AGP Executive Report

Mining Revenue Crackdown: President Félix Tshisekedi ordered Congo’s revenue agencies to avoid heavy-handed enforcement against mining firms, warning that bank seizures and unpredictable fiscal charges could hurt investor confidence as a major $3B tax dispute with Glencore escalates. Tax Enforcement Hits Production: Congo’s tax authority sealed Glencore’s Kamoto Copper Company facilities near Kolwezi, halting extraction and processing while legal teams negotiate over alleged unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest. Forest Protection Push: Congo’s Environment Minister reaffirmed the logging moratorium won’t be lifted, as a coalition of 70 groups urged the government to keep the ban to protect Congo Basin forests, biodiversity, and community rights. Ecosystem & Wildlife Under Pressure: A Kinshasa sanctuary for orphaned bonobos highlights how poaching and bushmeat demand still threaten legally protected great apes, with calls to curb killing and trafficking. Ebola Response Strains: The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC keeps accelerating, with treatment centres at saturation and contact-tracing coverage around 60%, leaving thousands of contacts undiscovered. Air Pollution Snapshot (Kinshasa): Despite rain in the region, Kinshasa remains among the most polluted cities in global air-quality rankings, underscoring ongoing health risks from dirty air.

Mining enforcement: Liberia announced a new task force to crack down on illegal mining, aiming for intelligence-led inspections, stronger enforcement, and tighter checks on environmental and labor rules. DRC tax pressure on mining: The DRC tax authority sealed Kamoto Copper Company facilities near Kolwezi, halting production as a $3B dispute with Glencore escalates. Forest protection vs logging: A coalition of 70+ environmental and human rights groups urged Kinshasa to keep the moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning that lifting it could open tens of millions of hectares and damage Congo Basin biodiversity. Wildlife rescue: Lola ya Bonobo in the Kinshasa area highlighted how poaching and bushmeat demand still threaten endangered bonobos, even with legal protection. Ebola response strain: Eastern DRC’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is still accelerating; treatment centres are saturated, contact tracing coverage is only about 60%, and health workers are warning of strike action amid unpaid benefits and poor conditions. Air pollution context: Reports on Kinshasa’s high pollution levels and regional air-quality swings underscore ongoing public health pressure from dirty air.

Illegal Mining Crackdown: Liberia announced a new task force, PORT, to step up inspections and enforcement, aiming to curb illegal gold mining, reduce environmental damage, and improve royalty compliance. DRC Forest Protection Push: A coalition of 70+ groups urged Kinshasa to keep the moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning that lifting it could open tens of millions of hectares of Congo Basin forest and weaken climate and biodiversity commitments. Ebola Response Under Strain: In eastern DRC, the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is still accelerating; treatment centres are saturated, contact tracing covers about 60% of cases, and funding gaps persist as health workers threaten strike action. Mining Dispute Hits Production: The DRC tax authority sealed Glencore’s Kamoto Copper Company facilities near Kolwezi, halting extraction and processing amid a $3B tax dispute. Cobalt Export Quota Bottleneck: A customs registration failure has reportedly stranded about 20,000 tonnes of cobalt and risks canceling over $1.1B in export quotas unless systems reopen before July 5. Wildlife Sanctuary Spotlight: Lola ya Bonobo in Kinshasa is caring for orphaned bonobos rescued from poaching and bushmeat demand, highlighting ongoing threats to biodiversity. Air Pollution Context: Reports on Kinshasa’s high AQI underscore how pollution remains a major public health concern across the region.

DRC Forest Protection Under Pressure: More than 70 environmental and human rights groups are urging the DRC government to keep its moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning that lifting the ban could open tens of millions of hectares of Congo Basin forest and weaken climate and biodiversity commitments. Ebola Response Strained: In eastern DRC, the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is still accelerating, with treatment centres at saturation point and contact-tracing coverage around 60%, while health workers warn of strike action over unpaid benefits and harsh conditions as deaths pass 500. Mining, Taxes and Environment: The DRC tax authority has sealed Kamoto Copper Company facilities near Kolwezi in a move tied to a $3B dispute with Glencore, halting production and escalating tensions that could ripple through jobs and local impacts. Wildlife Conservation: A rare bonobo sanctuary outside Kinshasa is caring for orphaned great apes rescued from poaching and bushmeat demand, highlighting how enforcement and community education remain crucial for biodiversity. Heat Risk and Urban Planning: An Oxford University study ranks the world’s most heat-risk cities, showing that high-risk hotspots cluster heavily across South/Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa—an urgent warning for cities facing warming and uneven preparedness. Air Pollution Watch (Kinshasa in focus): While monsoon rains improved air quality in Dhaka to “moderate,” Kinshasa continues to appear among the most polluted cities in global AQI rankings, underscoring ongoing air-health risks.

Ebola Response Under Strain: Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is still accelerating, with treatment centres already saturated, contact-tracing covering only about 60% of cases, and health workers warning of worsening conditions as the death toll surpasses 500. Forest Protection Pushback: Over 70 environmental and human rights groups urge Kinshasa to keep the national moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning that lifting it could open tens of millions of hectares of Congo Basin forest and hit biodiversity and forest-dependent communities. Mining, Taxes and Copper Output: DRC tax authorities have sealed Kamoto Copper Company facilities controlled by Glencore, halting production at the Kolwezi site as a $3 billion tax dispute escalates. Cobalt Export Quota Bottleneck: A customs registration failure is reportedly blocking cobalt export declarations, leaving about 20,000 tonnes stranded and threatening more than $1.1 billion in export quotas. Wildlife Sanctuary Against Poaching: Lola ya Bonobo in Kinshasa is caring for orphaned bonobos rescued from poachers and bushmeat networks, highlighting ongoing threats to endangered great apes.

Mining & Tax Enforcement: Congo’s tax authority (DGI) has sealed Glencore’s Kamoto Copper Company facilities near Kolwezi, halting extraction and processing as a major escalation in a $3B tax dispute. Air Pollution Watch: While rain temporarily improved Dhaka’s air to “moderate” (AQI 86), Kinshasa still ranks among the world’s most polluted cities in the same AQI reporting cycle—highlighting how urban air quality remains a pressing health issue across the region. Ebola Response Pressure: In eastern DRC, Bundibugyo Ebola is still moving faster than the response; treatment centres are at saturation, contact tracing covers only about 60%, and health workers are warning of strikes amid unpaid benefits and harsh conditions. Forest Protection vs Logging Plans: A coalition of 70+ groups urges Kinshasa to keep the moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning that lifting it could open tens of millions of hectares of Congo Basin forest and weaken climate and biodiversity commitments. Cobalt Export Risk: A customs registration failure is reportedly blocking cobalt export declarations, threatening more than $1.1B in export quota losses for major producers ahead of a July 5 deadline.

Ebola Response Under Strain: The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC is still accelerating, with treatment centres already saturated and contact-tracing coverage around 60%—leaving thousands of contacts untracked as insecurity, displacement, and funding gaps complicate the fight. Frontline Pressure: Health workers report unpaid benefits and dire conditions, with threats of strike action as the death toll surpasses 500 and cases keep outpacing response efforts. New Tools, Still Not Enough: WHO has granted emergency use for the first molecular test validated for Bundibugyo, and a clinical trial has begun, but recent attacks on a treatment centre show how fragile progress remains. Forest Protection Pushback: Over 70 environmental and human rights groups urge DRC to keep its moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning lifting the ban could open tens of millions of hectares and undermine Congo Basin biodiversity and climate goals. Wildlife Sanctuary: Lola ya Bonobo in Kinshasa is caring for orphaned bonobos rescued from poaching and bushmeat demand, highlighting ongoing threats to great apes. Air Pollution Watch: Kinshasa has been among the world’s most polluted cities in recent AQI reports, underscoring health risks from urban air quality.

Ebola Response Under Strain: In eastern DRC, the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is still not at its peak, but treatment centres are already saturated and contact-tracing coverage sits around 60%, while funding for Africa CDC’s regional plan is less than half secured. New Tools, Still Dangerous Gaps: WHO has granted emergency use listing for the first molecular diagnostic validated for Bundibugyo, and the first patient has been enrolled in a PARTNERS treatment trial—yet violence is disrupting care, including an attack that burned an Ituri treatment centre. Forest Protection Pushback: Over 70 environmental and human rights groups are urging DRC to keep its moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning that lifting it could open tens of millions of hectares of Congo Basin forest and undermine climate and biodiversity commitments. Cobalt Export Headache: Major cobalt producers face a customs registration bottleneck that could cancel more than $1.1B in export quotas, with thousands of tonnes at risk as a July 5 deadline nears. Air Quality Watch: Kinshasa has appeared among the world’s most polluted cities in recent AQI rankings, underscoring ongoing urban air pollution risks.

Ebola Response Under Strain: Eastern DRC’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is still accelerating, with treatment centres already saturated and contact-tracing covering only about 60% of cases; Africa CDC’s chief warns the response must be scaled up fast as funding remains below target and frontline workers threaten strike action. New Tools for a Hard-to-Stop Virus: WHO has granted emergency use for the first molecular diagnostic validated for Bundibugyo, and a first patient has entered the PARTNERS clinical trial for treatment—progress, but the outbreak has also seen a treatment centre attacked and burned, worsening mistrust and violence. Forest Protection vs Timber Push: A coalition of 70+ environmental and human rights groups urges Kinshasa to keep the moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning that lifting it could open tens of millions of hectares of Congo Basin forest and undermine climate and biodiversity commitments. Oil Expansion Transparency Call: Greenpeace Africa and partners ask DRC and Uganda to reject oil expansion plans in the Albertine Graben around Lake Albert unless transparency, public participation, and community consent are fully respected. Congo Basin Wildlife Under Pressure: The Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary near Kinshasa says orphaned bonobos are still threatened by poaching and bushmeat demand, relying on protection and education to keep them alive. Urban Air Pollution Watch: Reports highlight serious air pollution episodes affecting Kinshasa and other cities, with health warnings tied to particulate pollution and public exposure.

Ebola Response Under Strain: The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC has pushed past 500 deaths, with frontline health workers threatening a strike over unpaid benefits and harsh conditions, while WHO has now authorized the first molecular diagnostic for the strain and a patient was enrolled in a treatment trial—progress, but still shadowed by attacks on care centers and weak contact tracing. Forest Protection vs Timber Expansion: Over 70 environmental and human rights groups are urging Kinshasa to keep the moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning that lifting it could open tens of millions of hectares of Congo Basin forest and damage biodiversity and community livelihoods. Wildlife Conservation in Kinshasa: Lola ya Bonobo, the world’s only sanctuary for orphaned bonobos, is spotlighting ongoing poaching pressure and the need to protect apes from bushmeat demand. Mining and Trade Pressure: Cobalt exporters face a customs registration “blackout” that could strand shipments and jeopardize more than $1.1B in export quotas. Oil Transparency in Lake Albert Region: Greenpeace Africa and partners call for transparency and rejection of oil expansion plans in the Albertine Graben, citing risks to communities and shared ecosystems. Finance for Growth: DRC is preparing to launch the Kinshasa Stock Exchange to broaden access to capital and support long-term investment beyond mining.

Forest Protection Push: Over 70 environmental and human rights groups urge the DRC to keep its moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning that lifting it could open tens of millions of hectares of Congo Basin forest and weaken climate and biodiversity commitments. Ebola Response Under Strain: Bundibugyo Ebola continues to surge, with WHO granting emergency authorization for the first molecular test for the strain and starting a treatment trial, while frontline workers threaten strike action over unpaid benefits and harsh conditions; meanwhile, attacks on an Ituri treatment centre killed two people and forced patients to flee. Wildlife Sanctuary Spotlight: Lola ya Bonobo in Kinshasa cares for orphaned baby bonobos rescued from poachers and bushmeat networks, highlighting how demand for wildlife drives illegal trade even where protection exists. Mining & Trade Pressure: A customs registration system failure is reportedly blocking cobalt export paperwork, risking cancellation of more than $1.1B in export quotas and leaving thousands of tonnes stranded ahead of deadlines. Finance & Growth: The DRC moves toward launching the Kinshasa Stock Exchange to broaden access to capital and support long-term investment beyond mining. Oil Transparency Demand: Greenpeace Africa joins a coalition calling on Tshisekedi and Museveni to reject oil expansion plans in the Albertine Graben around Lake Albert without transparency and community consent. Industrialization Drive: In Lubumbashi, ministers inaugurated new manufacturing projects, including underground electrical cable and square tube factories, as part of a push for local processing and reduced import dependence.

Ebola Response Under Strain: Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola death toll has surpassed 500 as frontline workers threaten a strike over unpaid benefits and harsh conditions, while WHO has now authorized the first molecular diagnostic for the strain and a clinical trial begins—progress, but response teams still face mistrust and violence. Forest Protection vs Timber Expansion: A coalition of 70+ environmental and human rights groups urges Kinshasa to keep the moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning that lifting it could open tens of millions of hectares of Congo Basin forest and weaken climate and biodiversity commitments. Wildlife Sanctuary for Bonobos: Lola ya Bonobo in Kinshasa cares for orphaned baby bonobos rescued from poaching and bushmeat networks, highlighting how demand for ape meat still drives illegal trade. Oil and Community Rights: Greenpeace Africa joins calls for transparency and rejection of oil expansion plans in the Albertine Graben around Lake Albert, warning of risks to communities and shared ecosystems. Mining and Policy Pressure: Major cobalt producers face a customs registration bottleneck that could strand exports and jeopardize more than $1.1B in quota allocations. Industrial Push in Lubumbashi: Ministers Paluku and Kalumba backed new manufacturing investments, including factories for underground electrical cables and square tubes, as part of DRC’s industrialization drive. Kinshasa Stock Exchange: DRC prepares to launch the Kinshasa Stock Exchange to strengthen capital markets and attract investment beyond mining.

Industrial Push in Haut-Katanga: Ministers Julien Paluku and Justin Kalumba toured Lubumbashi, inaugurating plants for underground electrical cables and square tubes—aimed at deeper local processing, fewer imports, and stronger jobs under the DRC’s industrialization drive. Forest Protection Under Pressure: A coalition of 70+ environmental and human rights groups urged Kinshasa to keep the moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning that lifting it could open tens of millions of hectares of Congo Basin forest and weaken climate and biodiversity commitments. Ebola Response Under Strain: Bundibugyo Ebola in eastern DRC passed 500 deaths as frontline health workers threatened strike action over unpaid benefits and harsh conditions; meanwhile, WHO granted emergency authorization for the first molecular diagnostic for the strain and researchers push monoclonal antibody work, but attacks on treatment centers and mistrust keep progress fragile. Wildlife Sanctuary Spotlight: Lola ya Bonobo in Kinshasa continues caring for orphaned baby bonobos rescued from poaching and bushmeat networks, stressing education and protection as demand persists. Cobalt Export Disruption: A customs registration system failure is leaving major cobalt producers unable to complete export declarations, risking cancellation of over $1.1B in quota allocations. Oil Transparency Call: Greenpeace Africa joined a coalition urging full transparency and rejection of oil expansion plans in the Albertine Graben around Lake Albert, warning of threats to communities and shared ecosystems.

Ebola response under pressure: The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in DRC has surpassed 500 deaths, with frontline health workers in Ituri threatening a strike over unpaid benefits and harsh conditions, as cases keep outpacing the response. Diagnostics and trials move forward: WHO granted emergency authorization for the first molecular test validated for Bundibugyo virus, and the first patient was enrolled in the PARTNERS clinical trial—progress, but still amid attacks on treatment centers and deep mistrust. Forest protection vs logging expansion: A coalition of 70+ groups is urging DRC’s government to keep the national moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, warning draft legislation could open tens of millions of hectares of tropical forest to timber. Wildlife sanctuary fight: Lola ya Bonobo in Kinshasa is caring for orphaned baby bonobos rescued from poaching and bushmeat networks, highlighting ongoing demand pressures. Mining and pollution pressures: Cobalt exporters warn a customs registration failure could jeopardize over $1.1B in export quotas, while Kinshasa’s air quality has been among the world’s worst in recent days, underscoring health risks from pollution.

Ebola Response Under Strain: Congo’s escalating Ebola outbreak has surpassed 500 deaths, with 1,561 cases and 506 deaths reported since 15 May, as frontline workers in Ituri threaten a strike over unpaid benefits and unsafe conditions. Forest Protection vs Timber Push: A coalition of 70+ groups warns the DRC government may lift the national moratorium on new industrial logging concessions, potentially opening tens of millions of hectares of tropical forest to timber. Hope for Bundibugyo Ebola: DRC’s top Ebola scientist says there is still hope as WHO grants emergency authorization for a Bundibugyo diagnostic and a clinical trial begins, even as responders face mistrust and violence. Wildlife Under Pressure: Lola ya Bonobo in Kinshasa is caring for orphaned baby bonobos rescued from poachers and bushmeat networks, highlighting how demand still drives illegal killing despite legal protection. Air Pollution Watch: Reports of “very unhealthy” air in and around Washington, D.C. after July 4 fireworks add to a wider pollution picture that also flags high AQI readings in Kinshasa.

Ebola Response (Bundibugyo): DRC’s top Ebola scientist Jean‑Jacques Muyembe says “there is still hope” as Bundibugyo cases pass 1,000 and the death toll climbs above 321 in DRC, with no licensed vaccine or cure yet; an American team is being lined up to develop a monoclonal antibody. Ebola Diagnostics (WHO): WHO granted Emergency Use Listing for the first internationally validated molecular test for Bundibugyo virus, and the first patient was enrolled in the PARTNERS trial—though response efforts are still hit by violence, including an attack that burned an Ituri treatment centre. Wildlife & Poaching Pressure: Lola ya Bonobo in Kinshasa is caring for orphaned baby bonobos rescued from poachers or bushmeat trafficking, warning that legal protection isn’t enough when demand for bushmeat drives illegal hunting. Oil & Climate Accountability: Greenpeace Africa joined a coalition urging Tshisekedi and Museveni to reject oil expansion in the Albertine Graben around Lake Albert, calling for transparency and community consent to protect shared ecosystems. Governance & Security (Ebola curbs): DRC has banned public gatherings and marches in Kinshasa plus Tshopo, Haut-Uele and Bas-Uele to reduce community transmission risk. Minerals & Trade Risk: A customs registration glitch is threatening to strand about 20,000 tonnes of cobalt and jeopardize more than $1.1B in export quotas.