AGP Executive Report

Rare Earths Push: The U.S. Development Finance Corporation has committed US$62.8m to rare-earth projects in Malawi, Angola, Madagascar and South Africa, with no production yet—highlighting how private investors still avoid the sector’s risks while Washington tries to reduce China’s grip on critical minerals. Madagascar Project Detail: The Ampasindava rare-earth project is set to get up to US$4.84m for pilot plant work, lab testing and environmental programmes from the U.S., as Harena Rare Earths seeks permits and weighs processing options in the U.S. and Europe. SADC Industrial Shift: At the 46th SADC summit in Durban, leaders urged a move away from exporting raw minerals and farm goods toward regional processing, agro-processing and value chains, with Ramaphosa warning integration is too slow. Border and Trade Logistics: Ramaphosa called for faster One-Stop Border Posts so trucks don’t sit for days, alongside efforts to cut non-tariff barriers and improve cross-border logistics. Circular Economy in the Region: Ethiopia has entered active implementation of the African Circular Economy Facility, with Madagascar among countries starting roadmap work.

Rare Earths & Critical Minerals: The US backs Madagascar’s Ampasindava rare-earth project with DFC support for pilot work and lab testing, aiming to build alternative supply chains as private investors stay cautious. Regional Industrial Push (SADC): At the 46th SADC summit in Durban, leaders—now with Cyril Ramaphosa chairing—endorsed faster industrialisation, agricultural transformation, critical minerals value-addition, and regional value chains, alongside a new SADC tourism visa and plans for economic corridors and one-stop border posts. ECA Call to Move Up the Value Chain: UN Economic Commission for Africa urged SADC to stop exporting raw minerals and instead process minerals and agricultural goods into higher-value products, citing the region’s underused manufacturing potential. Madagascar Land Reform: Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court reportedly approved transferring colonial-era registered land held by foreign individuals to the state, a move that could reshape land access for agriculture and development. Telecom & Connectivity: Airtel Africa and Starlink launched direct-to-phone satellite service in DR Congo, highlighting a model for extending connectivity where towers are hard to build. Food Systems Entrepreneurship: A Kenyan agrifood cold-chain firm, SokoFresh, is expanding into Madagascar, showing how solar storage can help smallholders cut losses and scale perishable supply.

SADC Industrial Push: At the 46th SADC summit in Durban, leaders backed a new drive linking infrastructure, agriculture, and critical minerals transformation to speed up industrialisation and regional value chains, with South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa taking the chair and Zambia set to host the next summit. Raw Minerals to Jobs: UN Economic Commission for Africa and SADC officials urged the region to stop exporting raw minerals and instead build beneficiation and manufacturing capacity. Trade Bottlenecks: Ramaphosa called for faster one-stop border posts, saying trucks should not wait days at crossings—an issue that directly affects logistics and costs. Madagascar in the Mix: Summit discussions also referenced regional peace and security, including the situation in Madagascar. Connectivity Leap: Airtel Africa and Starlink launched a direct-to-phone satellite service in the DRC, a model that could matter for regional telecom resilience. Madagascar Land Reform: Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court reportedly approved transferring colonial-era registered land to the state, a potential boost for national control over strategic territory. Mining Update (Madagascar): Total Graphite reported encouraging near-surface graphite results at its Tarandava area in the Vatomina licence.

SADC Industrialisation Push: At the 46th SADC summit in Durban, leaders backed faster regional integration and a new drive to industrialise by processing agricultural and critical minerals locally, with ECA urging regional value chains and more jobs from minerals and agro-processing. Raw Minerals to Value-Added: SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi and President Cyril Ramaphosa both pressed to stop exporting critical minerals in raw form and move into beneficiation and manufacturing. Trade Logistics: Ramaphosa called for One-Stop Border Posts so trucks don’t “spend days waiting” at crossings, alongside plans to cut non-tariff barriers and improve cross-border logistics for food trade. Financing Infrastructure: Outgoing chair Emmerson Mnangagwa urged members to operationalise and fund the SADC Regional Development Fund to back energy, water and infrastructure projects. Madagascar Link: The summit also reviewed peace and security issues including Madagascar, while Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court reportedly approved state transfer of colonial-era land registered to foreigners. Telecom Connectivity: Separately, Airtel Africa and Starlink launched a direct-to-phone satellite service in the DRC, a sign of how digital connectivity is expanding beyond traditional towers.

Madagascar Land Reform: Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court has reportedly approved transferring colonial-era land still registered under foreign names to the state, a move aimed at land decolonization and stronger national control over strategic territory that could unlock agriculture, infrastructure and investment. SADC Industrialisation Push: At the 46th SADC summit in Durban, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa took over the chair and urged faster regional integration, including stopping the export of critical minerals in raw form and scaling value addition, manufacturing and jobs. Trade Bottlenecks: Ramaphosa called for accelerated One-Stop Border Posts so trucks don’t “spend days waiting” at crossings, targeting slower intra-SADC trade that remains around one-fifth of the bloc’s total. Regional Financing: Leaders backed the SADC Tourism UNIVISA and the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund to finance infrastructure, energy and water projects. Security & Shipping: A Djibouti Code of Conduct task force is set to tackle a resurgence of piracy in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, coordinating intelligence-sharing and naval/coast guard response. Telecom Connectivity Leap: Airtel Africa and Starlink launched a direct-to-phone satellite service in the DRC, extending mobile coverage without dishes—an example of how connectivity tech can support remote industry and logistics. Madagascar Mining Update: Total Graphite reported encouraging near-surface graphite mineralisation from initial drilling at the Tarandava Block in its Vatomina licence, supporting near-term mine planning and potential resource expansion.

SADC Chair Handover: Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa urged SADC to operationalise and finance the SADC Regional Development Fund as South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa formally took the chair at the 46th summit in Durban, with the bloc pushing industrialisation via infrastructure, agriculture and critical minerals. Critical Minerals Push: SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi told leaders to stop exporting raw minerals and move faster into beneficiation, manufacturing and job creation, aligning with the summit theme. Durban Security & Migration Tensions: Authorities tightened security around the Durban ICC amid plans for an anti-immigrant march, while South Africa presses for ratification of the free movement of people protocol—an agenda fight that Zimbabwe and Mozambique reportedly resist as a stand-alone item. Madagascar Mining Update: Total Graphite reported encouraging near-surface graphite results from its Tarandava drilling in the Vatomina licence, including a peak 18.62% TGC, supporting near-term mine planning and resource confidence. Connectivity Tech: Airtel Africa and Starlink launched Africa’s first satellite-to-phone service in the DRC, enabling compatible phones to connect where mobile coverage is weak.

SADC Summit in Durban: Leaders meet for the 46th Ordinary Summit under “resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation,” with infrastructure, agriculture and critical minerals transformation front and centre, and South Africa set to take the chair for 2026/27. Migration and trade friction: Pretoria is pushing for ratification of the Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons and a stronger push on intra-SADC trade and local beneficiation, but migration is contested as a stand-alone agenda item. Security on the ground: Durban is under tight security ahead of a planned anti-immigrant march near the ICC. Madagascar energy supply: Madagascar received the first major state diesel shipment from Nigeria (67 million litres) to keep JIRAMA power plants running and to break the private import monopoly. Connectivity leap (DRC): Airtel Africa and Starlink launched Africa’s first satellite-to-phone service in the DRC, enabling compatible phones to connect directly where coverage is weak. Public health: Rubella vaccination coverage reached 73% of infants globally, but Africa still carries most of the remaining birth-defect burden.

SADC Summit in Durban: Zimbabwe’s President Mnangagwa arrived for the 46th SADC Heads of State meeting, where the bloc’s theme ties industrialisation to infrastructure, agriculture, and critical minerals transformation. SADC Chair Transition: South Africa is set to formally assume the SADC chairmanship, pushing regional integration, intra-SADC trade, and local beneficiation of minerals. Migration Pressure Test: South Africa is urging members to ratify the stalled free movement of people protocol, but migration is contested as a main-summit agenda item. Security and Protests: Durban is on high alert around the ICC ahead of an anti-immigrant march targeting leaders over migration policy. Madagascar Energy Supply: A major diesel shipment from Nigeria arrived at Toamasina to keep JIRAMA power plants running and help end private fuel import monopoly. Minerals Governance: Madagascar joined other African states backing a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining at the ISA. Business and Trade: A Mauritius–Madagascar business forum opened in Antananarivo, bringing firms across agro-industry, construction, energy, mining, logistics, and textiles.

SADC Summit Watch: South Africa’s chair push for regional industrialisation, trade and critical minerals is colliding with a politically sensitive migration agenda as Pretoria presses members to ratify the stalled Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons, while some states resist elevating migration to leaders’ talks. Energy Security for Madagascar: A major diesel shipment for JIRAMA—67 million litres—has arrived at Toamasina on the Sunda 1 tanker, aimed at keeping power plants running and ending the long-standing private import monopoly. Regional Performance Pressure: A new SADC assessment rates the bloc’s overall progress at 5.06/10, citing weak growth and youth unemployment despite gains in security, agriculture and mobility—setting the tone for Durban. Ocean Minerals Backlash: Madagascar is among six African countries supporting a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining at the ISA, arguing for stronger science and governance before critical-mineral extraction accelerates. Agro-Industry Inputs: Experts warn agroecology momentum is outpacing public research, finance and extension capacity—an issue that matters for farm productivity and food supply chains. Connectivity Tech: Airtel and Starlink launched Africa’s first satellite-to-phone service in the DRC, extending basic messaging and light data where mobile coverage is thin. Business Linkages: A Mauritius–Madagascar business forum opened in Antananarivo with firms spanning agriculture, construction, energy, mining, logistics and textiles.

Energy Security: Madagascar received its first major state diesel shipment under a Madagascar–Nigeria cooperation deal: the Sunda 1 tanker delivered about 67 million litres to Toamasina to keep JIRAMA power plants running and help end private import monopoly practices. Regional Industry & Trade: Ahead of the SADC summit in Durban, SADC’s own assessment says the bloc is improving on security, agriculture and regional mobility, but still falls short on growth and jobs, with youth unemployment and incomplete integration commitments dragging results. SADC Migration Push: South Africa is pressing SADC members to sign and ratify a long-stalled free-movement migration protocol, but some countries resist elevating migration to a stand-alone summit agenda item. Business & Investment Links: A Mauritius–Madagascar business forum opened in Antananarivo with 50+ firms across sectors from agro-industry and construction to energy, mining, logistics, textiles and digital solutions. Critical Minerals Policy: Madagascar joined other African states backing a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining at the ISA, arguing for stronger science and governance before any expansion. Supply Chain & Retail Tech: Jumia secured $50m in fresh equity (IFC and Axian) to expand delivery and digital payments, aiming for profitability by 2027—relevant for Madagascar’s e-commerce and logistics ecosystem. Biodiversity & Land Use: Madagascar’s Golden-crowned Sifaka was selected for recovery by the Phoenix Species Project, spotlighting Loky-Manambato conservation work amid deforestation pressures from agriculture, mining, timber and charcoal.

Energy Security: Madagascar received its first major state diesel shipment under a Madagascar–Nigeria cooperation deal, with the Sunda 1 tanker delivering about 67 million litres to keep JIRAMA power plants running. E-Commerce & Logistics: Jumia secured $50m in fresh equity (IFC and Axian), aiming to expand delivery and digital payments while pushing toward profitability in 2026/27. Critical Minerals Policy: Six African countries now back a precautionary pause on deep-seabed mining, including Madagascar, as governance and science gaps remain a sticking point at the ISA. Regional Industry Push (SADC): SADC leaders met in Durban ahead of the summit, with officials stressing self-reliance, industrialisation, energy and digital connectivity—while acknowledging weak growth and high youth unemployment. Agroecology Scaling: Experts warn agroecology demand is outpacing public research, finance and extension systems needed to scale sustainable farming. Biodiversity & Land Use: Madagascar’s Golden-crowned Sifaka was selected for recovery under the Phoenix Species Project, spotlighting Loky-Manambato conservation amid deforestation pressures. Trade & Investment: A Mauritius–Madagascar business forum opened in Antananarivo, bringing together firms across agriculture, construction, energy, mining, logistics and textiles.

Energy & Trade: Madagascar’s state power utility JIRAMA is set for steadier operations after the Sunda 1 tanker delivered 67 million litres of diesel from Nigeria to Toamasina, ending a long-running private import monopoly and targeting uninterrupted generation. Regional Industry & Jobs: A new SADC performance assessment says the bloc is improving on security, agriculture and mobility, but still falls short on growth, youth unemployment and unfinished integration—coming as leaders prepare for the Durban summit. SADC Industrialisation Agenda: SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi urged member states to become more self-reliant and deepen regional integration, highlighting progress in added electricity capacity while noting access targets remain unmet. Critical Minerals Policy: Six African countries—including Madagascar—back a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining at the ISA, arguing science and governance gaps still leave too much at stake for ocean-dependent development. Business & Investment: A Mauritius–Madagascar business forum opened in Antananarivo, bringing together 50+ firms across agro-industry, construction, energy, mining, transport and logistics to push cross-border deals. Rare Biodiversity for Industry Supply Chains: Madagascar’s Golden-crowned Sifaka was selected for recovery by the Phoenix Species Project, spotlighting Loky-Manambato conservation work tied to pressures from agriculture, mining and charcoal. Agri-Transformation: Experts warn agroecology demand is outpacing public research, finance and extension systems, calling for stronger funding and scaling beyond donor projects. E-commerce & Logistics Finance: Jumia secured $50m in equity funding co-led by IFC and Axian to expand delivery and digital payments, aiming for profitability by 2027—relevant for regional retail and logistics competitiveness.

Fuel Monopoly Breakthrough: Madagascar’s government says the first state diesel shipment for JIRAMA will arrive in Toamasina on 12 August, aiming to end private firms’ monopoly on fuel imports and stabilize power-plant supply during low hydropower periods. Regional Energy & Integration: SADC leaders and ministers are pushing for more self-reliance and stronger regional integration, even as a new assessment flags weak growth, high youth unemployment, and incomplete integration progress. Agroecology Scaling Gap: Experts warn agroecology demand across Africa is outpacing public research, finance, training and extension systems needed to scale beyond donor projects. Biodiversity & Land Pressure: Madagascar’s Golden-crowned Sifaka has been selected for recovery under the Phoenix Species Project, spotlighting Loky-Manambato conservation amid deforestation from agriculture, mining, timber and charcoal. Trade & Industry Linkages: A Mauritius–Madagascar business forum in Antananarivo brings together 50+ firms across agro-industry, construction, energy, mining, logistics, textiles and digital solutions. E-commerce Funding: Jumia secured $50m from IFC and Axian to expand delivery and digital payments as it targets profitability by 2027.

Fuel Market Reform: Madagascar is ending the private monopoly on petroleum imports as the first state diesel shipment for JIRAMA is due to arrive in Toamasina on 12 August, covering months of power-plant consumption and strengthening energy security. SADC Summit Watch: Durban is tightening security ahead of the 46th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit, with the agenda centered on resilient, sustainable industrialisation via infrastructure, agriculture and critical minerals. Regional Industry Push: SADC leaders are calling for more self-reliance and deeper integration as conflicts and weaker aid strain development, while energy capacity additions continue but electrification gaps remain. Conservation & Land Pressure: Madagascar’s Golden-crowned Sifaka has been selected for recovery by the Phoenix Species Project, spotlighting Loky-Manambato and the deforestation pressures tied to agriculture, mining, timber and charcoal. Trade & Logistics Link: A Mauritius–Madagascar business forum opened in Antananarivo, bringing together firms across agro-industry, construction, energy, mining, transport and logistics, plus ICT and textiles. E-Commerce Funding: Jumia secured $50m in fresh equity (IFC and Axian), aiming to expand delivery routes and digital payments while targeting profitability by 2027.

Rare Earths & US Finance: The US DFC is set to fund Harena Rare Earths’ Ampasindava Ionic Clay rare-earth project in Madagascar, aiming to supply neodymium and dysprosium for high-performance magnets used in advanced manufacturing and defense. Energy Market Reform: Madagascar is ending the private monopoly on fuel imports: the first state diesel shipment for JIRAMA is due to arrive in Toamasina on 12 August, with the government coordinating storage and distribution during the transition. Critical Minerals Geopolitics: A wider US push for critical minerals supply chains was announced alongside new financing and incentives, putting Madagascar’s rare-earths on the frontline of US-China competition. Land & Sovereignty: Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court validated a law letting the state reclaim colonial-era land still registered under foreign names as of independence, with exemptions for diplomatic properties and already-transferred Malagasy holdings. Conservation-Linked Local Economy: The Golden-crowned Sifaka (Loky-Manambato) was named among 100 species selected for recovery by the Phoenix Species Project, spotlighting agriculture, mining, timber and charcoal pressures on northern dry forests. Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium: Madagascar joined other African states backing a precautionary pause on deep-seabed mining, citing governance gaps and insufficient science.

Fuel Market Reform: Madagascar begins ending the private fuel import monopoly as the first state diesel shipment for JIRAMA is due to arrive in Toamasina on 12 August, covering months of power-plant consumption and strengthening supply during low hydropower periods. Rare Earths Push: The US DFC is set to fund Harena Rare Earths’ Ampasindava ionic clay project in Madagascar, targeting rare earths used in high-performance magnets for advanced manufacturing and defense. Land Sovereignty: Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court validated a law letting the state reclaim colonial-era land still registered under foreign names as of 26 June 1960, with exemptions for diplomatic properties and certain already-transferred parcels. Agri-Industry Context: A Codex Alimentarius update at CAC49 adopted new food standards and hygiene texts, including rules affecting food additives, residues, allergens, and emergency food labelling—relevant for Madagascar’s food exporters and processors. Regional Trade Facilitation: SADC is moving to simplify border procedures under its Simplified Trade Regime, aiming to cut trade costs for small-scale traders, including Madagascar. Industrial Investment Signals: US critical-minerals financing announcements underscore intensifying global demand for battery and magnet inputs—raising the stakes for Madagascar’s mining pipeline. Supply Chain/Logistics Finance: Jumia secured $50M equity funding co-led by IFC and Axian to scale logistics, digital payments, and e-commerce infrastructure across Africa, a reminder of how capital is flowing into last-mile delivery systems. Madagascar in Global Value Chains: TOG’s full acquisition by Parlevliet & Van der Plas highlights integrated seafood processing with a Madagascar cannery feeding European canned-tuna markets.