AGP Executive Report

Climate Ruling: The UN General Assembly backed a landmark International Court of Justice advisory opinion, voting 141-8 that countries have a legal duty to protect the climate system from greenhouse gases—though Liberia was among the eight that opposed. Ebola Watch: Liberia’s House has summoned NPHIL and the Ministry of Health to brief lawmakers on preparedness for the DRC outbreak, as WHO warns the situation is bigger than reported and regional risk remains high. Justice Push: President Boakai submitted bills to create a War and Economic Crimes Court and a National Anti-Corruption Court, sending them to the Senate’s Judiciary committee for scrutiny. Energy & Money: UBA pledged new investments to back Liberia’s development agenda, while Lonestar Cell MTN and BnB expanded cross-border digital finance outreach. Local Development: CAPO began a rural solar electrification phase in Carbadae communities, and Liberia’s cocoa exports jumped 54% from 2024 to 2025. Health Law Debate: Rights groups urged senators to pass Liberia’s stalled public health bill, saying misinformation is delaying safe abortion access up to 18 weeks.

Maritime Security Push: Nigeria’s Navy says President Tinubu will flag off the AU Combined Maritime Task Force in June, alongside an international fleet review and the commissioning of three new vessels during the Navy’s 70th anniversary in Lagos—aimed at tackling piracy and illegal fishing across the Gulf of Guinea. Ebola Preparedness: Liberia is on alert as lawmakers summon health authorities for a national briefing on readiness after renewed outbreaks in DRC and Uganda, while aid groups warn US funding cuts have hampered response capacity. Justice & Anti-Corruption: President Boakai has submitted bills to create a War and Economic Crimes Court and a National Anti-Corruption Court, with the House moving them to joint committee review. Governance Under Scrutiny: A procedural dispute is complicating ex-Rep. Kolubah’s case after a Supreme Court stay order was challenged over how it was served. Education Reality Check: New reporting highlights that children may be in school but not learning—shifting the crisis from enrollment to reading and foundational skills. National Loss: Liberia mourns veteran activist and former lawmaker Dusty L. Wolokolie, who died May 21.

Maritime Security Push: Nigeria’s President Tinubu will flag off the AU Combined Maritime Task Force and commission new naval vessels, aiming to curb piracy and illegal fishing across the Gulf of Guinea. Liberia Accountability Drive: Liberia’s General Auditing Commission says it will launch a sweeping extractives audit after revenue and transparency discrepancies, while AFROSAI-E in Monrovia keeps spotlighting auditor independence. Oil Governance Clarified: The LPRA moved to settle questions over who controls upstream petroleum rights, stressing its legal mandate under the Petroleum Act. Education Under Pressure: Human Rights Watch warns school fees and hidden costs are pushing children out, even as government boosts the National School Feeding Program budget to expand meals to more schools. Justice and Courts: The Supreme Court rejected a bid to overturn the expulsion of Montserrado’s Kolubah, while legal fights over juror tampering in the Tweah corruption case continue. Cyber Talent Rising: Liberia’s Cyber Warriors qualified for the ECOWAS regional cybersecurity finals in Accra. Climate Law: The UN General Assembly backed a world court climate opinion, with Liberia among those opposing.

World Court Climate Push: The UN General Assembly backed a landmark International Court of Justice climate opinion, voting 141-8 that countries have a legal duty to cut emissions and protect people from the “escalating climate crisis,” with the US, Israel and Liberia among those opposing. Ebola Alarm in Africa: Britain pledged £20m to help contain the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo and Uganda as WHO warns it may have spread for months; health teams in travel hubs like Cebu are also on heightened alert. Liberia Courts Under Strain: Samuel Tweah’s lawyers won a temporary stay order to pause a juror-tampering probe in the US$6.2m corruption case, while President Boakai submitted bills to create a War and Economic Crimes Court and a National Anti-Corruption Court. Petroleum Rules Clarified: LPRA moved to clarify its licensing role and limit confusion over NOCAL’s upstream involvement. Local Life: Pasadena’s Older Americans Month celebration returns to Victory Park with free health and scam-awareness resources.

Ebola Alarm in Central Africa: WHO says the fast-moving Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo has killed at least 139 people and pushed suspected cases above 600, with the strain lacking a vaccine or targeted treatment and population movement making containment harder. Liberia Readiness: Liberia’s health authorities insist the country has zero confirmed cases but warn that travel and trade keep the nation “at heightened risk,” pointing to strengthened border surveillance and emergency response plans. Youth Against Sexual Violence: Liberia launched its first national youth gender-based violence task force across all 15 counties, giving young people a formal role in reporting, advocacy, and pushing cases toward justice. Courtroom Shake-Up: Liberia’s criminal court ordered an investigation into alleged jury tampering in the US$6.2m corruption case, suspending parts of the process. Governance & Money: Government and revenue bodies responded to a major GAC compliance audit, admitting weaknesses in revenue collection and reconciliation and outlining corrective steps. Sports & National Pride: Lone Star coach Mohammed Adil Erradi was appointed as Liberia maps its AFCON 2027 push, while CAF released full qualifiers fixtures.

Mental Health Support: Sienneh’s Charity Care donated barrels to St. Benedict Menni Mental Health Centre, easing operational burdens for more than 23 women and girls during Mental Health Awareness Month. Education Tech Upgrade: Liberia is rolling out the WFP-backed School Connect platform to digitally track school feeding in real time, expanding from a 75-school pilot to 320+ schools. Ebola Alarm: WHO says the DRC outbreak may already be spreading across borders and into other provinces, with deaths rising to 131 and suspected cases topping 500; Ghana has activated nationwide preparedness, including port and border screening. Water Oversight Clash: The House failed quorum, but Rep. Musa Hassan Bility is pushing to summon LWSC boss over claims that 76% of Liberians have safe water access. Governance Watch: Jurors who acquitted Tweah face a misconduct review after allegations of phone use during sequestered deliberations. AFCON 2027 Draw: Nigeria landed in Group L with Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau.

AFCON 2027 Draw: Ghana and Ivory Coast were placed together in Group C, while Nigeria landed in Group L; the full qualifying groups were confirmed in Cairo, with hosts Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania already guaranteed spots and the campaign set across FIFA windows from Sept 21 to Oct 6, 2026, then Nov 9-17, 2026, and the decisive March 22-30, 2027 run. Ebola Update (DRC/Uganda): Health officials say the Congo outbreak has surged to 131 deaths with 513 suspected cases, and WHO is meeting over reports of an early superspreader funeral event that triggered a “cascade of deaths.” Liberia Sports: Ghana’s Black Maidens will host Liberia in the U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier second round, first leg May 23 in Accra, return May 30 in Paynesville. Local Governance: Monrovia City Corporation unveiled new sanitation rules and a PPP waste framework to restructure collection through district-based community enterprises. Agriculture: Gbadin Agribusiness says rice farmers at the Nimba concession are using the fully rehabilitated dams and machinery far less than expected.

Ebola Alarm Escalates: The WHO has declared the Congo–Uganda Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, with health agencies warning of possible wider spread and no proven vaccine or targeted treatment for the Bundibugyo strain; Border Pressure: the U.S. is rolling out tougher travel screening and monitoring for people arriving from affected areas, while experts urge tighter checks in places like the UK; Liberia Watch: Liberia’s Ministry of Health issued a fresh Ebola alert after reports from Ituri Province, even as officials say no confirmed cases are in Liberia; Bong Politics: Liberia’s CDC launched a countywide identification card and one-dollar due payment drive to strengthen structures ahead of 2029; Local Economy: LIFADCO began selling large quantities of locally produced rice in Ganta, starting with 5,000 bags and planning more in June.

Ebola Alarm Hits Home: Liberia’s Ministry of Health issued a fresh Ebola alert after reports of a Bundibugyo-strain outbreak in DR Congo’s Ituri Province, renewing public worry even as officials say no confirmed case has been detected in Liberia. Global Response Tightens: The WHO has upgraded the Congo-Uganda situation to a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, while the U.S. moves to add screening and monitoring for travelers from affected areas. Maritime Security Boost: Liberia signed a ShipRider maritime security agreement with the United States to strengthen joint patrols and crack down on illegal fishing, drug trafficking, piracy, and smuggling. Governance & Jobs: Liberia launched a National Cadet Program for over 1,000 graduates, and the LRA rolled out a new digital ERP system to improve efficiency and accountability. Sports Leadership: Lofa County Senator Momo Cyrus was elected to the LFA executive committee as Raji was re-elected unopposed.

Ebola Emergency: The WHO has declared the Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo a public health emergency of international concern, warning of “significant uncertainties” and possible wider spread as cases are reported in Uganda and a confirmed case reaches Kinshasa. Nigeria Readiness: Nigeria’s NCDC says it has no confirmed cases but has tightened surveillance and response, including stronger port health checks, lab readiness, infection control, contact tracing, and public risk messaging. Digital Identity Watch: A new report says several African countries have moved faster than some G7 states on digital ID laws, but warns that real-world systems can still fail on safeguards and data handling. Human Rights: Amnesty reports executions worldwide hit the highest level since 1981, driven largely by a surge in Iran. Sports: Team Nigeria kept rolling at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, adding medals in relays as competition nears its close.

Ebola Alarm: The WHO has declared a new Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo a public health emergency of international concern, warning it’s not a “pandemic emergency” but urging countries not to shut borders. Cross-Border Spread: Health officials say hundreds of suspected cases and dozens of deaths are already reported in Ituri, with one fatal case linked to Uganda after travel from Congo. Containment Pressure: The outbreak is tied to the Bundibugyo strain, and officials say there’s no vaccine for it yet—raising fears as mining towns and busy movement complicate response. Liberia Watch: While Monrovia’s local coverage is lighter today, Liberia’s wider regional security and health readiness remains in the spotlight as the crisis expands. Sports: Team Nigeria kept winning at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, taking gold in the women’s 4x100m relay (42.94s) and silver in the men’s 4x100m.

Global Health Emergency: The WHO has declared an “international public health emergency” as a new Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s Ituri province accelerates, with reports of 87 deaths and 246 suspected cases, and experts warning it may have been spreading for weeks unnoticed. Cross-Border Alarm: Health officials say the outbreak has already reached Uganda, raising fears of wider regional spread as teams push for faster detection and protection for frontline workers. Liberia-US Security: Liberia and the United States signed a landmark maritime security agreement in Monrovia to boost joint patrols, information sharing, and action against drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, illegal fishing, and other illicit sea threats. Sports Spotlight: In Accra, Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay won gold in a record 42.94 seconds, while the men took silver; Ghana and Liberia also claimed relay medals. Local Sports Results: Southern Section playoff action continued with Monrovia beating Don Lugo 5-1 in Division 4.

Ebola Alert: Congo’s Ituri province is facing a fresh Ebola scare, with Africa CDC reporting 87 deaths and 246 suspected cases, and warning the outbreak could spread fast as affected areas sit near Uganda and South Sudan. Liberia–U.S. Security: Liberia and the United States signed a landmark maritime security agreement in Monrovia to boost joint patrols, information sharing, and crack down on drug trafficking, illegal fishing, and migrant smuggling. Corruption Watch: Former finance minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. was summoned again in a new US$20.5m rice subsidy probe, even after his recent acquittal. Sports Spotlight: Nigeria kept rolling at the African Athletics Championships in Accra—women’s 4x100m relay gold in a record 42.94s, with the men taking silver. Local Sports: Southern Section playoff results rolled in for both softball and baseball, with multiple teams advancing after Friday’s games.

State Budget Push: Senator Sasha Renée Pérez says eight of her bills are set for Senate Floor votes after Senate Appropriations Committee approval, including measures aimed at holding insurers accountable for claim handling and payouts. Budget Response: She also weighed in on Governor Newsom’s May Revision, praising new education and rebuilding support while urging more for school affordability, including restoring the Middle Class Scholarship. Public Health Alert: Africa CDC confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Congo’s Ituri province, reporting 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases, with lab confirmation still catching up. Sports Spotlight: In Accra, Nigeria’s women’s 4x100 relay broke the championship record to win gold, while Liberia took silver; Ghana won double bronze in the relays. Liberia Governance: Liberia’s anti-corruption push faces fresh scrutiny as the LACC reviews prosecution performance amid mixed verdicts in a major US$6.2m case.

Ebola Alert in Congo: Africa CDC says a new Ebola outbreak has been declared in DR Congo’s Ituri province, with 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases reported, and only four deaths confirmed so far as testing continues. Shipping Under Strain: As the Iran–US crisis disrupts global trade, a Malaysian-linked vessel cleared the Strait of Hormuz, while traffic remains sharply reduced and ports like Casablanca face long waits. Liberia’s Anti-Corruption Push: Liberia’s Justice Minister calls the US$6.2M corruption case a “victory,” even after mixed verdicts, as the LACC reviews prosecution performance and the judiciary rejects claims of jury tampering. Local Governance & Rule of Law: Liberia again failed the MCC Rule of Law indicator, deepening pressure on confidence in courts and police. Sports & Culture: Tunisia named its World Cup squad; Liberia’s sprint duo added medals in Ghana, while football aspirant Cassell Kuoh vows to fight his LFA disqualification.

Pan African Plaza Rent Questions: Fresh scrutiny is being raised in Monrovia over where UN payments for the Pan African Plaza went, with reports saying over US$50 million was paid across nearly two decades to a firm whose ownership and legal status remain unclear, after the building’s alleged owner chain grew murky following the dissolution of a related company in 2015. India-Linked Summits: India says it will host the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit and the inaugural International Big Cat Alliance meeting in New Delhi from May 29 to June 1. Liberia Accountability Watch: Former finance minister Samuel Tweah—recently acquitted in a US$6.2m case—has now been summoned again by the asset recovery team over a US$20.5m rice subsidy probe. Public Safety & Food Security: In River Gee, police arrested two suspected drug dealers; in Grand Cape Mount, elephant raids destroyed crops, raising food security fears. Women in Leadership: Jewel Howard-Taylor renewed calls for women’s unity, condemning “propaganda” and smear attacks against women leaders.