AGP Executive Report

Electricity Crisis Hits Freetown Hard: A worsening power squeeze is being blamed on a Karpowership debt dispute that has cut output to about 5.6–6MW—far below the 45MW dry-season contract—while Bumbuna is shut for maintenance, leaving prolonged blackouts across eastern communities and disrupting homes and businesses. Tariffs & Reform Push: In parallel, SLEWRC has launched a nationwide roadshow to explain updated electricity tariffs under MYTO II, aiming to boost transparency and consumer trust. Public Health Alarm: Sierra Leone is watching the Ebola situation in DR Congo closely as the outbreak expands and WHO declares it a public health emergency of international concern. Maternal Care Focus: A Sierra Leone study highlights how early screening for postpartum bleeding and sepsis risk could save mothers. Social Strain: A new report says begging—especially by strangers, children, and able-bodied men—has reached an all-time high, pointing to deeper system failures.

Ebola Emergency Escalates: The DR Congo Ebola outbreak has killed at least 131 people and exposed six Americans as WHO declares it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, with suspected cases now reported in a wider area and the virus crossing borders into Uganda. Health Systems Pressure: Officials warn the outbreak could outpace tracking, and the strain involved (Bundibugyo) has no approved drugs or vaccines—raising the stakes for fast containment. Climate Justice at the UN: Vanuatu is pushing a UN General Assembly vote to operationalize an ICJ advisory opinion that countries have binding duties to prevent and repair climate harm, despite resistance from major polluters. Sierra Leone Energy Transparency: SLEWRC launched a nationwide roadshow to explain electricity tariffs under MYTO II, aiming to protect consumers and attract renewable investment. TB Funding Push: African MPs pledged to cut donor reliance in the TB fight by boosting domestic health financing.

Electricity Tariffs Explained: SLEWRC has kicked off a nationwide roadshow to help people understand the updated Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO II) tool, with visits planned across Moyamba Town, Koribondo, Kono, Makeni and Feredugu, aiming for fair, predictable pricing and more consumer trust. Free Speech Under Pressure: Lawyers and activists are calling for the release of Sierra Leonean singer Zainab Sheriff, jailed for four years and two months after remarks tied to an election “crackdown” on dissent. Women’s Economic Push: First Lady Fatima Bio launched the Women’s Development Organization in Waterloo, linking her office to local needs and redirecting funds from the Hands Off Our Girls campaign into a Table Banking Project for market women. Health Leadership Abroad: Health Minister Austin Demby chaired a Global Financing Facility ministerial meeting in Geneva, urging shared responsibility to speed progress for women and children. Regional Cleanup Clarified: NTB says its Lumley Beach cleanup was ECOWAS-funded and coordinated alongside ongoing sanitation work.

Electricity Tariffs Explained: Sierra Leone’s electricity regulator, SLEWRC, has launched a nationwide roadshow to explain the updated MYTO II Tool and electricity tariff changes, aiming for fair, predictable pricing and more consumer protection while encouraging renewable energy investment. Free Speech Crackdown: Lawyers and activists are calling for the release of singer Zainab Sheriff, jailed for four years and two months over remarks they say were part of a wider crackdown on political dissent. Women’s Support Push: First Lady Fatima Bio has launched a Women’s Development Organization in Waterloo, promising to return for market infrastructure work and redirecting funds from her Hands Off Our Girls campaign into a table-banking project for market women. Ebola Aftermath Lives On: New reporting highlights how Ebola survivors across Liberia and Sierra Leone still struggle to rebuild normal lives—often facing poverty, stigma, and long-term health impacts. Sanitation Clarity: NTB has clarified its role in the Lumley Beach cleanup, saying ECOWAS funded it and NTB coordinated local cleaning alongside existing efforts. Health Financing in Geneva: Health Minister Austin Demby chaired a GFF ministerial meeting in Geneva, urging shared responsibility to speed progress for women and children.

Health Diplomacy: Sierra Leone marked International Nurses Day with the 27th Chinese medical team hosting a “Wonders of Acupuncture” TCM promotion event at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, featuring a street parade and training remarks from hospital leaders. Maternal Care Boost: A community health officer surgical training programme in Sierra Leone is credited with cutting maternal mortality risk by two-thirds, with trained teams now handling a large share of emergency caesarean sections nationwide. Ebola Warning: Congo’s Ebola outbreak is worsening—WHO says it could be much larger than currently detected, with a deadly strain and no proven tools for it yet. Women’s Safety & Climate Stress: Regional groups in Banjul urged stronger action against violence against women and girls, flagging cyberstalking, weak justice systems, and climate shocks as drivers of vulnerability. Governance & Identity: ECOWAS Parliament pushed to protect street children, while ID4Africa renewed calls for inclusive legal/digital identity for refugees and stateless people. Power Disruption: Bumbuna’s 12-day maintenance shutdown is set to interrupt electricity supply across parts of Sierra Leone from 18–29 May.

Ebola Alarm in Africa: A fast-moving Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo has killed at least 88 people, with two cases confirmed in Uganda and fears of more spread beyond borders; WHO has declared it a public health emergency, warning the detected cases may be only a fraction—especially as the Bundibugyo strain can be deadly and lacks proven tools to stop it. Aftermath in Sierra Leone & Liberia: Survivors are still struggling to rebuild lives after the 2014–16 West Africa crisis, facing poverty, stigma, and long-term health damage. Maternal Care Breakthrough: In Sierra Leone, a community health officer surgical training program (CapaCare) has helped cut maternal mortality risk by about two-thirds, with emergency obstetric care now available nationwide. Women’s Safety & Climate Stress: Across West Africa, groups are pushing for stronger action against violence against women, including cyberstalking and climate-driven vulnerability. ECOWAS Focus: ECOWAS Parliament adopted a resolution to protect street children and end exploitation. Power Disruption in Sierra Leone: Bumbuna’s 12-day maintenance shutdown starts 18 May, with parts of Freetown, Makeni and Magburaka affected.

Power Disruption in Sierra Leone: EDSA says Bumbuna Hydroelectric Plant and its 161kV line will shut for annual maintenance from 1:00 a.m. Monday, 18 May to 6:00 p.m. Friday, 29 May, affecting Freetown, Makeni and Magburaka, with thermal generators planned to soften the blow. Governance Spotlight: Sierra Leone is listed among the bottom five countries in a global good governance index, with the Philippines sliding four places to 59th. Regional Identity Push: ID4Africa speakers in Abidjan urged faster legal and digital identity for refugees and stateless people, warning that disconnected systems keep people locked out. ECOWAS Child Protection: ECOWAS Parliament adopted a resolution to protect street children and push member states to fund and enforce child protection, education and healthcare. Fuel Price Pressure Across Africa: A report on Middle East conflict impacts shows fuel hikes spreading—Sierra Leone recorded a 12.3% surge in the cited period.

Mulch-and-Car Moment: A New Bedford man reportedly stuffed his Toyota Camry with loose fresh mulch using tarps and buckets—then says it’s become a repeat routine, turning a viral stunt into a “why rent a truck?” lesson. Refugee Identity Push: At ID4Africa in Abidjan, speakers urged governments to include refugees and stateless people in legal and digital identity systems, with safeguards and better links between civil registration and national ID. Energy Forum Momentum: The Africa Energy Forum returns in Cape Town (16–19 June) with a focus on moving from energy access to industrial power—transmission, mining corridors, and baseload capacity. Fuel Price Pressure: A regional report flags steep fuel price hikes across Africa amid Middle East shocks, noting Sierra Leone’s reported increase alongside wider currency and deregulation pressures. Sierra Leone Power Disruption: Bumbuna’s 12-day maintenance (18 May–29 May) is set to interrupt supply in parts of the country, with thermal backup planned. ECOWAS Child Protection: ECOWAS Parliament adopted a resolution to protect street children and push member states to fund and enforce child protection measures.

Refugee ID push: At ID4Africa in Abidjan, speakers urged governments to give refugees and stateless people legal and digital identity—linking civil registration to national ID systems, with safeguards, easy corrections, and anti-misuse rules. Fuel-price pressure: A new regional look at the Middle East oil shock shows fuel hikes hitting hard across Africa; Sierra Leone is cited among countries facing a steep rise, underlining how global crude swings and weak currencies quickly feed into everyday costs. ECOWAS child protection: ECOWAS Parliament adopted a resolution to protect street children, end exploitation, and push member states to fund and enforce child protection, including access to education, healthcare, and birth registration. Sierra Leone power disruption: Bumbuna’s 12-day maintenance shutdown is set to interrupt electricity in parts of the country from 18 May to 29 May, with thermal backup planned. Climate finance access: A West Africa project backed by IDRC aims to strengthen climate finance systems and help vulnerable groups access low-carbon support across Sierra Leone, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal.

Fuel Shock: Ten African countries are seeing the steepest May 2026 fuel prices, a reminder that when global oil moves, transport, food, and business costs in the region jump fast. Water Access: The Church is expanding clean water and hygiene support across three countries, tackling a basic driver of illness and hardship. ECOWAS Politics: Sierra Leone’s Abdul Kargbo is pushing people-centred ECOWAS reforms as insecurity, democratic backsliding, and trust gaps deepen. Climate Finance Push: A new West Africa project aims to make climate finance easier to access for vulnerable groups, bringing policymakers and financiers into the same room. Sierra Leone Power Update: Bumbuna’s 12-day shutdown for maintenance is set to interrupt electricity in parts of the country, with thermal backup planned. Street Children: ECOWAS Parliament adopted a resolution to protect street children and end exploitation. Infectious Disease Funding: The US is offering $290m for early outbreak response—surveillance, labs, and rapid action.

Water & Health Access: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is stepping up clean water and hygiene support across three countries, including distributing household water filters and setting up handwashing support to cut illness risk. ECOWAS Governance Push: Sierra Leone’s opposition leader Abdul Kargbo used the ECOWAS Parliament session to call for people-centred reforms, warning that insecurity, democratic backsliding, and weak trust in institutions are pulling the region apart. Climate Finance for West Africa: A new three-year regional project led by REPRC-EfD (with partners including Sierra Leone, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal) aims to make climate finance systems more accessible for vulnerable communities. Sierra Leone Power Update: Bumbuna’s 12-day maintenance shutdown is set to interrupt electricity in parts of the country from 18 May to 29 May. Street Children Rights: ECOWAS Parliament adopted a resolution urging member states to protect street children, end exploitation, and move them off the streets with education and healthcare support.

Climate Finance Push: A new Africa-wide project led by Nigeria’s REPRC-EfD aims to make climate funding easier to access across West Africa, with Sierra Leone among the partners, and focuses on inclusive low-carbon development. Street Children Crackdown: ECOWAS Parliament adopted a resolution urging member states to protect street children, end exploitation, and move them off the streets with budgets, services, and stronger enforcement. Health Funding: The US is offering $290m for early infectious-disease outbreak response, targeting faster detection and containment in the first stages. Power Disruption in Sierra Leone: Bumbuna is set for a 12-day shutdown (May 18–29) for maintenance, with parts of Freetown, Makeni and Magburaka affected while thermal backup is deployed. Heat Preparedness: Cities are rehearsing extreme heat disasters—Paris-style drills show how planning is becoming urgent as deadly heat risks rise. Energy & Investment: The Africa Energy Forum (June 16–19) spotlights big capital for transmission, industrial power, and renewables—an ongoing theme as regional energy plans accelerate.

Education Push: WAEC is calling for better teachers and learning facilities after Ghana-led results reignited questions about school resources across West Africa. Coffee Value Chain: Eight African countries met in Morocco to launch a push for more local coffee processing and stronger market access, aiming to narrow the gap between what Africa produces and what it earns. Fisheries Transparency: Ghana reaffirmed plans to join the Fisheries Transparency Initiative, stressing credible data and open licensing to curb illegal fishing—Sierra Leone is also making progress. Power Disruption in Sierra Leone: Bumbuna’s 12-day maintenance shutdown is set to cut electricity supply from 18 May to 29 May, with thermal backup planned in key areas. Regional Security: ECOWAS is moving toward a counterterror force, but financing remains a key hurdle. Violence as a Baseline: A new global report warns conflict is spreading and normalizing dehumanization, with women and children hit hardest.

Power Disruption: Sierra Leone’s Bumbuna Hydroelectric Plant is set for a 12-day shutdown from 18 May to 29 May, with EDSA and EGTC planning diesel backup to limit outages in Freetown, Makeni and Magburaka. Mining Accountability: EPA-SL says it has secured $26.2m in environmental guarantees from 11 mining companies to fund mine rehabilitation and compliance—aimed at stopping the state from paying for cleanup. Border Crackdown: Police in Falaba arrested nine commercial motorbike riders and suspected Malian nationals during a targeted northern border operation, as authorities tighten controls on illegal crossings. Regional Governance: Sierra Leone is pushing ahead with human rights reporting at the UN in Geneva and continues work on fisheries transparency progress in the sub-region—where credible data and open licensing are key to protecting marine livelihoods. Climate Finance Watch: Liberia’s carbon market push is in the spotlight, with calls for strong oversight so forest communities don’t get squeezed by intermediaries.

Fisheries Transparency Push: Ghana is moving to implement the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), flagging unreliable stock data, opaque licensing, and weak institutions as key barriers—while Sierra Leone is also making progress and the region is aiming to submit FiTI applications by mid-2026. Power Disruption Ahead: Sierra Leone’s Bumbuna hydropower plant is set for a 12-day shutdown (May 18–29) for annual maintenance, with EDSA/EGTC planning thermal backup to limit outages in major towns. Carbon Market Watch: Liberia’s new Carbon Market Authority to trade forest carbon credits is drawing pressure to speed up, but experts warn weak oversight and “carbon cowboys” could repeat past timber-sector scandals—raising concerns about who benefits from carbon revenue. Border Security: Police in Falaba have arrested nine commercial motorbike riders and suspected Malian nationals during a targeted operation, as authorities tighten controls on illegal crossings. Health & Governance: Sierra Leone presented its human rights progress report at the UN in Geneva, including abolition of the death penalty and new criminal justice reforms.

Liberia–Carbon Push: President Boakai has moved to create a Carbon Market Authority to trade forest carbon credits, with international pressure to speed up carbon trading—raising hopes of major revenue, but also fears of weak oversight, “carbon cowboys,” and unfair deals for forest communities. ECOWAS Security: ECOWAS is set to establish a regional counterterror force, with financing flagged as the make-or-break issue for whether the plan can actually deploy. Sierra Leone–Governance & Rights: Sierra Leone presented its human rights progress report at the UN in Geneva, highlighting reforms like abolition of the death penalty and new criminal justice changes. Sierra Leone–Environment & Mining: EPA-SL secured $26.2m in mining environmental guarantees to fund mine rehabilitation, aiming to make companies—not the state—pay for restoration. Sierra Leone–Health & Inclusion: UNDP reopened a vocational centre for the blind in the South Eastern Region, training 100+ students with practical skills. Regional Development: UNDP and IITA began talks on agricultural transformation to boost jobs and resilience, especially for women and youth.