AGP Executive Report

US Visa Rules & Mobility: The US has made permanent a visa bond programme for citizens of 30 African countries, requiring up to $15,000 for B-1/B-2 visitor visas, while 24 African countries are exempt under the final rule effective 3 August 2026. Immigration Pressure on Africa: Amnesty and other monitors say “third-country removals” deals—reported to include Equatorial Guinea—can undermine asylum rights and expose deportees to detention and legal barriers. Education & Compliance: WAEC withheld 167,486 2026 WASSCE results (8.59% of candidates) over exam malpractice, citing phone use and organised cheating; WAEC also warned about delayed results for candidates backed by indebted state governments. Energy & Finance (Equatorial Guinea-linked): Kosmos Energy says it completed the sale of its interest in the Ceiba Field and Okume Complex in Equatorial Guinea, while Vaalco reported ongoing offshore Gabon drilling and declared a third-quarter dividend. Cybersecurity: INTERPOL reports AI now drives over 55% of reported cybercrime in Africa, with losses rising to $484m.

Energy & Finance: VAALCO Energy reported stronger Q2 2026 results, including higher sales volumes and net income of $42.4m, while outlining Q3 production guidance and noting a restart at Côte d’Ivoire’s Baobab field after refurbishment. Oil & Regional Supply Chains: Dangote Refinery is widening its crude feedstock, cutting Nigerian grades to 71% in July and adding more from Libya and other African producers, including Equatorial Guinea’s Lokele. Equatorial Guinea in Focus (Education/People-to-People): Russia’s Rossotrudnichestvo says it is expanding university quotas for Equatorial Guineans, with applications rising after quotas were doubled, and highlights a Malabo cultural partner presence. Security & Mobility: The US made permanent a visa bond programme for citizens of 30 African countries (up to $15,000 for B-1/B-2), while 24 African countries are exempt under the final rule effective 3 August. Cyber Risk: INTERPOL warns AI now powers 55%+ of reported cybercrime in Africa, with losses jumping to $484m, urging cross-border action. Education Integrity: WAEC withheld 167,486 WASSCE results over alleged malpractice, citing phone use and organised cheating.

Education & Compliance: WAEC withheld 167,486 WASSCE 2026 results (8.59% of candidates) across Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, citing exam malpractice including phone use despite bans and organised cheating; WAEC also flagged sanctions for supervisors/invigilators caught aiding candidates. Regional Agriculture Finance: East Africa’s agrifood push faces a funding and execution gap, with experts saying the challenge has shifted from political commitment to readiness to finance, execute and sustain transformation under the EAC’s 2026–2035 investment plan. Cybersecurity: INTERPOL reports AI is now linked to over 55% of reported cybercrime in Africa, with losses rising to $484m, warning that many legal frameworks predate today’s AI-driven tactics. Oil & Gas (Equatorial Guinea link): Kosmos Energy posted Q2 2026 results and said it completed the sale of its interest in the Ceiba Field and Okume Complex in Equatorial Guinea. People & Policy: A report highlights the US “third-country removals” approach, noting Equatorial Guinea is among countries with such agreements. Diplomacy & Skills: Rossotrudnichestvo says Russia is expanding education quotas for Equatorial Guineans, with applications rising after quotas were doubled.

US Visa Overhaul for Africa: The U.S. will stop routine visa processing at multiple African missions from Aug 1, 2026, pushing applicants to designated regional hubs; for Equatorial Guinea, services are expected to continue in Malabo, while other posts including Abuja and several others are affected. Central Africa Market Liquidity: A look at the BVMAC shows very thin trading—just a handful of equity trades and no bond trades—while banks recently sought large refinancing from the regional central bank, highlighting a mismatch between available funds and market activity. Oil & Gas Update (Gabon): VAALCO reported progress offshore Gabon, including bringing the ETBNM-3 gas-supply well on production and starting the ETSEM-3PH pilot/development campaign on the SEENT platform. Cybersecurity Risk: INTERPOL says AI now powers over 55% of reported cybercrime across Africa, with losses rising to $484m, underscoring mounting pressure on regional digital security. Education & Youth Mobility (Russia-Equatorial Guinea): Russia’s Rossotrudnichestvo says Equatorial Guinea’s quota applications for study in Russia rose after quotas were doubled, with interest concentrated in economics, IT and infrastructure-related fields. Agriculture Financing Watch (EAC): East Africa’s agrifood transformation faces a funding and execution gap despite new investment plans, with experts warning that pledges must translate into financed action.

Oil & Gas Update: VAALCO Energy says it has put the ETBNM-3 gas-supply well offshore Gabon on production, with reservoir results above pre-drill estimates and enough gas to cut field costs by reducing reliance on diesel; the company is also moving ahead with the ETSEM-3PH pilot and planned horizontal development near the SE Etame structure. Equatorial Guinea in Focus (Energy): Kosmos Energy reported Q2 results and said it completed the sale of its interest in the Ceiba Field and Okume Complex in Equatorial Guinea, alongside higher production and new Jubilee wells coming online. Cross-Border Policy Risk: A major U.S. consular overhaul will end routine visa processing at multiple African missions from Aug 1, 2026, pushing applicants to regional hubs—Malabo is listed as one of the continuing routine-processing locations. Regional Diplomacy & Borders: Angola and Equatorial Guinea signed a joint commitment agreement framework in Addis Ababa to implement the ICJ’s 2025 delimitation ruling, including mechanisms for demarcation and shared maritime resource management in Corisco Bay. Cybersecurity Threats: INTERPOL warns AI is now linked to over half of African cybercrime, with losses rising sharply as automated scams and identity fraud scale across borders.

Cybersecurity: INTERPOL says AI now powers more than 55% of cybercrime across Africa, with losses rising to $484m since 2024 as criminals automate phishing, ransomware, extortion and identity fraud. Regional diplomacy: A new “third-country removals” deal is cited as part of a US strategy that can send protected asylum seekers to other African states, including Equatorial Guinea. Education & people-to-people ties: Russia’s Rossotrudnichestvo and Equatorial Guinea’s ambassador discussed doubling student quotas for Malabo’s partner Russian House and expanding education-focused cooperation. Trade & markets: Central Africa’s BVMAC shows thin trading—four stock trades worth FCFA 9.27m—while banks sought FCFA 535.5bn in refinancing, highlighting liquidity pressure and weak market depth. Territorial settlement: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea signed an AU-backed agreement to implement the ICJ ruling on Corisco Bay islands and maritime delimitation. Energy & business: Kosmos Energy reported Q2 2026 results and completed its sale of interests in Equatorial Guinea’s Ceiba Field and Okume Complex.

US Visa Overhaul for Africa: The U.S. will stop routine visa processing at its Abuja embassy and 24 other African missions from Aug 1, 2026, shifting applicants to designated regional hubs (including Malabo and Libreville), with the State Department citing tighter security screening and lower costs. Central Africa Markets vs Liquidity: A look at BVMAC trading shows very light activity on both equities and bonds, even as banks in the monetary union sought large refinancing from BEAC—highlighting a gap between available resources and how they’re used. Oil & LNG Update: Kosmos Energy reported Q2 2026 results, including net income of $185m, higher oil-equivalent production, and progress at Jubilee and Greater Tortue Ahmeyim, while noting it completed a sale of its Equatorial Guinea Ceiba/Okume interests. Territorial Deal in Corisco Bay: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea signed a joint commitment agreement to implement the ICJ May 19, 2025 delimitation ruling, setting up technical commissions for border demarcation and shared maritime resource management. Governance & Finance: France’s “ill-gotten gains” probe linked to Equatorial Guinea is moving toward trial, with prosecutors seeking indictments involving major financial institutions and political families.

US Visa Overhaul for Africa: The U.S. will stop routine visa processing at its Abuja embassy and 24 other African missions from August 1, 2026, shifting applicants to designated regional hubs to improve security screening and consistency; the change won’t close posts or affect valid visas. Oil & Gas Business: Kosmos Energy reported Q2 2026 results, including net income of $185m and ~71,400 boepd production, and said it completed the sale of its interest in Equatorial Guinea’s Ceiba Field and Okume Complex. Territorial & Maritime Deal: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea signed a joint commitment agreement in Addis Ababa to implement the ICJ ruling on land and maritime delimitation in Corisco Bay, including islands Mbanié, Cocotiers and Conga. Energy Sector Watch: Vaalco Energy set its Q2 2026 earnings release for August 6 and conference call for August 7, with assets across Gabon, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea. Agribusiness Momentum: A new push across Africa highlights agribusiness as a jobs engine, pointing to initiatives like Angola’s AgriConnect Compact and the continent’s growing food market.

Oil & LNG Update: Kosmos Energy reported Q2 2026 net income of $185m and net cash from operating activities of about $175m, with production up ~12% to ~71,400 boe/d; the company also said it completed the sale of its Ceiba Field and Okume Complex interests in Equatorial Guinea and expects Jubilee output to rise above 90,000 bopd after new wells come online. Wildlife & Trade Risks: A DNA study links pangolin parts sold in local wild-meat markets to the same source regions feeding international trafficking networks, highlighting how domestic markets in Central Africa can connect to global criminal supply chains. US Visa Processing Shift (Regional Impact): The US announced routine visa services will stop at its Abuja embassy and 24 other African missions from Aug 1, 2026, with applicants redirected to designated regional hubs that include Malabo—an operational change that could affect business travel and hiring plans. Territorial & Legal Developments: Angola witnessed Gabon and Equatorial Guinea signing a joint commitment agreement to implement an ICJ ruling on land and maritime delimitation in Corisco Bay, setting up technical commissions for border demarcation and shared resource management. Energy Governance Context: A broader report argues Africa’s “energy curse” persists because policy choices prioritize hard-currency exports over universal electricity access—relevant for investors watching power-sector reforms.

US Visa Overhaul for Africa: The U.S. will stop routine visa processing at its Abuja embassy and 24 other African missions from Aug 1, 2026, sending applicants to 20 regional hubs (including Malabo, Libreville, and Yaoundé) as Washington cites tighter security screening and lower costs. US Visa Bond List Update: A new breakdown says 24 African countries are not on the U.S. visa-bond requirement list, even as about 30 African nations are flagged overall. Border Deal for Equatorial Guinea: Angola witnessed the signing of a joint commitment agreement between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to end their long territorial dispute, setting mechanisms to implement an ICJ ruling on land and maritime delimitation in Corisco Bay. Energy & Investment Context: A Bloomberg report argues “energy curse” dynamics still haunt fast-growing economies, while separate coverage highlights Africa’s persistent electricity access gap. Regional Business Watch: French prosecutors have moved to seek trial in the long-running “ill-gotten gains” case involving alleged corruption linked to Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Congo elites.

US Visa Overhaul for Africa: The U.S. will stop routine visa processing at its Abuja embassy and 24 other African missions from Aug 1, 2026, redirecting applicants to regional hubs including Malabo and Libreville; the State Department says the shift targets tighter security screening, lower costs, and more consistent adjudication. Territorial Deal in Corisco Bay: Angola-based reporting says Gabon and Equatorial Guinea signed a Joint Commitment Agreement in Addis Ababa to implement the ICJ ruling on land and maritime delimitation around Mbanié, Cocotiers and Conga, with technical commissions set for border demarcation and shared resource management. CEMAC Banking Liquidity: In the CEMAC bloc (including Equatorial Guinea), BEAC’s July 22 refinancing demand rose to CFA680bn after rate cuts, as banks borrow more from the central bank—an early signal of renewed credit appetite. Energy & Power Sector Context: A week of coverage also highlighted the wider energy investment push across Central Africa and the persistent electricity reliability challenge across the region, underscoring why power projects remain a key business opportunity. France “Ill-Gotten Gains” Case: French prosecutors moved to seek trials tied to alleged corruption involving ruling families from Gabon, Congo and Equatorial Guinea, including requests involving BNP Paribas.

US Visa Overhaul for Africa: The U.S. will stop routine visa processing at its Abuja embassy and 24 other African missions from Aug 1, 2026, redirecting applicants to designated regional hubs including Malabo and Libreville, with the stated goals of tighter security screening and more consistent standards. Local Business Impact: For Equatorial Guinea-based travelers and firms, this means more planning for business travel and work-related applications as services shift away from some posts. Regional Borders & Resources: Angola witnessed the signing of a Gabon–Equatorial Guinea Joint Commitment Agreement to implement the 2025 ICJ ruling on land and maritime delimitation in Corisco Bay, setting up technical commissions for border demarcation and shared maritime resource management. Energy & Investment: Vaalco Energy scheduled its Q2 2026 earnings release for Aug 6, with the company holding assets across Gabon, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea—watch this for updates that could affect regional upstream investment. Governance & Finance: France’s “ill-gotten gains” probe advances as prosecutors seek trials involving BNP Paribas and individuals linked to alleged corruption cases tied to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

US Visa Overhaul for Africa: The U.S. will stop routine visa processing at its Abuja embassy and 24 other African missions from August 1, 2026, redirecting applicants to designated regional hubs (including Malabo, Libreville, Lagos, Luanda and Yaoundé) as part of a consular restructuring aimed at tighter security screening and more consistent adjudication. Regional Finance: In CEMAC, banks are stepping up borrowing from BEAC after recent rate cuts, with refinancing requests rising to CFA680bn on July 22, signaling stronger demand for central bank liquidity across Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Central African Republic. Territorial Deal in the Gulf of Corisco: Angola-based reporting says Gabon and Equatorial Guinea signed a Joint Commitment Agreement at the AU to implement the ICJ ruling on land and maritime delimitation, including mechanisms for border demarcation and shared resource management around Mbanié, Cocotiers and Conga. Energy & Markets: Vaalco Energy scheduled its Q2 2026 earnings release for August 6 and a conference call for August 7, with assets across Gabon, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea. Anti-Corruption in France: French prosecutors have requested trials tied to the long-running “ill-gotten gains” probe, including BNP Paribas and individuals linked to former Gabonese President Omar Bongo’s family, with Equatorial Guinea named in the original complaint.

US Visa Overhaul for Africa: The US Department of State says routine visa processing will stop at its Abuja embassy and 24 other African missions from August 1, 2026, with applicants redirected to 20 regional hubs (including Malabo and Libreville). The stated goals are tighter security screening, lower costs, and more consistent adjudication. Regional Banking Liquidity (CEMAC): In the CEMAC zone, banks are borrowing more from BEAC after rate cuts, with refinancing requests rising to CFA680bn on July 22—an early sign that cheaper central-bank funding may flow into credit for businesses and households. Cross-Border Deal (Gabon–Equatorial Guinea): Angola’s Addis Ababa signing reports a Joint Commitment Agreement between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to implement the ICJ May 19, 2025 ruling on land and maritime delimitation in Corisco Bay, including technical commissions for border demarcation and shared maritime resources. Energy & Investment Context: A broader Africa energy debate highlights how fossil-fuel wealth hasn’t translated into universal electricity access, keeping pressure on governments to shift from export-led gains to power delivery and public investment.

Territorial Settlement: Angola witnessed the signing of a Joint Commitment Agreement between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in Addis Ababa, setting mechanisms to implement the ICJ ruling on land and maritime delimitation and sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay, with bilateral technical commissions to demarcate borders and manage shared maritime resources. Consular & Mobility Policy: The U.S. announced routine visa processing will stop at its Abuja embassy and 24 other African posts from August 1, 2026, redirecting applicants to regional hubs; Malabo is listed as continuing to handle nonimmigrant visas, while Yaoundé becomes a regional hub for several countries including Equatorial Guinea for immigrant cases. Regional Banking Liquidity: In CEMAC, commercial banks increased refinancing demand from BEAC after rate cuts, with BEAC receiving CFA680bn on July 22; the central bank said cheaper liquidity should support lending across Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Energy & Investment Outlook: Vaalco Energy scheduled its Q2 2026 earnings release for August 6 and conference call for August 7, noting its portfolio includes production and development assets across Gabon, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea. Sports & Business Interest: WAFCON Group B spotlight includes South Africa’s opener against Tanzania, with Equatorial Guinea noted as having won the title twice historically.

Territorial Settlement: Angola witnessed the signing of a Joint Commitment Agreement between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to end a decades-long land and maritime dispute, setting mechanisms to implement the ICJ ruling and create bilateral technical commissions for border demarcation and shared maritime resource management in Corisco Bay. Regional Diplomacy: Equatorial Guinea’s foreign minister, Simeon Oyono Esono Angue, arrived in Addis Ababa for the AU Executive Council session, underscoring the country’s active role in continental policy talks. Consular & Mobility: The U.S. announced a major consular overhaul: routine visa processing will stop at its Abuja mission and 24 other African posts from August 1, 2026, with applicants redirected to regional hubs—while Malabo will continue handling nonimmigrant visas. CEMAC Banking Liquidity: BEAC data shows commercial banks in CEMAC, including Equatorial Guinea, are borrowing more from the central bank after rate cuts, with refinancing demand rising to CFA680 billion in the latest operation. Energy & Investment Context: A separate regional focus on power and water investment is emerging, with Cameroon discussing U.S. business opportunities in generation, grid expansion and mini-grids—relevant for investors watching Central Africa’s infrastructure pipeline.