AGP Executive Report

Desert Locust Alert: UN/FAO reports a locust upsurge building in Northwest Africa, with Morocco the main hotspot and Algeria, Mauritania and Sahel states bracing for possible summer migrations. Clean Energy & Trade Links: Mauritania is set to feed into a new West African Atlantic Gas Pipeline phase, with an environmental and social impact assessment covering nearly 6,900 km across 13 countries and Morocco’s $25B segment including offshore receiving and links to the Maghreb-Europe line. Business Tourism Boost: IFC committed up to $15M to expand Grands Hôtels de Mauritanie’s Sheraton Nouakchott Hotel, aiming to grow business travel, jobs, and local supplier value chains. Water Security Push: The African Water Forum opened in Chad with leaders warning that climate change is worsening water stress, calling for urgent action on governance and funding. Marine Pollution Watch: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, are harmonising microplastics monitoring protocols to strengthen coastal pollution control. Humanitarian Cooperation: OIC officials meeting in Nouakchott urged stronger Red Crescent/Red Cross coordination to respond to conflicts, disasters and climate impacts. Western Sahara Spotlight: A new media focus highlights ongoing repression and resource plunder claims amid the long independence struggle.

Desert Locust Alert: UN FAO reports a locust upsurge building across Northwest Africa, with Morocco the main hotspot and Algeria, Mauritania and Sahel countries bracing for possible summer migrations. Water Security: The African Water Forum opened in Chad with leaders warning that climate change and falling storage threaten safe drinking water for hundreds of millions, including calls for urgent regional action. Marine Pollution Watch: Scientists from 21 African countries met in Accra to harmonise protocols for monitoring microplastics in coastal waters, with Mauritania among participants pushing for comparable data to guide policy. Business Tourism Boost: The IFC committed up to $15m to expand Mauritania’s Sheraton Nouakchott Hotel, citing jobs and stronger local supply chains as business travel grows. Regional Health Cooperation: Somalia’s health minister joined a Nouakchott forum on health investment, focusing on financing and resilient healthcare systems through South-South partnerships. Humanitarian Coordination: OIC and Arab Red Crescent meetings in Nouakchott stressed stronger cooperation to tackle crises driven by conflict, disasters and climate change. Food & Farming Innovation: A Senegal River valley experiment explores adding tilapia to rice fields to improve nutrition and tackle disease and food insecurity.

Locust Watch: UN/FAO reports a desert locust upsurge in Northwest Africa, with Morocco the main hotspot and Algeria, Mauritania and Sahel states bracing for possible summer migrations. Water Security: The African Water Forum opened in Chad with leaders warning that climate change and falling storage are worsening a continent-wide drinking water crisis. Marine Pollution: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, met in Accra to harmonise monitoring protocols for microplastics in coastal waters, aiming for comparable data to guide policy. Business Tourism Boost: IFC committed up to $15M to expand Mauritania’s Sheraton Nouakchott Hotel, citing jobs and stronger local supply chains. Health Cooperation: Somalia’s health minister joined a regional health investment forum in Nouakchott, focusing on financing and resilient healthcare systems. Humanitarian Coordination: OIC officials met in Nouakchott to push stronger Red Crescent/Red Cross cooperation amid conflicts, natural disasters and climate change. Human Rights & Climate Lens: A Mauritania-focused debate on the Leblouh force-feeding tradition resurfaced, highlighting child health risks.

Water Security: African leaders and water experts opened the African Water Forum in Chad, warning that over 400 million Africans still lack safe drinking water and that climate change could sharply cut regional GDP by 2050; Mauritania’s leaders attended as the meeting pushes water governance, infrastructure funding, and regional cooperation. Desert Locust Watch: UN FAO monitoring reports an emerging desert locust upsurge across Northwest Africa, with Morocco the main hotspot and teams in Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Sahel preparing for possible summer migrations and new breeding. Mauritania Tourism & Jobs: The IFC committed up to $15M to expand Grands Hôtels de Mauritanie’s Sheraton Nouakchott Hotel, aiming to boost business tourism, create employment, and strengthen local supplier value chains. Marine Pollution Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, met in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, supporting comparable data and stronger marine protection. Humanitarian Coordination: OIC officials met in Nouakchott to call for stronger humanitarian cooperation across crises driven by conflict, natural disasters, and climate change, with Mauritania hosting. Women’s Health Investment: Somalia’s health minister joined a regional health investment forum in Nouakchott to discuss financing and South-South cooperation to build more resilient healthcare systems. Climate-Linked Food Ideas: A Senegal River valley project is testing adding tilapia to rice farms to tackle food insecurity and disease risk—an approach that could interest wider Sahel farming communities.

Marine Plastic Pollution: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, met in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, aiming for comparable data and stronger evidence-based policies to protect marine ecosystems. Biodiversity & Coasts: Mauritania’s Imraguen community and the Banc d’Arguin ecosystem face mounting pressure from climate change and overfishing, as traditional low-impact fishing struggles against rising scarcity in the UNESCO-listed reserve. Desertification & Land Restoration: China’s “Green Great Wall” work to slow desert growth is under renewed scrutiny, with scientists warning that progress still needs stronger action. Climate Displacement: A new immersive documentary project, “Solwata,” focuses on climate refugees, bringing the climate migration story into next-gen storytelling. Regional Humanitarian Response: In Nouakchott, the OIC called for tighter humanitarian cooperation to tackle armed conflict, natural disasters and climate change impacts across member states. Health & Environment Link: WHO validated El Salvador’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem, highlighting how targeted assessments tied to environmental and social risk can drive disease control.

Biodiversity & Coasts: Mauritania’s Imraguen communities in Banc d’Arguin are facing mounting pressure as climate change and overfishing threaten their desert-ocean way of life inside the UNESCO World Heritage site. Marine Pollution: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, met in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, aiming for comparable data to guide stronger pollution policies. Health & Regional Cooperation: Somalia’s health minister joined a health investment forum in Nouakchott, discussing ways to strengthen financing and resilient healthcare systems through regional partnerships. Humanitarian Coordination: The OIC’s Red Crescent and Red Cross meeting in Nouakchott highlighted the need for tighter humanitarian cooperation as conflicts, natural disasters and climate change intensify crises. Women’s Empowerment: Pakistan hosted the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, with delegates from 57 member states pushing for socio-economic and political empowerment strategies. Desertification Warning: China’s “Green Great Wall” work to curb desert growth faces renewed concern from scientists despite decades of efforts. Food Systems Experiment: A Senegal River valley trial is testing whether adding tilapia to rice farms can improve incomes and tackle disease and food insecurity.

Marine Plastic Pollution: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, met in Accra to harmonise coastal microplastics monitoring protocols under the IAEA, aiming for comparable data to guide evidence-based protection of marine ecosystems. Banc d’Arguin & Imraguen Livelihoods: A new report spotlights Mauritania’s Imraguen fishing community in Banc d’Arguin National Park, warning that climate change and overfishing threaten a centuries-old desert-ocean way of life. Health & Community Risk: WHO validated El Salvador as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, after multi-year assessments in communities prioritised by environmental and social risk factors—an approach relevant to prevention planning across the region. Regional Health Investment: Somalia’s health minister joined a regional forum in Nouakchott focused on strengthening healthcare financing and South-South cooperation, including pharmaceutical manufacturing and more resilient systems. Humanitarian Coordination: OIC officials met in Nouakchott to push stronger humanitarian cooperation amid armed conflict, natural disasters and climate change. Energy & Environment Policy: A wider Africa clean-energy push highlights solar and wind investments and cross-border power plans, while a separate energy-cost policy update notes many countries are using tax cuts and conservation measures in response to regional conflict impacts.

Marine Life & Conservation: Spain’s Murcia region is reviving a long-stalled plan to reintroduce the Mediterranean monk seal, with Mauritania, Portugal and Morocco named as key partners—while Cabo Blanco’s Mauritanian population is cited as a growing success story. Climate & Food Systems: In Senegal’s Senegal River valley, researchers are testing whether adding tilapia to rice farms can boost nutrition and income while tackling disease risks—an approach that could inspire similar climate-smart farming ideas across the region. Marine Pollution Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, are meeting in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, aiming for comparable data to guide stronger marine protection. Local Livelihoods Under Pressure: A new report spotlights the Imraguen community around Mauritania’s Banc d’Arguin, warning that climate change and overfishing threaten a desert-ocean way of life built around traditional fishing. Humanitarian Coordination in Mauritania: The OIC’s secretary-general called for stronger humanitarian cooperation in Nouakchott, linking armed conflict, natural disasters and climate change to the need for better Red Crescent/Red Cross coordination. Women’s Empowerment: Qatar Charity, with Mauritania’s Ministry of Social Action, opened a sewing workshop in Nouakchott to support vulnerable female graduates with income-generating skills.

Biodiversity & Conservation: Spain’s environment ministry is reviving a long-stalled plan to reintroduce the Mediterranean monk seal, with Mauritania, Portugal and Morocco in the effort—commissioning a full technical, ecological and social assessment before any slow, groundwork-heavy return. Marine Life Under Pressure (Mauritania): A new look at the Imraguen community around Banc d’Arguin highlights how climate change and overfishing threaten a desert-ocean way of life that depends on traditional, low-impact fishing in a UNESCO reserve. Marine Pollution Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, are meeting in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, aiming for comparable data to guide stronger marine protection. Humanitarian Coordination in Nouakchott: The OIC Secretary-General urged stronger humanitarian cooperation in Nouakchott, linking armed conflict, natural disasters and climate change to the need for better coordination across Red Crescent and Red Cross societies. Women’s Livelihoods (Nouakchott): Qatar Charity, with Mauritania’s ministry, inaugurated a sewing workshop for female graduates in Nouakchott to support income generation for vulnerable families. Food & Health Innovation: Senegal’s rice-and-fish experiment is using tilapia to tackle food insecurity, poverty and disease—an approach that could resonate across the region’s climate-stressed farming systems. Energy & Climate Resilience: Africa’s clean-energy push was spotlighted through major renewables and Sahel solar plans, underscoring how power access links to climate action and development.

Marine Plastics Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, are meeting in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, aiming for comparable data to guide stronger marine pollution policies. Desert-to-Ocean Livelihoods Under Pressure: Mauritania’s Imraguen communities at Banc d’Arguin—living with centuries-old fishing rules inside the UNESCO reserve—say climate change and overfishing are threatening their desert-ocean way of life. Food, Health and Farming Innovation: A Senegal River valley experiment is testing whether adding tilapia to rice fields can boost yields and help farmers tackle disease and income losses—an approach that could inspire similar climate-smart farming ideas in the region. Humanitarian Coordination in the Sahel: The OIC called for tighter humanitarian cooperation across member states, citing armed conflict, natural disasters and climate change, with the message delivered during a Nouakchott session. Women’s Economic Empowerment: Qatar Charity, with Mauritania’s Ministry of Social Action, opened a sewing workshop in Nouakchott to support vulnerable families by helping female graduates earn stable income. Energy and Climate Policy Link: The AU urged “proactive diplomacy” to match today’s risks, including climate change, drones and cyber threats, arguing diplomacy training must evolve. Local Environment Meets Regional Security: While Mali faces major water and power disruptions after suspected sabotage, the knock-on effects underline how fragile infrastructure can worsen climate and livelihood stress across the wider Sahel.

Food & Health Innovation: An environmental engineer in Senegal is testing a fish-and-rice farming experiment, raising tilapia in tarp-lined ponds and moving them to rice fields to help cut disease risks while boosting farmers’ income. Marine Pollution Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, are meeting in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, aiming for comparable data to guide marine protection. Banc d’Arguin Under Pressure: Mauritania’s Imraguen fishing community at UNESCO-listed Banc d’Arguin says climate change and overfishing are threatening their desert-ocean way of life and the bay’s rich biodiversity. Regional Climate & Security: OIC officials meeting in Nouakchott urged stronger humanitarian coordination as armed conflict, natural disasters and climate change intensify needs across the Islamic world. Energy & Cost of Living: Mauritania’s government says it will keep the fuel oil subsidy at 70 MRO per litre, citing pressure on household budgets. Humanitarian Coordination: Qatar Red Crescent delegates discussed expanding sustainable operations in Mauritania and improving coordination with local partners.

Marine Plastic Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, met in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, aiming for shared standards and comparable data to guide stronger marine pollution policies. Imraguen Fishing Under Pressure: A new report spotlights Mauritania’s Imraguen community at Banc d’Arguin, where climate change and overfishing threaten a centuries-old, low-impact desert-ocean fishing way of life inside the UNESCO reserve. Fuel Cost Relief: Mauritania will keep its fuel oil subsidy at 70 MRO per litre to cushion cost-of-living pressures, with fuel prices unchanged for the month. Humanitarian Coordination in Nouakchott: The OIC’s secretary-general urged tighter humanitarian cooperation as conflicts, natural disasters and climate change intensify, during a session hosted in Nouakchott. Women’s Livelihoods in Nouakchott: Qatar Charity, with Mauritania’s social ministry, inaugurated a sewing workshop to support vulnerable women graduates with income-generating opportunities. Sahel Security Strain: Mali reported coordinated attacks across multiple regions, underscoring how instability continues to disrupt basic services and infrastructure.

Humanitarian Coordination in Nouakchott: The OIC Secretary-General urged stronger cooperation across the Islamic world to respond to armed conflict, natural disasters and climate change, praising Mauritania for hosting the 39th session of the Islamic Committee of the International Red Crescent. Regional Aid Planning: Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) took part in ARCO’s 50th General Assembly in Nouakchott, discussing how to expand operations in Mauritania and improve coordination with embassies for more sustainable relief. Marine Pollution Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries met in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, aiming for shared standards and comparable data to guide policies protecting marine ecosystems—Mauritania included. Fuel Cost Relief in Mauritania: Mauritania will keep its fuel oil subsidy at 70 MRO per litre to ease cost-of-living pressure, with fuel prices unchanged for the month. Desert-Ocean Heritage Under Threat: A new report highlights how the Imraguen fishing community and their desert-ocean way of life around Banc d’Arguin face pressure from climate change and overfishing.

Humanitarian Coordination in Mauritania: The OIC Secretary-General urged stronger Red Crescent/Red Cross cooperation to tackle crises driven by conflict, natural disasters and climate change, praising Nouakchott for hosting the session. Arab Humanitarian Links: Qatar Red Crescent joined ARCO talks in Nouakchott, focusing on expanding aid and improving coordination with Mauritanian partners. Marine Pollution Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries met in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, including Mauritania, aiming for comparable data to guide marine protection. Local Climate & Livelihoods Under Pressure: A report highlights the Imraguen community around Banc d’Arguin, where climate change and overfishing threaten a desert-ocean way of life. Cost of Living & Energy: Mauritania will keep the fuel oil subsidy at 70 MRO per litre to cushion households as prices remain unchanged. Water & Power Security in the Region: Mali’s capital faced outages after suspected sabotage hit a key transmission line, disrupting water distribution and deepening hardship. Women’s Economic Empowerment: Qatar Charity and Mauritania’s ministry inaugurated a Nouakchott sewing workshop to support vulnerable female graduates with income opportunities.

Marine Pollution Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, are meeting in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, using nuclear and isotopic techniques to produce comparable data and guide marine-protection policies. Desert-to-Ocean Livelihoods Under Threat: A new report spotlights the Imraguen fishing community around Banc d’Arguin, where climate change and overfishing are putting centuries-old, nature-linked practices at risk. Fuel Costs in Focus: Mauritania will keep the fuel oil subsidy at 70 MRO per litre, with prices unchanged for the month, as the government tries to cushion cost-of-living pressures. Fuel Station Oversight: Qatar’s cabinet approved a law to regulate and monitor fuel stations, aiming to strengthen environmental protection, public health, and safety standards. Humanitarian Coordination: Qatar Red Crescent Society officials met in Nouakchott with Arab and international partners to discuss expanding humanitarian operations in Mauritania and improving coordination with the Qatari embassy. Energy Disruption in the Region: Mali’s capital Bamako faces major water and power outages after suspected sabotage hit a key transmission line—another reminder of how fragile infrastructure is across the Sahel.

Marine Plastic Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritania, are meeting in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols for coastal waters, aiming for comparable data and stronger policies to protect marine ecosystems. Fuel Subsidy & Cost of Living: Mauritania will keep the fuel oil subsidy at 70 MRO per litre, with prices unchanged this month, as the government tries to cushion households from economic pressure. Imraguen Under Threat: A new report highlights how Mauritania’s Imraguen fishing community around Banc d’Arguin—living in harmony with the desert-ocean—faces mounting risks from climate change and overfishing. Regional Fisheries Cooperation: The Gambia launched a fisheries plan to protect small pelagic stocks like sardinella and bonga, stressing that shared fish resources require cross-border management with Mauritania and others. Energy Disruption in the Region: Mali’s capital Bamako is dealing with major electricity and water outages after suspected sabotage hit a key power transmission line—an example of how fragile infrastructure can fail fast. Women’s Livelihoods in Nouakchott: Qatar Charity opened a sewing workshop in Nouakchott with Mauritania’s social action ministry, supporting vulnerable female graduates with income-generating training.