AGP Executive Report

Sudan Diplomacy & War: The US says it is working with the “Quad on Sudan” plus Qatar, Turkey and European partners to push a humanitarian truce, while also stating it does not formally recognize the army-aligned government and opposes partition. Red Sea Tech & Environment: A Jordan–Switzerland “voices of coral” residency in Aqaba blends art and science to promote coral reef protection in the Gulf of Aqaba, supported by UNESCO and UNDP. UN Tech Governance: World leaders at UNGA face pressure over runaway AI risks alongside wars including Sudan, as UN reform and leadership transition debates intensify. Sudan Conflict Coverage Gap: Euronews chairman Pedro Vargas David says European media still undercovers Sudan, arguing technology platforms have “eaten their lunch.” Research Spotlight: UCL scientist Ziheng Yang wins a 2026 Balzan Prize for molecular evolution work, with part of the prize earmarked for young researchers. Global Food Systems Shock: A Black Sea blockade threat is raising fears of another food supply shock that could hit vulnerable countries, including in Africa.

UN General Assembly Watch: World leaders head to New York as wars in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan collide with rising fears about runaway AI, while the UN’s relevance and leadership transition under Antonio Guterres’ end-of-2026 term stay in focus. Sudan Humanitarian Alarm: Justice Africa Sudan warns the country is edging toward a man-made famine, citing sieges, blocked aid, damaged infrastructure, and worsening hunger across SAF–RSF frontlines. US Sudan Policy: The US says it doesn’t formally recognize Sudan’s army-backed government, aiming first for a humanitarian truce before a ceasefire and political transition. Sudan Peace Efforts: Sudan’s Council of Churches holds a Khartoum prayer gathering for peace, with senior officials attending and religious leaders calling for unity. Science & Tech Spotlight (Sudan-linked): A Balzan Prize goes to UCL’s Ziheng Yang for molecular evolution methods, and a Sudan-related study explores how ancient Nubian pottery techniques may have used iron-rich materials. Health/Research Capacity (Sudan): New research examines clinical trial knowledge and attitudes among Sudanese clinical pharmacists and pharmacologists, highlighting gaps in trial participation.

UN General Assembly Watch: World leaders are set to gather in New York as the UN faces a finance-and-relevance squeeze, with debates expected to center on wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, plus growing AI risks and institutional strain. Sudan Peace & Civil Society: In Khartoum, the Sudan Council of Churches held a multi-denomination prayer gathering for peace, with Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Malik Agar attending and religious leaders calling for unity and an end to suffering. Sudan Tech & Research Capacity: A Sudan-focused study examines clinical trials knowledge and attitudes among pharmacists and pharmacologists, highlighting gaps in trial readiness in an underrepresented setting. Health Tech in Sudanese Care Abroad: A Sudanese woman with a large thyroid mass underwent complex repeat surgery in Hyderabad, underscoring the role of multidisciplinary medical teams and repeat-procedure planning. Humanitarian Tech Angle: UN-linked reporting warns Sudan’s humanitarian system could collapse within weeks, as funding shortfalls threaten aid delivery.

Peace & Civil Society: Sudan’s Council of Churches held a Khartoum prayer gathering for peace, with Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and other leaders attending and calling for unity and an end to suffering. Humanitarian Tech & Research Capacity: A Sudan-focused study examines clinical trials knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions among pharmacists and pharmacologists, highlighting gaps that can slow locally led medical research. Local Entrepreneurship: Young Sudanese entrepreneurs are rebuilding businesses in Khartoum and Omdurman after war losses, from retail to restaurants and repair workshops—creating jobs as they restart. Health & Medical Care: A Sudanese woman with a large thyroid mass underwent complex repeat surgery in Hyderabad, showing how advanced surgical teams manage difficult re-operations. UN, AI, and Conflict Risk: UN chief António Guterres urged de-escalation across conflicts and warned about AI risks as world leaders prepare for the UN General Assembly. Culture Under Threat: A new research case study details how Syrian archaeologists saved about 30,000 museum artifacts during war—relevant to Sudan’s wider heritage protection concerns.

Archaeology & Materials: A US-based researcher’s experimental pottery work on ancient Kerma ceramics in Sudan earned a spot in the EXARC Journal, exploring how iron-rich clays and firing methods may explain black decoration on Nubian pottery. Sudan Entrepreneurship: Young Sudanese entrepreneurs are rebuilding after years of war, relaunching shops, restaurants, repair workshops, and even tech firms—creating local jobs as businesses restart in Khartoum and Omdurman. UN & AI Governance: UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged de-escalation across major conflicts, including Sudan, and pushed for stronger safeguards for rapidly advancing AI ahead of the UN General Assembly. Sudan Humanitarian Pressure: Reports warn Sudan’s humanitarian system could collapse within weeks as funding shortfalls worsen famine risk and food insecurity. Health in the Region: A Sudanese patient in India underwent complex repeat thyroid surgery for a large neck-to-chest mass, highlighting cross-border medical capacity.

Red Sea Security: Houthis expanded control near Bab al-Mandeb, taking Mocha port, Mayyun Island, and the Zuqar/Hanish archipelago—raising shipping, economic, and regional conflict risks for Egypt, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea. Sudan Humanitarian Tech & Famine Watch: A new early-warning report flags worsening food insecurity in Darfur and Kordofan, urging action before famine thresholds hit. Sudan War Impact on Business: Young Sudanese entrepreneurs are rebuilding after war losses, from reopened shops and restaurants to repair workshops and tech firms—creating local jobs amid uncertainty. UN Tech Governance at UNGA: World leaders head to the UN General Assembly with AI safety and monitoring high on the agenda, alongside conflicts including Sudan. Health Systems Under Strain: Research highlights how conflict-affected settings block care—while separate reporting underscores how dialysis access gaps can become a death sentence without affordable treatment. Entrepreneurship & Innovation Networks: Africa Social Impact Summit organizers launched a pan-African network to keep financing and implementation moving beyond the annual event.

Sudan Humanitarian Risk: A new early-warning report says parts of Darfur and Kordofan face worsening food insecurity and famine-like conditions, urging action before formal famine thresholds are reached. Sudan Mine Safety: Africa Minerals Strategy Group calls for urgent regional rescue and safety reforms after the Al-Zaraa gold mine collapse in West Kordofan, highlighting the lack of engineering standards and safety gear in artisanal mining. Sudan Entrepreneurship: Young Sudanese entrepreneurs are rebuilding businesses in Khartoum and Omdurman after war losses, from retail to repair workshops and tech firms, creating local jobs as conditions remain unstable. UN Tech & Governance: Ahead of the UN General Assembly, world leaders are set to focus on AI risks alongside conflicts including Sudan, with calls for stronger monitoring and international coordination. Red Sea Tech-Linked Geopolitics: Analysis warns that Red Sea rivalry and shipping disruption could pull African states into deeper geopolitical fragmentation, affecting ports and regional security partnerships. Health Tech Access (Regional): A separate report on kidney care in Ghana underscores how dialysis access and specialist coverage can determine survival—an issue Sudan’s health system can’t ignore.

Sudan Food Security Watch: A new early-warning report warns famine-like conditions are rising in parts of Darfur and Kordofan as poor rainfall, displacement, price hikes, and blocked aid hit farms and markets—urging action before formal famine thresholds are reached. Humanitarian Accountability: UN chief António Guterres says countries supplying weapons to Sudan’s warring factions must be held to account when those arms are used to attack civilians. Mining Safety in Focus: After the Al-Zaraa gold mine collapse in West Kordofan killed at least 60 and left others missing, the Africa Minerals Strategy Group calls for urgent rescue support and stronger safety reforms for artisanal mining. Digital Life in Sudan: TikTok says it removed millions of videos across Sudan and other MENA countries for guideline violations, alongside large-scale takedowns of fake and underage accounts. Regional Tech & Trade Links: US, Morocco, and Israel plan to upgrade ties, restore direct flights, and expand cooperation including technology and innovation—an indirect signal for regional connectivity that can affect Sudan-linked partnerships.

Sudan Humanitarian Alarm: UN chief António Guterres said the situation in Sudan is “absolutely horrible,” urging accountability for countries supplying weapons used to attack civilians. Mine Safety Crisis: In West Kordofan, a gold mine collapse at al-Zaraa killed at least 60, with rescue hampered by unstable ground and limited equipment—prompting calls for urgent safety reforms for artisanal mining. Humanitarian Delivery in Unity State: IOM handed over new health and education facilities in Leer County, including hospital wards and an isolation unit, plus classrooms and school offices. Human Rights Council Watch: The UN Human Rights Council opened in Geneva with a heavy agenda, including major milestones and multiple resolutions—setting the stage for renewed scrutiny of rights issues tied to Sudan’s war. AI, War, and Accountability: Reports highlight how foreign arms and military tech—including drones—are sustaining Sudan’s conflict, while UN officials push for stronger oversight. Regional Tech/Trade Link: A Suez Canal Authority visit by Arab and African ports decision-makers focused on maritime skills and projects that keep regional trade moving.

Sudan Humanitarian Crisis: UN chief António Guterres called the situation in Sudan “absolutely horrible,” urging accountability for countries supplying weapons used to attack civilians, as the war continues to displace over 14 million people. AI & Security Risks: A new debate over AI safeguards is heating up, with reports that AI tools have been used for targeting and rocket guidance, while Anthropic says it has blocked misuse tied to Iran-linked activity and a Yemen cell. Digital Payments & Access: Sudan’s Bankak app outages are disrupting digital payments and markets, adding pressure to already fragile services. Health & Education Delivery: IOM handed over new health and education facilities in Leer County, including hospital wards and an isolation unit, plus classrooms and school offices. Humanitarian Funding Alarm: UN warnings say Sudan’s aid supplies could run out within weeks due to a funding crisis. Maritime Security in the Region: A multinational maritime defense alliance was signed to protect Red Sea routes and the Bab el-Mandeb, with Sudan listed among participating countries amid piracy and drone threats. Militarisation of Learning: A report highlights how universities in the region are increasingly used for military and political mobilization, citing Sudan among examples.

Sudan Humanitarian Crisis: The IOM warns Sudan’s humanitarian system could collapse within weeks as funding runs out and emergency supplies dwindle, with its Common Humanitarian Pipeline reach shrinking from 1M+ people (2024) to 330,000 supported so far in 2026. Health & Education Delivery: IOM also handed over new health and education facilities in Leer County, Unity State, including hospital wards and an isolation unit plus classrooms for Mary John Primary School. AI & War Risks: A report says UAE-linked AI misuse targeted UN experts on the Sudan war, while another story highlights how undersea cables in the Gulf could be vulnerable to escalation—an issue for data-heavy economies. Environment & Land Science: Research on Sudan’s Acacia senegal plantations finds soil carbon rises with plantation age, but grasslands still hold more soil moisture overall. Regional Tech/Logistics Security: A maritime defense alliance signed by Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan aims to protect Red Sea shipping and Bab el-Mandeb routes amid piracy and drone-linked threats.

Sudan Humanitarian Crisis: The IOM warns Sudan’s humanitarian system could collapse within weeks as funding runs out and emergency supplies near depletion, with shelter shortages and heavy rains worsening displacement. Humanitarian Logistics: The Common Humanitarian Pipeline has reached 2.84 million people since 2023, but its reach is shrinking as needs surge. Digital Payments in Sudan: Bankak outages are disrupting Sudan’s digital payments and markets, adding pressure to already fragile livelihoods. Climate & Land Science in Sudan: A study on Acacia senegal plantations in Sudan’s drylands finds older trees build more soil organic carbon and improve water-holding, but grasslands still retain more soil moisture overall. Agriculture Pest Watch: Researchers urge farmers to scout for a new invasive pasture mealybug, warning early detection is key to protecting forage and hay fields. Maritime Security for the Region: Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan join a maritime defense alliance to protect Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb shipping as piracy and drone-linked threats rise. AI & War Risks: Reporting highlights how drones are increasingly used against civilians and aid workers, including in Sudan, underscoring the tech-driven nature of modern conflict.

WFP Leadership Shake-up: US agriculture official Luke Lindberg is set to be named the next head of the World Food Programme, with a WFP board session scheduled for 18 September—raising fresh questions about transparency and “America-first” influence at the heart of emergency aid. Sudan Humanitarian Funding Crunch: UN agencies warn Sudan’s aid system could collapse within weeks without urgent funding; shelter and relief supplies may run out by end of September, while WFP funding has plunged sharply. Heatwave Impacts in Sudan: A severe summer heatwave is worsening displacement conditions, driving heatstroke cases up and exposing damaged water and unreliable power supplies across conflict-affected areas. Darfur Sanctions Rollover: UN Security Council extends the Darfur arms embargo by one month, but the bigger fight is whether sanctions should expand to cover Sudan’s wider war. AI Safety Debate: Anthropic’s chief argues the AI race is dangerous and calls for slowing capability advances—sparking renewed pressure for stronger safeguards. BRICS Tech & Governance Push: The New Delhi BRICS declaration spotlights resilience, technology, and reform of global institutions, with leaders urging greater Global South representation. Clinical Research Milestone: A phase 1 leishmaniasis vaccine trial is set to begin, targeting a neglected tropical disease with millions at risk.

Sudan Digital Payments: Bankak outages are still disrupting Sudan’s most-used banking app, with users reporting failed logins, freezes, and delayed notifications that stop transfers and payments—despite a recent update from the Bank of Khartoum. Humanitarian Heat Crisis: Heatwaves are worsening conditions for displaced people across conflict-hit Sudan, driving heatstroke cases up while water and electricity shortages leave shelters struggling to cope. AI & Security Governance: At the BRICS summit in New Delhi, leaders pushed for reform of global institutions and warned about the risks of “weaponisation” of technology, while UN chief Guterres warned that unequal AI access could widen the AI divide. Horn of Africa Military Training Links: Reports say Saudi-funded training in Somalia has expanded beyond one detained group, raising questions about future deployments and possible links to Sudan. Drone-Age Law of War: A new analysis argues the laws of war must adapt to drone tactics that increasingly target civilians and aid workers, including in conflict zones like Sudan. Regional Sports Medicine: Sudan sent a delegation to Doha for the Fifth Arab Military Seminar on Sports Medicine, focused on military fitness and cooperation.

Sudan Tech & Digital Services: Bankak, Sudan’s most-used banking app, is still glitching after an update, with users reporting failed logins, frozen transfers, and long outages that disrupt everyday payments and force crowds outside shops. AI Governance & Security: A new Anthropic report says authoritarian-aligned actors used Claude for propaganda and surveillance, including fake social profiles and news sites; UN chief Guterres also warned that unequal AI access could widen global inequality. Heat & Humanitarian Tech Needs in Sudan: Heatwaves are worsening conditions for displaced people, driving heatstroke cases and exposing water and power failures across conflict-affected areas. Regional Tech-Trade Links: Pakistan and several African states launched the Pakistan-Africa Economic Council aiming to grow bilateral trade to $15B by 2030, with Sudan listed among participants. BRICS Global Policy: BRICS leaders in New Delhi pushed for reform of global institutions and warned about “weaponisation” of technology and critical minerals, while calling for better early warning systems for infectious diseases.

Sudan Digital Payments: Bankak users in Sudan say the app is still glitching after an update, with failed transfers, frozen screens, and delays that disrupt everyday buying and crowd shops. AI Governance & Security: UN chief António Guterres warned at BRICS that unequal AI access could widen global inequality, while Anthropic says authoritarian regimes are using Claude for propaganda, surveillance, and even weapons-related software. BRICS Global Reform: BRICS leaders backed reform of the UN Security Council and other institutions, pushing a more balanced global order and warning about nuclear risks and “weaponisation” of technology. Sudan Arms Embargo Push: The UAE urged the UN Security Council to expand Sudan’s arms embargo to all of Sudan and all parties, arguing it would curb weapons flows and protect civilians. China-Sudan Reconstruction Tech: China is moving early on Sudan’s reconstruction with port and power deals, including port upgrades and assessments of damaged power stations and transformers. Mining Tech Trend: China showcased greener, smarter mining—autonomous trucks, real-time monitoring, and clean-energy mine projects—signaling tech-driven efficiency gains for the sector.