AGP Executive Report

Deportation Tech & Human Rights: A US deportation flight carrying nationals from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Georgia landed in the Central African Republic, with lawyers warning people may be pushed back toward countries they fled, while the US advisory tells Americans “do not travel” to CAR. Education Under Pressure: A new global report says 8,500+ attacks on education hit in 2024–2025, up 40%+, harming 10,600+ students and staff across 83 countries, including the DRC and CAR—another reminder that schooling safety is a tech-and-policy issue, not just a classroom one. Electricity Access at Scale: Mission 300 says it has connected 50 million people to electricity across 40 countries, aiming for 300 million by 2030—relevant for CAR’s power reliability and last-mile delivery planning. Wildlife Science: Cameroon gorilla research shows how long trauma can shape behavior, with a habituation period of 91 months—useful for conservation methods across the region. Crypto Regulation Watch: Luno warns South Africa’s draft stablecoin rules could block cross-border use, a signal for how fintech policy may affect regional trade.

Education Under Attack: A new GCPEA report says global attacks on schools and universities hit 8,500+ incidents in 2024–2025, up 40%+, harming 10,600+ students and education staff across 83 countries, including many outside active conflict. Electricity Access: World Bank and AfDB say Mission 300 has connected 50 million people to power across 40 countries, nearly doubling the pace since launch by funding the full energy chain. Wildlife Science in CAR: Concordia University researchers in Cameroon report gorillas can take 91 months to habituate after poaching trauma—slow, careful methods that matter for conservation and tourism. Conflict and Schooling: A study highlights how child-targeting tactics by armed groups push parents to keep children out of school, especially in places like the Central African Republic where 50%+ of primary-age kids are out of class. AI for Browsing: Google is rolling out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Central African Republic users alongside Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Immigration Pressure on CAR: A US deportation flight reportedly brought Iranian nationals to Bangui under “third-country” deals, raising rights and safety concerns amid a “do not travel” advisory.

Education Under Attack: A new GCPEA report says global attacks on schools and universities hit at least 8,500 incidents in 2024–2025, up 40%+, harming 10,600+ students and staff across 83 countries, with the Central African Republic among those facing severe disruption. Electricity Access: Mission 300 has now connected 50 million people to power across 40 countries, nearly doubling early electrification pace by coordinating generation, transmission, and last-mile distribution. AI for Everyday Browsing: Google is expanding “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, bringing built-in AI help to more African users, including Central African Republic in the broader rollout list. Wildlife Science in Cameroon: Researchers spent 91 months habituating a gorilla group after poaching trauma, showing how long fear can linger—useful for conservation planning across the region. Public Health Watch: WHO declared the DRC/ Uganda Ebola outbreak a PHEIC, with the Central African Republic listed as high risk and travel screening steps highlighted. CAR Deportations: A US deportation flight carrying Iranian nationals landed in Bangui under “third-country” deals, raising rights and safety concerns for people sent to a violence-affected country. Tech & Finance Policy: Luno warns South Africa’s draft stablecoin rules could block cross-border use, potentially slowing adoption of digital payment rails. Conservation Tech: Long-running bioacoustics work in CAR is building a massive sound archive to study forest elephant communication, using continuous recordings across rainforest protected areas.

Energy Access Boost: Mission 300 has connected over 50 million people to electricity across 40 countries, nearly doubling the pace since launch by funding generation, transmission, and last-mile distribution. AI for Everyday Browsing: Google is expanding “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, bringing built-in AI search help to more African users. Education Under Fire: A new report says attacks on education surged by over 40% in 2024–2025, with thousands of incidents harming students and staff across dozens of countries, including the Central African Republic. Wildlife Science in the Region: Cameroon researchers spent 91 months habituating a gorilla group after poaching trauma, offering new lessons for conservation and human-wildlife coexistence. Public Health Watch: WHO’s Ebola PHEIC update flags the Central African Republic as a high-risk country, pushing stronger regional screening and coordination. Human Rights & Mobility: A US deportation flight carrying Iranian nationals landed in the Central African Republic, raising concerns about “third-country” removals and asylum protections. Cancer Care Training: Merck Foundation continues expanding oncology training scholarships, including programs reaching the Central African Republic to build local cancer care capacity. Tech & Finance Policy: Luno warns South Africa’s draft stablecoin rules could block cross-border use, potentially slowing adoption of digital payment rails.

Wildlife & Conservation: A Concordia University team in Cameroon reports the longest gorilla habituation on record: one group took 91 months to stop treating humans as a threat, with poaching trauma lingering for years. Education Under Attack: New UNESCO-linked reporting says conflict is pushing more children out of school, and a separate global tally finds attacks on education jumped by over 40% in 2024–2025, with girls facing heightened risks including in the Central African Republic. AI for Everyday Use: Google is expanding “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Central Africa too, including Central African Republic, aiming to make the browser more helpful with built-in AI search and understanding. Health Tech & Preparedness: WHO’s Ebola emergency push is driving stronger screening and lab readiness across the region, with risk-based travel checks using APIS highlighted. Crypto Policy Watch: Luno warns South Africa’s draft stablecoin rules could block cross-border use, potentially slowing adoption of digital payment rails. Human Rights & Mobility: A US deportation flight carrying Iranian nationals landed in the Central African Republic, raising concerns about “third-country” returns despite legal protections.

Education Under Attack: UNESCO-linked reporting says conflict is pushing more children out of school, with CAR among places where over half of primary-age kids miss classes, and a new global tally finds 8,500 attacks on education in 2024–2025—up 40%—harming 10,600+ students and staff across 83 countries. Deportations & Safety: A US deportation flight carrying Iranian, Afghan, Turkish and Georgian nationals landed in the Central African Republic, with lawyers warning “third-country” removals can force people back to the countries they fled; the US advisory urges Americans to avoid CAR due to unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, health risks and terrorism. AI for Everyday Use: Google is expanding “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Central Africa too, including CAR, as part of a broader push to bring built-in AI search and understanding to more African markets. Wildlife Tech for Conservation: Researchers using long-running acoustic recording in CAR’s Dzanga-Sangha are advancing forest elephant communication studies, building a massive sound archive to better protect endangered species. Health Preparedness: With Ebola concerns in the region, CAR is flagged as high risk in WHO-linked guidance, underscoring the need for stronger surveillance and response capacity.

Education Under Fire: UNESCO-linked research says conflict is pushing Central African Republic enrolment down hard, with more than half of primary school-age children out of school, and child-targeting tactics (recruitment and sexual violence) making parents reassess safety. Global School Attacks: A new GCPEA report counts 8,500+ attacks on education in 2024–2025, up 40%+, harming 10,600+ students and staff across 83 countries, including places not in active armed conflict. AI for Everyday Use: Google is expanding “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Central African Republic users alongside Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, aiming to make the browser more helpful with built-in AI search and understanding. Wildlife Tech & Conservation: Cornell’s Elephant Listening Project has installed continuous audio recorders in the Central African Republic’s Dzanga-Sangha forest to study forest elephant communication—building a massive sound archive for better conservation. Public Health Preparedness: WHO’s Ebola emergency status has put Central African Republic on a high-risk list, and regional health systems are tightening travel screening and lab readiness. Deportations Raise Alarm: A US deportation flight carrying Iranian nationals landed in Bangui under “third-country” deals, with lawyers warning people may be forced back to the countries they fled.

AI in Browsers: Google is rolling out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, with Central African Republic included in the wider Africa rollout—aiming to make web search and understanding more accessible. Public Health Watch: WHO declared the DRC/uganda Ebola outbreak a PHEIC, and CAR is listed as high risk; regional health teams are also boosting travel screening and lab readiness. Wildlife Science: Researchers in the Central African Republic are using long-running sound recordings to study forest elephant communication, helping conservation teams better understand and protect the species. Immigration & Safety: A US deportation flight carrying Iranian, Afghan, Turkish, and Georgian nationals landed in CAR, with lawyers warning of forced returns and the US advising “do not travel” due to unrest and security risks. Tech & Finance Policy: Luno warns South Africa’s draft stablecoin rules could block cross-border use, potentially slowing adoption of digital payment rails across the region. Health Education Funding: The Merck Foundation and partners announced major investment to expand HIV/AIDS education and community leadership.

AI for Browsing: Google is rolling out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Central African Republic and 54 other African markets, aiming to make the browser more helpful with built-in AI. Public Health Tech: WHO’s Ebola emergency push is driving smarter travel screening; Saint Lucia is using APIS-based risk flags, and the wider region is updating lab and response capacity. Conservation Science: Researchers in Cameroon and the wider Congo Basin are using long-term habituation and bioacoustic recording to study forest elephants and bonobos—work that could improve protection and ecotourism. Digital Finance Policy: Luno warns South Africa’s draft rules may block stablecoins for cross-border payments, risking slower adoption of digital rails. Humanitarian & Safety: A US deportation flight carrying Iranian nationals landed in the Central African Republic under “third-country” deals, while the US advisory warns against travel due to unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, health and terrorism. Health & Training: Merck Foundation and partners are expanding cancer education and clinical training scholarships across multiple African countries, including the Central African Republic.

AI in Browsers: Google is rolling out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, with Central African Republic included in a wider Africa expansion—aimed at making the browser more helpful with built-in AI. Public Health & Travel Tech: With Ebola declared a global emergency, Saint Lucia is boosting port-of-entry screening using APIS to flag travelers from or transiting through affected areas, while the wider region updates response plans and lab capacity. Wildlife Science in CAR: Researchers using long-running sound recording in the Central African Republic are studying forest elephant communication, building a massive archive to understand how these animals signal in low-frequency rumbles. Health Funding: The Merck Foundation and partners are expanding cancer education and training across Africa, including scholarships and oncology capacity-building that lists Central African Republic among target countries. Immigration Pressure: A US deportation flight carrying Iranian nationals (and others) landed in the Central African Republic under “third-country” deals, raising rights and safety concerns as the US warns against travel to CAR. Conservation in the Region: Studies from Cameroon and DRC highlight how habituating great apes and other wildlife to humans can support conservation—if done with strict safeguards.

Immigration & Safety: A US deportation flight carrying people from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Georgia landed in the Central African Republic, with lawyers warning that even those granted “withholding of removal” may be pushed back to the countries they fled. The US State Department advisory tells Americans “do not travel” to CAR due to unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, health risks and terrorism. AI for Everyday Use: Google is rolling out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Central African Republic users as part of a wider expansion across Africa, aiming to make the browser more helpful with built-in AI search and understanding. Wildlife Science: Researchers using long-running sound recorders in Cameroon’s Dzanga-Sangha protected area are advancing forest elephant communication research, revealing low-frequency rumbles that humans may not hear. Public Health: With WHO declaring the Ebola outbreak a PHEIC, CAR is listed among high-risk countries, and regional health authorities are pushing stronger travel screening and preparedness. Conservation Tech: A long study in Cameroon shows how habituation can help gorillas (and similar great apes) gradually tolerate human presence—key for safer research and conservation tourism.

CAR Security & Travel Advisory: The U.S. says Americans “do not travel” to the Central African Republic due to unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, health risks and terrorism, after ICE deported an Iranian asylum seeker to the country. Digital Finance Policy: South Africa’s Luno warns draft stablecoin rules could block cross-border use, risking slower adoption of stablecoins for trade and investment. AI in Browsers: Google’s “Ask Gemini in Chrome” is expanding to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, with built-in AI aimed at helping users find and understand information. Wildlife Tech for Conservation: Researchers using long-running acoustic recorders in Cameroon’s Dzanga-Sangha are building a major sound archive to study forest elephant communication. Health Tech & Border Screening: With Ebola declared a global emergency, Saint Lucia is boosting preparedness by reactivating risk-based travel screening at ports using APIS and updating response plans. Ebola Vaccine Race: CEPI has fast-tracked experimental Ebola vaccine candidates as outbreaks shift to a Bundibugyo strain that existing shots may not cover. Energy Infrastructure (Regional): Cameroon’s Kribi hydrocarbons terminal project moves forward as SCDP and PAK sign protocols to speed implementation. CAR Tech & Skills (Health): Merck Foundation and partners continue expanding cancer care training, including scholarships and oncology capacity building that reaches the Central African Republic.

Stablecoin Rules in South Africa: Luno warns draft capital flow management regulations could block businesses from using stablecoins for cross-border payments and moving money home, risking South Africa missing the fast-growing stablecoin shift in global trade. AI Browser Expansion: Google rolls out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, bringing built-in AI search help to 55 African markets including the Central African Republic. Ebola Preparedness in the Region: WHO and Africa CDC-backed planning ramps up for the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, while Saint Lucia strengthens port screening and updates response plans—signals of tighter surveillance and faster lab testing across borders. Health & Training Funding: Merck Foundation and partners announce major investment to expand HIV/AIDS education and leadership, plus continued cancer care capacity building across multiple African countries including CAR. Wildlife Research in Central Africa: Long-term habituation work in Cameroon shows how gorillas can relearn trust after poaching fear, with lessons for conservation and safer eco-tourism. Forest Elephant Sound Science: Cornell-linked researchers expand forest elephant communication recording in CAR, building a massive sound archive to decode low-frequency rumbles.

Propaganda & Influence: Russia’s 2026 budget reportedly earmarks $1.85B for foreign propaganda, a 54% jump, fueling narrative networks across Africa—Central African readers should watch how media and “cultural diplomacy” shape public opinion. AI in Everyday Life: Google expands Ask Gemini in Chrome to Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa—and includes the Central African Republic—bringing built-in AI search help to more African users. Ebola Preparedness: With WHO declaring the DRC/Uganda Ebola outbreak a PHEIC, the Central African Republic is flagged high-risk; regional health systems are boosting travel screening and lab capacity, including risk-based entry checks using APIS. Wildlife Science: After years of careful habituation in Cameroon, researchers show wild gorillas can relearn trust—useful for conservation models that also matter across the region. Health & Training: Merck Foundation highlights cancer-care capacity building across multiple African countries, including the Central African Republic, via clinical training scholarships. Forest Elephant Research: Cornell’s Elephant Listening Project is recording forest elephant communication in the Central African Republic, building a massive sound archive to decode low-frequency rumbles. Finance Oversight: Banking regulators from across CEMAC met in Yaoundé to strengthen supervision as digital finance grows—relevant for CAR’s financial stability.

AI in Browsers: Google expanded Ask Gemini in Chrome to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, bringing built-in AI search and understanding to more African users (desktop and iOS first; Android via a power-button shortcut). Ebola Readiness: With the DRC/Uganda Ebola outbreak declared a Public Health Emergency, CAR-focused risk lists and cross-border screening plans are being strengthened, including travel history checks using APIS-style systems and updated response plans. Health Funding & Training: Merck Foundation says it’s scaling cancer care capacity across multiple African countries, including the Central African Republic, via clinical training scholarships and oncology workforce support. Wildlife Bioacoustics: Researchers installed recording devices in the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Area to study forest elephant communication, building a massive sound archive for better conservation insights. Digital Finance Oversight: Banking regulators met in Yaoundé to strengthen prudential cooperation as digital financial services and new instruments raise fresh risks across CEMAC, including CAR. Peacekeeping Pressure: Analysis highlights how AU peacekeepers face deadly missions with limited recognition and support, raising concerns for safety and accountability.

Ebola Preparedness (CAR risk): The WHO has declared the DRC/Uganda Ebola outbreak a PHEIC, and Africa CDC lists the Central African Republic among high-risk countries, pushing stronger regional vigilance. Border Tech & Labs: Saint Lucia reactivated risk-based travel screening using APIS at ports of entry and is updating response plans with closer-to-home lab testing—an approach CAR could mirror as cases spread. Vaccine Race (Bundibugyo): CEPI has fast-tracked three experimental Ebola vaccine candidates for the Bundibugyo strain, with hopes for human testing in months, after existing vaccines don’t match this variant. Health Capacity (Cancer): Merck Foundation is expanding oncology training scholarships across Africa, including the Central African Republic, aiming to tackle late diagnosis and the shortage of specialists. Digital Finance Oversight (Central Africa): A Yaounde workshop brought together CAR, Cameroon, Gabon and DR Congo to fight illicit financial flows, money laundering and terrorist financing—highlighting how tech-enabled financial innovation needs tighter supervision. Wildlife Bioacoustics (CAR research): Cornell-linked researchers are recording forest elephant sounds in the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Area in CAR, building a massive sound archive to decode elephant communication.