AGP Executive Report

Humanitarian Crisis: UN chief Antonio Guterres says the Ebola response in DR Congo is only 48% funded and could run out of money within weeks, with 5,713 cases and 2,744 deaths reported as women and children are hit hardest. Regional Health Cooperation: CAR, DR Congo, Uganda, Congo and South Sudan agreed in Bangui to strengthen cross-border preparedness to stop the Bundibugyo Ebola strain, with WHO backing and a push for shared response plans. Healthcare & Community Support: Salesian Missions delivered over €100,000 in medical equipment to two Salesian-run clinics in Bangui (Damala and Galabadja), boosting maternal and child health services. Church & Local Tragedy: The Catholic Church in CAR mourned victims of a deadly artisanal gold mine collapse as the government moved to close the site. Immigration & Rights in CAR: Multiple reports describe U.S. deportations sending migrants to CAR, including people alleging abuse and detention conditions, with some calling it “like a kidnapping.” Culture & Faith: Pope Leo XIV urged solidarity and prayed for CAR after the mine disaster, alongside prayers for Ebola victims in DR Congo. Women, Peace & Security: A new WPS Index ranks CAR near the bottom (0.36), highlighting how conflict shapes women’s safety, justice, and inclusion. International Presence: Cambodia announced it will deploy 184 peacekeepers to CAR as part of its long-running UN mission contribution.

Healthcare & Youth Solidarity: Salesian Missions shipped over €100,000 in neonatal incubators and diagnostic tools to two expanded Salesian-run clinics in Bangui (Damala and Galabadja), boosting maternal and child health services. Women, Peace & Security: A new Women, Peace and Security index ranks Denmark top and places the Central African Republic near the bottom (score 0.36), highlighting how conflict reshapes women’s safety and access to justice. Ebola Preparedness: CAR, DR Congo, Uganda, Congo, and South Sudan agreed in Bangui to strengthen cross-border coordination to stop Bundibugyo Ebola spread, with WHO urging shared response and community-focused prevention. Church & Mining Tragedy: The Catholic Church mourned more than 100 victims of a CAR artisanal gold mine collapse as the government moved to close the site. Deportations to CAR: Multiple reports describe U.S. “third-country” deportations sending migrants—some claiming no criminal record—into CAR amid strict travel warnings, with families and advocates calling it a humanitarian crisis. Peacekeeping Rotation: Cambodia prepared a new UN peacekeeping rotation to the Central African Republic, including women in the engineering unit. Faith & Public Prayer: Pope Leo XIV urged stronger Ebola containment in DR Congo and expressed solidarity with CAR mine-disaster victims during his Angelus.

Deportations to CAR: A growing wave of U.S. “third-country” deportations is landing people in the Central African Republic, even as the U.S. lists CAR under a “do not travel” advisory; Cuban deportees in Bangui say they were given little notice, lack documents, and feel trapped, with one describing it as “like a kidnapping.” Immigration enforcement surge: New reporting says ICE hit record monthly arrests in summer, with many detained having no criminal history—fueling fresh outrage and legal challenges. Church and mining tragedy: The Catholic Church in CAR mourned victims of a deadly artisanal gold mine collapse, as the government moved to close the site. Regional health coordination: CAR and neighbors agreed to strengthen cross-border preparedness to curb Ebola Bundibugyo spread, with WHO backing shared response plans. Culture-adjacent diplomacy: Cambodia announced a new rotation of peacekeepers headed to CAR, including women in the engineering unit. Debt and daily life: UNCTAD urged Africans to back a “Borrowers’ Club” platform, naming CAR among early endorsers.

Mining tragedy and faith response: The Catholic Church in the Central African Republic mourned more than 100 deaths after an artisanal gold mine collapse in Zamboyé, urging safety and legality at mining sites as the government moves to close the disaster area. Regional health cooperation: CAR joined the DRC, Uganda, Congo and South Sudan to strengthen cross-border preparedness against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, with WHO backing coordination, surveillance and community engagement. Deportations and human rights pressure: Reports continue to spotlight “third-country” deportations that send people to CAR despite a U.S. “do not travel” advisory, including accounts from deportees held in Bangui who say they were not told their destination and lack documents or freedom to leave. Diplomacy and peacekeeping ties: Cambodia announced a rotation of 184 peacekeeping personnel to the CAR as part of its long-running UN mission contribution. Culture & community angle: Nigeria’s minerals minister and the African Minerals Strategy Group sent condolences to CAR families and renewed calls to confront illegal mining that endangers livelihoods and lives.

Deportations to CAR: U.S. asylum protections are being bypassed as Trump-era “third-country deportations” send migrants to the Central African Republic, despite the U.S. State Department’s “do not travel” warning; deportees say they were shackled and beaten on flights, while officials deny abuse, and some report being held in Bangui without clear status or freedom to leave. Humanitarian fallout: A CBS report highlights a Cuban deportee who learned his destination only on landing and says he has no documents and cannot leave, underscoring how forced removals collide with CAR’s insecurity and poverty. CAR-linked global faith response: Pope Leo XIV, in his Angelus, urged stronger Ebola containment in DR Congo and expressed solidarity with CAR victims of the Zamboyé gold mine disaster, calling for safety and legality at mining sites. Culture & community lens on risk: Nigeria’s minister of solid minerals development Dele Alake sent condolences to CAR over the Zamboyé artisanal miners’ deaths, framing illegal mining as a human tragedy that threatens livelihoods and lives. Regional diplomacy: Turkey’s deputy foreign minister will chair an OIC extraordinary meeting in Jeddah on Aug. 27, with the Palestinian issue expected to lead; the Central African Republic holds observer status in the bloc.

Deportations to CAR: U.S. asylum protections are being bypassed as Trump-era “third-country” deportations send people to the Central African Republic, despite a U.S. “do not travel” advisory; migrants describe being detained, arriving in Bangui without documents, and being unable to leave, while U.S. officials deny abuse and point to “safe third country” claims. Humanitarian fallout: The U.S. has also boosted funding to the UN migration agency (IOM) in CAR, raising questions about how migration priorities shape aid. Mining tragedy in Zamboyé: Pope Leo XIV expressed solidarity with CAR after a deadly gold mine collapse in Zamboyé, urging safety and legality at mining sites; Nigeria’s African Minerals Strategy Group echoed condolences and renewed calls to crack down on illegal, unregulated mining. Global context for CAR families: A week of coverage also highlighted how shocks to aid and global economics can hit vulnerable communities, including reporting on USAID shutdown impacts and broader poverty rankings across Africa.

Deportation & Human Rights: Cubans deported to the Central African Republic say they were sent without documents and can’t leave, describing it as “like a kidnapping,” with one man saying he had never even heard of CAR before arrival in Bangui. U.S.-CAR Policy Shock: The U.S. has placed CAR under a “do not travel” advisory while deportation flights still route people there under “third-country” deals, raising fears for safety and due process. Mining Safety & Community Impact: Pope Leo XIV voiced solidarity with CAR after the Zamboyé gold mine disaster, while regional leaders and groups renewed calls to crack down on illegal, unregulated mining that puts workers’ lives at risk. Culture & Lifestyle Angle: With deportees and families forced into sudden displacement, CAR’s everyday social fabric—work, mobility, and community belonging—is being reshaped by policies far beyond its borders. Regional Context: The week also brought fresh attention to Ebola response in DR Congo and broader instability across Central Africa, underscoring how health and security crises spill into daily life.

Deportation Crisis in CAR: Two Cuban men describe being sent to the Central African Republic without documents or clear status, calling it “like a kidnapping,” after learning only on arrival in Bangui that they were being held there. Humanitarian & Safety Lens: The Pope urged stronger Ebola prevention in DR Congo while also expressing solidarity with CAR victims of the Zamboyé gold mine disaster, highlighting the need for safety and legality at mining sites. Mining Tragedy in Zamboyé: CAR authorities shut the Zamboyé artisanal gold mine after a landslide killed at least 49 people (with local sources fearing around 100+ and many missing), as rescue efforts struggled amid poor equipment and ongoing collapses. Regional Context: Coverage also notes CAR’s inclusion in broader “third-country” deportation schemes tied to U.S. immigration crackdowns, alongside reports of other African states receiving deportees.

Deportation Fallout in Bangui: A Cuban man deported by the U.S. to the Central African Republic says he arrived without documents and can’t leave—calling it “like a kidnapping”—as other deportees describe being stranded in Bangui with unclear status. Mine Disaster in Zamboyé: The CAR temporarily shut the Zamboye artisanal gold mine after a landslide killed dozens to over 100 people, with families still searching for missing miners and rescue efforts criticized for lacking equipment. Pope’s CAR Solidarity: Pope Leo XIV urged stronger Ebola containment in DR Congo, while also expressing solidarity with CAR families mourning the Zamboyé mine collapse and calling for safety and legality at mining sites. Mining Safety Push: Nigeria’s African Minerals Strategy Group leader Dele Alake sent condolences and renewed calls to crack down on illegal, unregulated mining that puts lives at risk. Regional Context: A workshop in Yaoundé focused on regional governance to curb forest conversion across the Congo Basin, including CAR participation.

Deportation Trauma in Bangui: A Cuban man deported to the Central African Republic says he arrived in Bangui without documents and can’t leave, calling it “like a kidnapping,” after learning his destination only hours before landing. Humanitarian & Safety Shock: The CAR temporarily shut the Zamboye artisanal gold mine after a landslide killed at least 49 people, with local sources fearing nearly 100 more missing; rescue efforts were suspended as the site kept collapsing and flooding worsened. Faith & Public Health: Pope Leo XIV urged stronger international action to contain Ebola in DR Congo and also expressed solidarity with CAR mining victims, linking faith to urgent protection of lives. Religion Under Pressure: Reports describe ISIS-linked attacks on Christian communities across several countries including the CAR, adding to a wider climate of fear and displacement. Mining Accountability Debate: Civil society activists say mine collapses are “far from rare,” pointing to repeated disasters and unsafe informal mining conditions near the Cameroon border.

Deportation & Human Rights: U.S. “third-country” deportations keep landing in the Central African Republic, with Cuban deportee Yasmany Moreno de Armas saying, “We cannot leave,” after learning only on arrival that he was being sent to Bangui despite a Level 4 travel warning. Regional Migration Policy: Liberia received the first flight of “third-country” deportees under a deal for up to 1,200 people, while reports say some refused to disembark and were later sent elsewhere—raising fresh questions about consent and safety. Mining Tragedy in CAR: CAR temporarily shut the Zamboye artisanal gold mine after a landslide killed at least 49 (local sources say around 100) and left many missing; authorities suspended rescue as the site kept collapsing, and security reportedly included Wagner personnel. Culture & Community Impact: Nigeria’s Alake (AMSG) mourned the miners as “brothers, fathers… breadwinners,” calling illegal mining a continent-wide danger to livelihoods and safety. Faith & Solidarity: Pope Leo XIV urged stronger Ebola response in DR Congo and also expressed solidarity with CAR mining disaster victims, calling for safer and lawful mining sites.

Deportation & safety fears: The U.S. has placed the Central African Republic under a “do not travel” advisory, yet deportations tied to a “third-country” scheme have still sent people there, including a Cuban man who said he only learned his destination after arrival in Bangui and pleaded, “We cannot leave.” Regional workshop on forests: In Yaounde, a two-day forum on “Regional governance and cooperation on forest conversion in the Congo Basin” brought together CAR, DR Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and civil society to push coordinated strategies against deforestation. Mining tragedy in CAR: Authorities temporarily shut the Zamboye artisanal gold mine after a landslide/collapse near the Cameroon border killed at least 49, while local sources and families fear the toll could be around 100+ as rescues struggle and investigations begin. Human rights & violence context: Across the region, reporting highlights ongoing attacks on Christians and wider insecurity, while Sudan’s government-linked figures also point to mass sexual violence during war—underscoring the protection challenges facing communities in Central Africa. Media & deportation policy scrutiny: Coverage also notes legal and political backlash in the U.S. over deportation practices and press freedom, as the “third-country” approach expands.

Artisanal Mining Disaster: CAR has temporarily shut the Zamboye gold mine near the Cameroon border after a landslide and tunnel collapse killed at least 49 people, while local sources and rescuers say the toll could be around 100 with many still missing; seven injured survivors were taken to Baboua, rescue work has been suspended as the site keeps collapsing and floods. Community & Rights: The tragedy has sparked renewed calls to crack down on illegal, unregulated mining that puts young men and women at extreme risk, with officials and civil society pointing to repeated past collapses. Deportation Fallout: The U.S. continues “third-country” deportations, with CAR named among destinations; a CBS report features deportees describing being sent to the Central African Republic despite a Level 4 travel warning, highlighting fears for people with no ties and limited documents. Regional Policy Dialogue: A two-day Yaounde workshop on forest conversion in the Congo Basin brought together CAR and other Central African civil society and policymakers to push regional governance, monitoring tools, and traditional knowledge to slow deforestation.

Mine Disaster in CAR: Authorities temporarily shut the Zamboye artisanal gold mine near the Cameroon border after a landslide collapse killed at least 49 people, while local sources and rescuers say the toll is likely over 100 with many still missing; rescue efforts were suspended as the site kept collapsing and heavy rains flooded parts of it, and a probe is underway into the cause and who ran the operation. Community Safety & Informal Work: Civil society and local voices say such tragedies are far from rare, pointing to weak safety standards at illegal or unlicensed sites and the way young people take dangerous work to survive. Deportations, Human Rights, and CAR’s Place in the Debate: Multiple reports say the Trump administration has deported immigrants to “dangerous” Central African Republic under third-country deals, with deportees describing fear, lack of documents, and suffering in Bangui; the coverage also notes U.S. efforts to send deportees to other African states, raising fresh legal and humanitarian concerns. Regional Violence Against Christians: New reporting links ISIS-linked attacks across several countries, including the Central African Republic, to a wider spike in killings and kidnappings of Christian communities. Mining Group Condolences: The African Minerals Strategy Group mourned the Zamboye deaths and urged stronger rules to curb illegal mining and protect workers.

Mining Tragedy in CAR: The Zamboye artisanal gold mine near the Cameroon border has been shut after a deadly landslide/collapse, with the death toll now reported as over 100 and many still missing; officials cite 49 deaths while local sources and rescuers say the real figure is higher, and rescue work has been suspended as the site keeps collapsing and rains flood lower sections. Cross-Border Human Impact: Victims include Central Africans, Cameroonians, and Chadians, and authorities say medical teams and security—including Wagner personnel—were deployed to secure the area and move injured survivors to Baboua. Humanitarian & Rights Pressure: Across the region, Christian communities in several countries including CAR have faced ISIS-linked attacks, while broader debates over deportations and due process keep raising fears for vulnerable people. Deportation Fallout Nearby: Liberia has begun receiving the first “third-country” deportees from the U.S., a move that rights groups say could deepen humanitarian risks for asylum-seekers.

Artisanal Mining Tragedy: The Central African Republic has shut the Zamboye gold mine near the Cameroon border after a deadly landslide/collapse, with the official toll at 49 but local sources and witnesses saying it could be around 100 as many miners remain missing; Mines Minister Rufin Benam-Beltoungou says 34 Central Africans, 13 Cameroonians and 2 Chadians died, seven injured were taken to Baboua, and rescue work was suspended as the site kept collapsing and heavy rains flooded lower sections. Cross-Border Human Impact: Security has been reinforced at the site, including personnel linked to the Wagner group, while families search for bodies and an investigation is underway into the cause and who operated the unlicensed operation. Regional Health Watch: In neighboring DR Congo, authorities launched an emergency Ebola prevention push along the Congo River to stop spread toward major hubs like Mbandaka and Kinshasa, with risks flagged for travel corridors reaching CAR. Migration Pressure in the Region: Liberia began receiving the first “third-country” deportees from the U.S. under a deal to accept up to 1,200 over a year, raising humanitarian concerns as deportees are described as “guests” but critics warn of legal and safety loopholes.