AGP Executive Report

Carbon Pricing Surge: The World Bank says countries raised a record $107bn in 2025 by charging polluters, with carbon taxes and emissions trading covering nearly 30% of global greenhouse gases—new systems include Mauritania. Digital Welfare Push: In Lomé, a World Bank-backed workshop brought 10 West and Central African countries (including Mauritania) to plan interoperable, more efficient digital social benefit payments. EU Border Pressure, Not a Fix: Frontex reports EU irregular crossings fell 40% in early 2026, but the West African route still faces shifting smuggling tactics and deadly risks. Sahel Climate Displacement: West and Central Africa leaders warn climate funding must reach communities fast as floods and drought drive displacement. Tourism Glimmer in the Sahel: Chad and Mauritania are seeing rising interest from adventure travel, helped by online visa reforms.

Carbon Pricing Surge: The World Bank says countries raised a record $107bn in 2025 by charging polluters for CO2, with nearly 30% of global emissions now covered by direct carbon pricing—new systems and taxes added in Mauritania among others. AI & Cyber Readiness: Bahrain is highlighted for strong government AI readiness and top-tier cybersecurity, showing how digital governance is becoming a regional competition. EU Border Deals: Even as EU irregular entries fell 40% in early 2026, Frontex warns smuggling networks stay adaptive—especially on the West African route where Mauritania and partners’ preventive measures helped drive the drop. Sahel Climate Funding & Displacement: West and Central Africa leaders push for climate money to reach communities fast, as floods and droughts keep forcing people to move. Mauritania Tourism Lift: Desert travel interest is rising, with online visa reforms and new expedition plans feeding demand for Sahel and southern Sahara routes. Education Pressure: New reporting flags that 100m+ African children remain out of school, with progress stalling in recent years.

Carbon Pricing Surge: The World Bank says countries raised a record $107bn in 2025 by charging polluters for CO2, with nearly 30% of global emissions now covered by direct carbon pricing and new systems added in Mauritania among others. Digital Governance & Cybersecurity: Bahrain topped the Arab field for government AI readiness and landed in the top tier for cybersecurity, a reminder that tech capacity is becoming a climate-and-security issue, not just a tech one. EU Border Pressure Shifts: Frontex reports irregular crossings into the EU fell 40% in early 2026, with the West African route down sharply—yet smuggling networks remain quick to adapt. Sahel Tourism & Visas: Despite insecurity, desert travel interest is rising as countries including Mauritania expand online visas and tour operators push new routes. Mauritania Angle: The carbon-pricing update is the clearest Mauritania-specific headline this week, while other stories point to broader regional shifts in migration, security, and digital services.

Global Migration Pressure: Frontex says irregular entries into the EU fell 40% in early 2026, with a sharp drop on the West African route—though smugglers remain quick to adapt. Digital Welfare Push: In Lomé, a World Bank-backed workshop brings Mauritania and other West/Central African states together to modernize social benefit payments with interoperable, mobile-first systems. Sahel Tourism, Cautiously: Chad and Mauritania are seeing rising interest from adventure operators, helped by new online visa tools, even as security risks persist. Mauritania in the Climate-Data Mix: FAO training in North Africa highlights geospatial and AI tools for managing water and land—supporting decisions in fragile oasis and ecosystem areas. Food Security Tension: A week of coverage also flags how conflict and supply-chain pressure can hit fertilizer and food inputs—raising stakes for farmers across the region. What’s missing: No major Mauritania-specific climate policy breakthrough landed in the last day’s top items.

EU Migration Deals: The EU’s latest external migration update shows a push to lock in deportation and border-control cooperation with African partners through “a million little deals,” alongside efforts to re-establish diplomatic presence in the Sahel to curb movement toward Europe. Border Reality Check: Even as irregular crossings into the EU drop sharply, Frontex warns smuggling networks stay adaptable and deadly risks persist on the busiest routes. Digital Welfare in West Africa: In Lomé, a World Bank-backed workshop brings Mauritania and other countries together to modernize social benefit payments with interoperable, digital systems—aiming for wider financial inclusion and better governance. Sahel Tourism Momentum: Despite insecurity, adventure travel interest is rising, with new desert expeditions planned for Chad and expanded tours in Mauritania, helped by online visa reforms. Mauritania in the Mix: Mauritania appears both in EU border cooperation and in regional digital and tourism developments, while broader Sahel climate pressures continue to shape displacement and livelihoods.

Digital Welfare Push: A four-day World Bank-backed workshop in Lomé is bringing 10 West and Central African countries—including Mauritania—to plan how to modernize social benefit payments with interoperable, secure digital systems. Border Reality Check: The EU says irregular crossings into Schengen fell 26% in 2025 and Frontex reports a 40% drop in the first months of 2026, but warns smuggling risks persist—especially on the Central Mediterranean route. Maritime Ambition: Nigeria is driving to position itself as a regional maritime hub, spotlighting port expansion and digitalization at PMAWCA’s Lagos session. Sahel Tourism, Slowly Rising: Chad and Mauritania are seeing more interest from adventure travel firms, helped by online visa reforms, even as security concerns remain. Energy & Climate Finance: Leaders across West and Central Africa are urging faster climate funding as displacement from floods and drought grows, while Africa’s business class calls for unlocking local capital to scale gas and strengthen energy sovereignty.

Nuclear Safety Watch: A drone strike sparked a fire near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi on 17 May, but UAE regulators say there was no radioactive release and no public or environmental risk, with monitoring continuing. Energy Finance & Sovereignty: At the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, business leaders pushed to unlock local capital for gas projects, arguing Africa needs investment to reduce oil-price shock vulnerability. Climate Funding vs Displacement: West and Central African leaders urged faster climate finance delivery as floods and droughts keep driving disaster displacement. Mauritania Tourism Momentum: Chad and Mauritania are seeing rising interest from adventure travel, helped by online visa reforms and new desert expedition plans. Education Pressure: A new look at schooling trends warns over 100 million African children remain out of school, with progress stalling. Sahel Resilience: WFP’s resilience work across five Sahel countries is reducing reliance on emergency food aid through land restoration and community-led support.

Water & AI Training: FAO just wrapped a Tunis workshop training North African officials to use geospatial data, remote sensing, and AI for water, land, and oasis ecosystems—centred on Libya’s MERWAT platform for better water-use decisions. Sahel Tourism Push: Chad and Mauritania are seeing rising interest from adventure operators, helped by online visa reforms and “desert corridor” travel plans, even as insecurity still shadows the region. Migration Pressure, Shifting Routes: EU irregular entries fell 40% in early 2026, with a steep drop on the West African route tied to preventive measures by Mauritania, Senegal, and The Gambia—though smugglers can adapt fast. Climate Funding Call: West and Central Africa leaders are urging faster, community-focused climate finance as floods and droughts drive displacement. Desertification Reality: Ongoing Great Green Wall-style tree planting continues to fight Sahara-driven land loss across Sahel communities.

Sahel Tourism Lift: Chad and Mauritania are seeing a surge in international adventure interest as tour operators expand desert expeditions, pointing to new online visa systems and “more stable tourism corridors” despite wider security worries. Untamed Borders is planning a 17-day Ennedi Plateau trip for 2027 and has also grown Mauritania tours, where the Iron Ore Train route has become a hit with visitors. Climate Funding & Displacement: West and Central African leaders are urging faster climate finance as floods, droughts, and land damage keep pushing people to move—about 2 million were displaced by disasters in 2024. Migration Pressure on Europe: EU irregular border crossings fell 40% in early 2026, with the West African route down sharply, linked to preventive measures involving Mauritania, Senegal, and The Gambia. Green Industry Signals: Senegal’s gas plans and a $1.1bn green ammonia project in Jordan underline how governments are betting on cleaner energy to drive growth. Mauritania in the spotlight: The tourism and migration stories both place Mauritania at the center of regional shifts.

Sahel Tourism Lift: Mauritania and Chad are seeing a surge in international interest for Sahara travel, as operators roll out longer desert expeditions—like a planned 17-day Ennedi Plateau trip in Chad—while both countries expand online visa systems to make entry easier. Climate Funding Pressure: West and Central African leaders are urging faster, more targeted climate finance as floods, drought and land damage drive displacement, with millions already affected by disaster shocks. Migration Signals: EU data shows irregular crossings down 40% in early 2026, with a steep drop on the West African route tied to preventive steps by Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia—though smugglers can shift routes quickly. Energy & Industry Moves: Senegal’s gas plans and a major $7.5bn development agenda stay in focus, while broader energy transition talk is shifting toward integrated, reliable power systems. Mauritania in the Mix: The tourism uptick and visa reforms keep Mauritania tied to the Sahel’s wider climate-and-mobility story.

Climate Funding & Displacement: West and Central African leaders are urging faster, community-first climate finance as floods, droughts and land damage push more people to flee—about 2 million were displaced by disasters in 2024, and migration is increasingly being treated as a climate policy issue, not just a border issue. EU Migration Shift: Irregular entries into the EU fell 40% in early 2026, with the West African route down sharply—Frontex points to stronger regional preventive measures, including in Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia. Sahel Resilience Model: A WFP-led resilience push across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger is reducing reliance on emergency food aid, with land restoration and community ownership driving results. Mauritania in the Spotlight: Tourism and mobility are getting a boost via online visa systems, while regional attention also keeps landing on Mauritania’s role in migration trends. Health Watch: WHO reports a hantavirus cluster on the MV Hondius near Mauritania, with rising cases and ongoing monitoring.

Climate Funding & Displacement: West and Central African leaders are urging faster climate finance as floods, droughts and environmental damage push more people to flee—an IOM-backed roadmap in Lagos calls for money to reach vulnerable communities so migration stays “safe and informed,” not a last resort. EU Migration Shift: Preliminary Frontex data says irregular entries into the EU fell 40% in early 2026, with the West African route down 78%—linked to preventive measures involving Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia with Spain and the EU. Sahel Security: ECOWAS is moving toward a regional counterterror force, with financing flagged as a key hurdle as member states prepare troop contributions. Mauritania in the spotlight: Mauritania’s role shows up both in the EU migration drop and in regional cooperation signals, including high-level diplomatic exchanges. Health watch: WHO reports hantavirus cases on a cruise ship near the Mauritania-linked Atlantic route, with infections rising to 8 and 3 deaths.

Green Industry Push: Jordan has signed a 45-year deal worth about $1.1bn for a green ammonia plant near Aqaba, targeting 100,000 tonnes a year from 2030 and aiming to sell mostly to Europe—another sign of how “sun power” is being turned into export-ready clean fuel. Migration Pressure: EU irregular border crossings fell 40% in early 2026, with the West African route down 78%—Frontex credits preventive steps by Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia, while warning smugglers can quickly adapt. Energy Watch: Senegal’s Yakaar-Teranga deepwater gas plans are back in focus after Kosmos’ exit and Petrosen taking over, keeping a major $7.5bn gas project on the development agenda. Sahel Tourism: Chad and Mauritania are leaning into tourism growth with easier e-visas and new desert routes, including UNESCO-linked sites. Mining & Safety: First Quantum says it will align tailings storage with the Global Industry Standard by 2030, after publishing its 2025 sustainability reports.

Tailings & Climate Reporting: First Quantum just published its 2025 sustainability reports and pledged to align all tailings storage facilities with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management by 2030, using a risk-based rollout that prioritizes higher-risk sites. Mining Build-Out: In parallel, project updates keep coming—hard-rock works and key plant components are progressing on schedule for major copper projects, with construction milestones and resource reporting moving forward. Sahel Resilience in Practice: A new look at the Sahel Integrated Resilience Programme highlights results in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger—millions reached, degraded land restored, and fewer communities relying on emergency food aid. Education Pressure: Despite earlier gains, analysis shows out-of-school numbers in Africa have risen again in recent years, with population growth outpacing school participation. Security & Health Watch: ECOWAS is advancing plans for a regional counterterror force, while West Africa continues cross-border disease preparedness, including Lassa fever simulation work involving Mauritania.

Mining Update: Montage Gold says its Q1-2026 activities are on track, with details of operations and progress in its latest reporting. Education Pressure: New analysis highlights a worrying slide in school participation across Africa, with over 100 million children and adolescents still out of school as population growth outpaces progress. Regional Security: ECOWAS is moving to set up a regional counterterror force, with financing and troop readiness now key questions for the next phase. Climate-Smart Farming: At the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, King Letsie 111 pushed for resilient, climate-smart agriculture plus more local processing and regional trade to keep value in Africa. Health Watch (Mauritania-linked): A Lassa fever simulation in West Africa includes Mauritania, aiming to strengthen cross-border surveillance and response. Energy Integration: Coverage also argues Africa’s next energy step is integrated systems—generation plus storage, grids, and smarter coordination—not just more power.

Hantavirus Watch: A cruise-ship outbreak tied to the MV Hondius has grown to 8 infections and 3 deaths, with the only person-to-person-capable type (Andes virus) flagged—WHO says the risk to the public remains low as passengers are repatriated and monitored in places including Spain and the U.S. Health Security in West Africa: The U.S. CDC and partners launched a Lassa fever simulation in Benin, bringing together surveillance and lab teams from across the region, including Mauritania, to strengthen cross-border response. Education Pressure: New analysis shows more than 100 million African children and teens are still out of school, with progress stalling as population growth outpaces attendance gains. Regional Cooperation: ECOWAS is moving toward a regional counterterror force, while leaders at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi push for finance reform, peace funding, and energy transition. Green Wall Momentum: Great Green Wall reporting highlights slow, steady progress in restoring landscapes and livelihoods.