege tested how Africa would respond if a new bird-flu variant emerged—highlighting the hard choice between fast notification and fear of stigma or economic fallout. Lake Chad Violence: Boko Haram/IS-linked attacks in Nigeria’s Borno region left at least 29 residents killed in Mafa, while separate reports describe deadly assaults and ongoing displacement fears across the area. Aid Under Pressure: MSF says South Sudan’s warring parties are restricting access and using aid for political and military aims, warning communities are being cut off from life-saving help. Integration Watch: AUDA-NEPAD urged faster African economic integration, warning slow progress on movement of goods and people is leaving the continent behind.

Refugee Aid in Chad: UNHCR and Al-Rahma signed a grant to support Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad, backing 428 families with essentials like blankets, hygiene supplies, mosquito nets and solar lamps. Humanitarian Pressure in South Sudan: MSF says aid access is being restricted and relief is being used for political and military aims as fighting intensifies and tens of thousands flee. US–Nigeria Counter-ISIS Push: Coordinated airstrikes in Borno targeted ISWAP militants after a high-profile joint operation killed ISIS second-in-command Abu Bilal al-Minuki, with officials saying no personnel were harmed. Nigeria Security at School Level: The Senate condemned the abduction of 87 students and teachers, renewing calls to fast-track state police. Health Policy Watch: A US bill led by Rep. Jimmy Panetta aims to improve energy storage safety and testing. Sex Offender Update (Forsyth County): 180 registered sex offenders were listed as of the week ending May 16.

Sudan Refugee Aid in Chad: UNHCR and Al-Rahma International Charity signed a grant to help 428 Sudanese refugee families in eastern Chad with essentials like blankets, hygiene supplies, mosquito nets and solar lamps—aimed at easing dire conditions amid severe funding gaps. South Sudan Aid Under Pressure: MSF accuses all sides in South Sudan’s fighting of using aid for political and military goals, saying access restrictions and forced evacuations are cutting off life-saving help. Energy Safety Push (US): U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s bill would expand safety testing and funding for energy storage systems, targeting risks like thermal runaway. Conflict Watch (Nigeria/Region): New US-Nigeria strikes reportedly hit ISIS targets in Borno, while ongoing insecurity continues to drive displacement. Health & Policy Lens: A reminder that vaccination funding is slipping globally, and that the World Health Assembly is being urged to act fast.

Refugee Aid in Chad: UNHCR and Al-Rahma International Charity just signed a grant to help Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad, targeting 428 refugee families with blankets, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, solar lamps and hygiene supplies as funding shortages leave people arriving “exhausted” and with “dire conditions.” Humanitarian Access Under Fire: Médecins Sans Frontières says South Sudan’s conflict is turning aid into a political tool, with access restrictions and forced evacuations cutting off life-saving help. Energy Safety Push (US): U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s new bill would expand safety testing and funding for energy storage systems, aiming to reduce risks like thermal runaway. Middle East Tensions: Trump postponed a strike on Iran after Gulf leaders intervened, while Lebanon’s death toll has topped 3,000 and Israel issued new displacement orders. Health & Policy Watch: The Lancet renames PCOS to PMOS, arguing the old label fuels stigma and delayed diagnosis.

Africa’s Population Boom: Pew analysis ahead of Africa Day highlights a still-young, fast-growing continent—slowing later this century, but growth pressure remains now. Sudan’s Civilian Toll: UN-linked reporting says drone warfare is driving mass civilian deaths, with attacks hitting hospitals, schools and markets as the conflict spreads. Nigeria Security Shockwaves: U.S.-Nigeria strikes in Borno targeted Islamic State militants after a major joint operation killed a top leader; meanwhile, lawmakers condemn school abductions and push for state police. Chad in the Spotlight: UN-backed efforts in Haiti are struggling to scale—only a small number of Chadian troops have arrived so far—while Chad’s wider regional crises keep straining health and protection systems. Health & Care Watch: A Lancet rename of PCOS to PMOS aims to reduce stigma and speed diagnosis, as experts warn many women still go undiagnosed.

Digital Cash for Welfare: Lomé is hosting a four-day World Bank-backed push to modernize social benefit payments across 10 West and Central African countries, with a focus on secure mobile delivery, better governance, and wider financial inclusion—Togo’s Novissi cash-transfer system is a key reference point. Terror Crackdown in Nigeria: The US and Nigeria carried out coordinated strikes in Borno, killing 20+ ISIS militants after a top commander was eliminated—showing how fast the Lake Chad insurgency adapts. Sudan’s Civilian Toll: UN officials warn drone warfare is driving mass civilian deaths in Sudan, with attacks hitting hospitals and schools as foreign-supplied drone tech spreads. Health & Nutrition Pressure in Chad: A Lomé nutrition conference adopted a regional action plan, flagging stunting, anaemia, and the strain on Chad’s health system from refugee flows. Ukraine & Haiti Violence: Ukraine reported fresh attacks killing civilians, while Haiti faces escalating violence targeting children.

Lake Chad Security: Pre-dawn militants attacked Nigeria’s Special Forces training school in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, killing 17 police trainees and reportedly some soldiers—another grim reminder that the insurgency is still striking even at hardened facilities. Counterterror Strike: Hours earlier, a US-Nigeria operation in Borno killed ISIS’s global second-in-command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, with both leaders calling it a major blow to the group. Displacement Relief: Borno Governor Zulum pledged urgent aid and longer-term resettlement for people displaced in Monguno as insecurity flares again around Marte, Monguno, Guzamala and Abadam. Health & Education: A new report warns 100 million African children are still out of school, while a Lancet rename of PCOS to PMOS highlights how stigma and missed diagnoses can delay care for millions of women. Sudan Civilian Impact: UN-linked reporting says drone warfare is driving soaring civilian deaths in Sudan, with attacks hitting hospitals, schools and markets.

Vaccination Push at the World Health Assembly: With global immunisation stalling, leaders meeting in Geneva are being urged to recommit to childhood vaccines—the most cost-effective public-health tool—after progress has slipped and funding has fallen sharply, putting millions of children at greater risk. Sudan’s Civilian Toll: In Sudan, drones are driving a surge in deaths, with UN-linked reporting saying armed drones account for over 80% of conflict-related civilian deaths and that hospitals and other services are being hit. Counterterror Strike in Nigeria: The US and Nigeria say they killed ISIS second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Mainuki in a joint operation in the Lake Chad region. Haiti Under Pressure: Haiti’s gang violence continues to flare, with the UN reporting dozens killed in recent clashes and medical services forced to suspend operations. Chad Health Strain: UN warnings highlight how Chad’s refugee crisis is overwhelming maternity care, adding pressure to an already stretched system.

Channel Smuggling Surge: Hundreds of migrants are being moved from Kent into France in a “reverse flow” run by crime gangs, with seasonal labour demand and visa limits helping traffickers profit on both sides of the Channel. ISIS Blow to Terror Finance: U.S. and Nigerian forces killed Abu Bilal al‑Minuki, ISIS’s second-in-command, in a precision air-land operation in Nigeria’s Lake Chad region. Sudan’s Civilian Toll Escalates: UN officials warn drone warfare is now a leading cause of civilian deaths in Sudan, with foreign-supplied drone tech enabling strikes on hospitals, schools and markets. Haiti Gang Violence: UN reports say at least 78 people have died in gang clashes around Port-au-Prince since May 9, with hospitals and MSF forced to suspend operations. UK Health & Aging Tips: New UK research links weekly arts activities with slower “brain ageing,” while dementia-risk diets and mid-life habits keep getting fresh attention.

Sudan’s Civilian Toll: UN human rights chief Volker Türk says armed drones are now the leading cause of conflict-related civilian deaths in Sudan—over 80%, with at least 880 civilians killed between January and April—while experts warn foreign-supplied drone tech is making strikes hit hospitals, schools, markets and homes harder to stop. Counterterror Strike: The U.S. and Nigeria say they killed ISIS’s global second-in-command, Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, in a joint operation in the Lake Chad Basin, with Trump calling it a major blow to IS planning and finance. Chad Health Pressure: A fuel depot fire in Abeche left at least 120 injured (reports later put it higher), and officials ordered fuel depots moved outside city limits within 10 days. UK Politics: Reform UK is set to target Andy Burnham’s pro-EU past in the Greater Manchester by-election as he clears the party hurdle to stand. Retirement Tax: A plan to exempt some retirees from income tax would still help only about 700,000 of 13.2 million pensioners.

Sudan’s Drone Toll: The UN says armed drones are now the biggest driver of civilian deaths in Sudan, with at least 880 people killed between January and April—strikes hitting hospitals, schools, markets and even airports. Nigeria–Chad Scrutiny: The UN is also pushing for independent probes into deadly air attacks blamed on both Nigeria and Chad, as officials trade claims over civilian harm. IS Pressure in Lake Chad: In a separate Lake Chad Basin operation, U.S. and Nigerian forces killed an Islamic State leader, with Trump calling it a targeted strike. Health & Nutrition Focus: In Togo, West and Central African ministers adopted a joint nutrition action plan, flagging stunting and anaemia while noting Chad’s refugee-driven strain on health services. Local Health Support: Utah State University is backing a refugee community with affordable protein via a goat and chicken farm—an example of practical help where food access is a daily barrier.

Sudan’s Drone Toll: UN rights chief Volker Türk says armed drones are now the leading cause of civilian deaths in Sudan—over 80% of conflict-related deaths in early 2026—with at least 880 civilians killed between January and April, as strikes hit hospitals, schools, markets and even near Khartoum’s airport. Horn of Africa Justice Push: Activists at an African human-rights session in Lomé say conflict-related sexual violence is escalating, with hospitals and schools collapsing and survivors too afraid to speak out. Chad Health Strain: In Chad, refugee flows are overwhelming maternity care, while a separate report highlights a major fuel depot fire in Abeche that injured 120+ people. Nutrition Momentum: Lomé’s regional conference adopted the “Lomé Declaration” to tackle stunting and anaemia across 22 countries, with implementation plans for the next three years. Local Food Access: In Utah, Utah State University is partnering with a refugee community to expand affordable protein through a goat and chicken farm.

Horn of Africa justice push: Activists at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights meeting in The Gambia say Sudan’s war is driving a surge in conflict-related sexual violence, with hospitals shutting, schools closing, and survivors hiding due to fear and stigma—activists warn the abuse is spilling across borders into South Sudan. Haiti gang toll: The UN reports at least 78 people killed in gang clashes in Haiti’s capital suburbs since Saturday, with hospitals and Doctors Without Borders forced to suspend services. Chad health strain: UNFPA says eastern Chad is hosting over 1.3 million refugees and returnees, overwhelming maternity care and leaving women to face emergency procedures with limited pain relief. UN probes airstrike deaths: UN rights chief Volker Türk is calling for independent investigations into reported civilian deaths from Nigerian and Chadian air attacks. Dementia diet buzz: New health coverage highlights weekly food-and-drink habits linked to lower dementia risk, alongside mid-life lifestyle tips.