AGP Executive Report

Maritime Security & Trade Disruption: India put its maritime agencies on the highest alert after three Indian seafarers were killed in a US strike on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello off Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, as the US-Iran standoff tightens shipping risks. UN/IMO Condemnation: UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, echoing IMO language that any act endangering seafarers and international shipping is unacceptable. New Incident Involving Guinea-Bissau-Flagged Ship: Hours after India protested, US forces disabled the Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker MT Jalveer in the Gulf of Oman; 20 Indian crew were evacuated safely after Hellfire missiles hit the engine room, with CENTCOM saying the vessel tried to transport Iranian oil. Diplomacy vs Pressure: Trump said planned strikes were cancelled amid “high-level” talks, but the naval blockade remains; India’s MEA urged “unimpeded, safe navigation” through Hormuz and demanded attacks stop. Regional Business Angle: The repeated disabling of tankers linked to sanctions enforcement underscores how quickly energy logistics and insurance risk can spike for global trade routes passing Guinea-Bissau-linked shipping.

Maritime Trade & Sanctions: The U.S. military disabled a third oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, targeting the Guinea-Bissau-flagged MT Jalveer after it allegedly tried to transport Iranian oil in breach of the U.S. blockade; CENTCOM says two Hellfire missiles were fired into the engine room after repeated non-compliance, and India reports all 20 Indian crew members were evacuated safely. Diplomacy & Shipping Safety: India summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires and lodged strong protests after earlier strikes killed three Indian seafarers on the Palau-flagged MT Settebello; India also urged “unimpeded and safe navigation” through the Strait of Hormuz. Energy Market Risk: As Trump escalated rhetoric—threatening to hit Iran “very hard” and to take control of key oil infrastructure including Kharg Island—oil prices reportedly fell after a later announcement to cancel “scheduled strikes,” while the blockade enforcement continued. Digital Economy: Google expanded “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, adding Guinea-Bissau to the supported Africa rollout.

ECOWAS Cybersecurity Push: Teams from 12 West African countries are competing in Accra’s 4th ECOWAS cybersecurity hackathon, aiming to build practical defenses against rising cybercrime that is draining both governments and businesses. Drug Trafficking Signal: Liberia’s airport authorities seized 198 compressed plates of cocaine worth about US$19.2m, underscoring how West Africa remains a key trans-shipment corridor. Trade Rules of Origin Training: With EU-WCO support, Customs officials from Guinea-Bissau and other countries are now trained to spread know-how on rules of origin for preferential trade agreements—meant to make free trade deals work better in practice. Labour Rights Watch: The ITUC’s 2026 Global Rights Index placed Zimbabwe on a workers’ rights watch list and also lists Guinea-Bissau among countries where protections are worsening. Humanitarian Reach in Guinea-Bissau: Qatar Red Crescent’s Eid al-Adha campaign delivered support to 247,344 beneficiaries across 13 countries including Guinea-Bissau.

Cybersecurity & Digital Sovereignty: Guinea-Bissau and other West African teams are competing in Accra’s ECOWAS cybersecurity hackathon, aiming to build practical defenses against ransomware and business email scams as governments struggle with a shortage of cyber talent. Drug Enforcement & Trade Risks: Liberia reported a major cocaine seizure at Roberts International Airport worth about US$19.2M, highlighting how West Africa’s air cargo routes remain exposed to trans-shipment networks. Labour Mobility & Domestic Work: Kuwait tightened domestic-worker recruitment to just 10 approved source countries and banned many others across Africa, including Guinea-Bissau, signaling tighter regional labour corridors and higher compliance costs for employers. Rules of Origin & Customs Capacity: With WCO support, national pools of rules-of-origin experts are being trained across countries including Guinea-Bissau to help firms use preferential trade deals correctly. Electricity & Regional Power: The World Bank says West Africa’s power integration programme has expanded electricity access to millions and built over 4,000 km of transmission lines across 15 countries, including Guinea-Bissau. Workers’ Rights Watch: The ITUC Global Rights Index placed Guinea-Bissau on its workers’ rights watch list, pointing to worsening conditions for unions and trade unionists. Climate Resilience Funding: New GEF-8 LDCF/SCCF projects approved support resilience in Guinea-Bissau, targeting flood/coastal risks, food and water security, and disaster preparedness.

Labour & Migration: Kuwait has tightened domestic worker recruitment, approving only 10 source countries and banning 27 others, including Kenya and Nigeria—an immediate hit to Gulf-linked African labour flows. Trade Facilitation: With WCO support, Nigeria, Comoros, Morocco, The Gambia and other Portuguese-speaking countries are building national pools of rules-of-origin experts; Guinea-Bissau customs officers also took part in training to strengthen use of preferential trade agreements. Electricity & Regional Integration: The World Bank says its West Africa power programme has expanded electricity access to over 3 million people, built 4,000+ km of transmission lines across 15 countries, and is moving toward a regional electricity market. Energy Politics: In the Senegambia/OMVG debate, GDC leader Mamma Kandeh criticises how electrification is being politicised while NAWEC service quality remains weak. Offshore Oil: Eni secured its first Gambia offshore exploration deal (Block A1), reopening a deepwater acreage after earlier licence issues and stalled drilling. Workers’ Rights: The ITUC Global Rights Index places Guinea-Bissau on its workers’ rights watch list alongside other countries, citing rising violations and pressure on unions. Business & Startups: Guinea-Bissau is included in the 929 Challenge’s new Greater Bay Area push, with the programme expanding into AIE Expo Macao and adding an acceleration track for startups. Humanitarian Reach: Qatar Red Crescent’s Eid al-Adha campaign delivered support to 247,344 beneficiaries across 13 countries including Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia. Water Security: A new global drinking-water quality assessment highlights unsafe water risks, with many African countries among the lowest-ranked.

Rules of Origin Training: The EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme is expanding capacity-building, with Customs officials and economic operators from Nigeria, Comoros, Morocco, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and São Tomé & Príncipe completing Training of Trainers workshops in April and June 2026 to strengthen compliant use of preferential trade agreements. Energy & Power Trade: The World Bank says its West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access programme has built 4,000+ km of transmission lines linking 15 countries, helping over 3 million people gain electricity access (2019–2025) and pushing cross-border power trade. Offshore Oil Deal (Gambia): Eni signed a petroleum exploration licence for Block A1 in deepwater offshore Gambia, marking its first entry into the country after earlier licence revocations and BP’s exit. Labour Rights Watch: The ITUC Global Rights Index places Zimbabwe on a workers’ rights watch list and also flags Guinea-Bissau among countries where violations are rising. Rice Import Pressure (West Africa): AfDB urges West Africa to act on rice, warning a $3.5bn annual import bill drains foreign reserves, while backing a regional resilient rice value-chain push. Humanitarian Reach (Guinea-Bissau): Qatar Red Crescent’s Eid al-Adha campaign reports 247,344 beneficiaries across 13 nations, including Guinea-Bissau.

Labour Rights Watch: The ITUC Global Rights Index placed Zimbabwe on a workers’ rights “watch list” and also lists Guinea-Bissau among countries where union protections are worsening, citing rising violations and harassment of trade unionists. Energy & Power Trade: The World Bank says its West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access programme has expanded electricity access to over 3 million people, built 4,000+ km of transmission lines across 15 countries, and is pushing cross-border power trade to cut costs and improve reliability. Climate Resilience Finance: GEF’s LDCF/SCCF approved a new package sending $67m+ to vulnerable countries including Guinea-Bissau, targeting flood/coastal risks, food and water security, disaster preparedness, and resilient livelihoods. Agribusiness & Food Security: AfDB urged West Africa to move from rice plans to delivery, warning a $3.5bn annual rice import bill drains foreign reserves, while backing the REWARD programme to strengthen rice value chains across ECOWAS. Humanitarian Aid: Qatar Red Crescent’s Eid al-Adha campaign reached 247,344 beneficiaries in Qatar and Guinea-Bissau plus 13 other countries. Regional Integration Push: A Senegambia integration call argues for practical steps like cheaper Banjul–Dakar air links and smoother movement of goods and people to unlock trade and tourism.

Regional Integration Push: A Senegambia summit op-ed argues integration must move from talk to action, prioritizing cheaper Banjul–Dakar airfares, better airline links to major regions, and a “Transit Facilitation Framework” to smooth movement of people and goods through harmonised customs and a single transit permit. Workers’ Rights Watch: The ITUC’s 2026 Global Rights Index places Zimbabwe on a “watch list” for rising labour-rights violations; Guinea-Bissau is also named on the watch list for increasing abuses, alongside countries including Nigeria and Liberia. Electricity & Trade: The World Bank says its West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access programme has expanded electricity access to over 3 million people, built 4,000+ km of transmission lines across 15 countries, and is preparing a regional electricity market to cut costs and improve reliability. Climate Resilience Funding: GEF’s LDCF/SCCF work programme approved in Samarkand will deliver $67m+ for vulnerable countries including Guinea-Bissau, targeting flood/coastal risk reduction, food and water security, disaster preparedness, and resilient livelihoods. Humanitarian Aid in Guinea-Bissau: Qatar Red Crescent’s Eid al-Adha campaign reports reaching 247,344 beneficiaries across 13 countries, including Guinea-Bissau, with meat distribution coordinated via local partners. Energy Project Reality Check: An opinion piece on the OMVG project says only the transmission/interconnection parts are operational until the Sambangalou hydropower dam is completed, urging more realistic expectations about electricity supply gains. Rice Import Pressure: AfDB warns West Africa’s $3.5bn annual rice import bill drains foreign reserves and backs a $680m regional programme to strengthen resilient rice value chains, with early operations including in Guinea-Bissau. US Deportations: The US announced deportations of 355 West Africans under its WOW programme, listing Guinea-Bissau among the affected (1 person).

Electricity & regional trade: The World Bank says its West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access Programme has expanded electricity access to over 3 million people (2019–2025), built 4,000+ km of transmission lines linking 15 countries, improved utility finances, and is preparing a regional electricity market to cut costs and boost reliability. Climate finance for Guinea-Bissau: The GEF approved a new LDCF/SCCF work programme for vulnerable states, including Guinea-Bissau, with $67m in new funding and nearly $218m in co-financing aimed at flood/coastal risk reduction, food and water security, ecosystem protection, and disaster preparedness. Rice import pressure in West Africa: The AfDB urged West Africa to move from planning to action on rice, warning a $3.5bn annual import bill drains foreign reserves, while backing the $680m REWARD programme to strengthen irrigation, seeds, processing, and markets across ECOWAS (including Guinea-Bissau). Workers’ rights watchlist: The ITUC’s 2026 Global Rights Index flags Guinea-Bissau on its watchlist for rising violations, alongside broader concerns that governments are failing to protect working people and are undermining unions and labour rights. Humanitarian support reaching Guinea-Bissau: Qatar Red Crescent’s Eid al-Adha campaign reported reaching 247,344 beneficiaries in Qatar and 13 countries, including Guinea-Bissau, delivering sacrificial meat via local partners. Local business-relevant disruption: A report on the region’s electricity shortfalls highlights how power supply problems can hit critical services and economic activity, with emergency load management used to ration limited electricity.

Electricity & Regional Trade: The World Bank says its West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access Programme has expanded electricity access to over 3 million people, built more than 4,000 km of transmission lines linking 15 countries, and is preparing a regional electricity market to cut costs and improve reliability. Climate Finance for Guinea-Bissau: The GEF approved a new LDCF/SCCF work programme for vulnerable countries, including Guinea-Bissau, with $67m in new funding and nearly $218m in co-financing aimed at flood/coastal risk reduction, food and water security, disaster preparedness, and resilient livelihoods. Agriculture & Rice Imports: AfDB urged West Africa to move from rice plans to delivery, warning a $3.5bn annual import bill drains foreign reserves; it highlighted the $680m REWARD programme and early operations including in Guinea-Bissau. Humanitarian Support: Qatar Red Crescent’s Eid al-Adha campaign reached 247,344 beneficiaries across Qatar and 13 countries, including Guinea-Bissau, delivering sacrificial meat and support via local partners. Workers’ Rights Watchlist: The 2026 Global Rights Index flags Guinea-Bissau on its watchlist for rising violations affecting workers and union rights.

Electricity & regional trade: The World Bank says its West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access Programme has expanded electricity access to over 3 million people, built more than 4,000 km of transmission lines linking 15 countries, and is preparing a regional electricity market to cut costs and improve reliability—good news for businesses in Guinea-Bissau that depend on steadier power. Climate resilience finance: The GEF approved a new LDCF/SCCF work programme for 2030, unlocking over $67m for Guinea-Bissau and other vulnerable states, targeting flood/coastal risks, food and water security, disaster preparedness, and resilient livelihoods. Rice import pressure: AfDB urged West Africa to move from rice plans to delivery, warning a $3.5bn annual import bill drains foreign reserves; it flagged early funding that includes Guinea-Bissau. Workers’ rights watch: A Global Rights Index places Guinea-Bissau on its “Watchlist” for rising violations affecting labour and civil freedoms. Humanitarian support: Qatar Red Crescent’s Eid Al-Adha sacrifice campaign reached 247,344 beneficiaries across 14 nations, including Guinea-Bissau. Water safety risk: A new Environmental Performance Index assessment highlights unsafe drinking water as a major public health and development drag, with many of the lowest-ranked countries in Africa.

West Africa Power Push: The World Bank says its West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access Programme has expanded electricity access to over 3 million people, built more than 4,000 km of transmission lines linking 15 countries, and is preparing a regional electricity market to cut costs and improve reliability. Rice Import Pressure: The AfDB urges West Africa to move from rice plans to delivery, warning the region’s $3.5bn annual rice import bill drains foreign reserves, while backing the $680m REWARD programme with early funding including projects in Guinea-Bissau. Climate Resilience Funding: GEF councils approved a new LDCF/SCCF work programme for vulnerable countries, with Guinea-Bissau among recipients of over $67m in new resources plus nearly $218m in co-financing for flood/coastal risk, food and water security, and resilient livelihoods. Labour Rights Watch: The ITUC’s 2026 Global Rights Index flags worsening worker protections, placing Guinea-Bissau on its watchlist for increasing violations. Governance & Security Context: A week of coverage highlights the broader Sahel/West Africa pattern of coups and democratic backsliding, underscoring how security and legitimacy failures can spill into economic stability.

Electricity & Regional Trade: The World Bank says its West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access Programme has expanded electricity access to over 3 million people, built more than 4,000 km of transmission lines linking 15 countries, improved utility finances, and is preparing a regional electricity market to cut costs and boost reliability. Energy Reality Check (Gambia): In a separate regional update, Gambia’s NAWEC reported reduced electricity imports due to technical issues and fuel shortages, triggering emergency load management and a gradual return to normal supply by mid-June 2026. Rice Import Pressure: The AfDB urged West Africa to move from rice plans to execution, warning a $3.5bn annual import bill drains foreign reserves, and highlighting early funding for the REWARD program, including projects in Guinea-Bissau. Climate Resilience Funding: The GEF approved a new LDCF/SCCF work program providing $67m for vulnerable countries (including Guinea-Bissau) with nearly $218m in co-financing for flood/coastal risk reduction, food and water security, and resilient livelihoods. Workers’ Rights Watch: The ITUC’s 2026 Global Rights Index flags worsening labour conditions, with Guinea-Bissau listed on its watchlist for increasing violations. Governance & Stability: Commentary pieces focus on a broader legitimacy crisis behind coups across Africa, including Guinea-Bissau, and the strain on constitutional governance in ECOWAS. Immigration Crackdown: US authorities announced deportations of 355 West Africans, including one person from Guinea-Bissau, as part of a wider enforcement push.

Regional Power & Trade: The World Bank says its West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access Programme has expanded electricity access to over 3 million people, built more than 4,000 km of transmission lines linking 15 countries, and is preparing a regional electricity market to cut costs and improve reliability. Climate Resilience Finance: The GEF approved a new LDCF/SCCF work programme for vulnerable countries, unlocking over $67m for projects (with nearly $218m in co-financing) including Guinea-Bissau, targeting flood/coastal risk reduction, food and water security, disaster preparedness, and resilient livelihoods. Agriculture & Food Security: The AfDB urged West Africa to move faster on rice self-sufficiency, warning a $3.5bn annual import bill drains foreign reserves, and highlighting early funding for the REWARD rice value-chain programme that includes Guinea-Bissau. Governance & Stability: A new analysis argues Africa’s coup wave reflects a deeper legitimacy crisis—governments failing on security, accountability, and performance—rather than a simple rejection of democracy. Labour Rights Watch: The 2026 Global Rights Index flags worsening worker protections, with Guinea-Bissau listed on its “Watchlist” for rising violations and crackdown risks. US Deportations: The US announced deportations of 355 West Africans, including one listed from Guinea-Bissau, as part of a broader immigration enforcement push.

Electricity & Regional Trade: The World Bank says its West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access Programme has expanded electricity access to over 3 million people, built more than 4,000 km of transmission lines linking 15 countries, improved utility finances, and is preparing a regional electricity market to cut costs and boost reliability. Climate Finance for Guinea-Bissau: The GEF approved a new LDCF/SCCF work programme for 2030 resilience, with over $67m for vulnerable countries including Guinea-Bissau, targeting flood/coastal risks, food and water security, ecosystem protection, and disaster preparedness. Rice Import Pressure: The AfDB urged West Africa to move from rice plans to delivery, warning a $3.5bn annual import bill drains foreign reserves, and highlighting early funding for the REWARD programme that includes projects in Guinea-Bissau. Energy Reliability Watch: Guinea-Bissau’s wider region faces power stress as utilities report reduced imports and fuel/technical constraints; the World Bank’s grid upgrades are positioned as part of the longer-term fix. Workers’ Rights Spotlight: The 2026 Global Rights Index flags worsening labour rights and repression, with Guinea-Bissau listed on a watchlist for increasing violations. US Deportations in West Africa: The US confirmed deportations of 355 people from West Africa, including one person from Guinea-Bissau, as part of a broader immigration crackdown.

Regional Power & Trade: The World Bank says its West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access Programme has expanded electricity access to over 3 million people, built 4,000+ km of high-voltage transmission lines linking 15 countries, improved utility finances, created 52,000+ jobs, and is preparing a regional electricity market to cut costs and boost reliability. Energy Integration for Guinea-Bissau: The programme covers Guinea-Bissau within the West African Power Pool, with transmission and distribution upgrades helping bring power to communities that previously lacked reliable electricity. Climate Resilience Funding: The GEF approved a new LDCF/SCCF work programme for vulnerable countries, including Guinea-Bissau, with $67m+ in new funding and nearly $218m in co-financing aimed at flood/coastal risk reduction, food and water security, ecosystem protection, disaster preparedness, and resilient livelihoods. Food Security & Imports: The AfDB urged West Africa to move from rice plans to action, warning a $3.5bn annual rice import bill drains foreign reserves, and highlighting early funding for rice value-chain work that includes Guinea-Bissau. Migration & Enforcement: The US confirmed deportations of 355 people from West Africa, including 1 from Guinea-Bissau, with names and photos released via the DHS portal.