AGP Executive Report

Higher Education Diplomacy: The 35th Annual Meeting of the Association of Portuguese Speaking Universities (AULP) opened at the University of Macau, with over 150 representatives from Portuguese-speaking countries including São Tomé and Príncipe, aiming to deepen academic and cultural cooperation. International Appointments: India named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as its next ambassador to the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up posts shortly. Aviation Oversight: The EU updated its Air Safety List (48th revision), banning 154 airlines; the list continues to include carriers certified in São Tomé and Príncipe due to inadequate national safety oversight. Trade Facilitation: EU-WCO support continues for rules-of-origin capacity-building, with customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joining Training of Trainers workshops to help implement preferential trade agreements. Energy & Investment Watch: Petrobras signaled continued international expansion, including recent acquisitions in São Tomé and Príncipe, as it seeks reserves beyond Brazil.

Diplomatic Appointments: India named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as next Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up posts shortly. Regional Trade Capacity: Under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, Customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined Training of Trainers workshops, building local capacity to help businesses apply preferential trade rules. Aviation Safety Impact: The EU updated its Air Safety List (48th revision), keeping São Tomé and Príncipe among the countries whose certified carriers are banned from EU skies due to inadequate safety oversight, while adding Air Express Algeria. Sports Governance Link: A World Cup-focused push in football administration highlights how countries can use major tournaments as learning platforms—relevant for São Tomé and Príncipe’s own football development debates.

Diplomatic Appointments: India named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as its next Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up posts shortly. EU Aviation Safety: The EU updated its Air Safety List, banning 154 airlines; the list still includes carriers certified in São Tomé and Príncipe due to inadequate national safety oversight, while Air Express Algeria was newly added after serious safety concerns. Trade Facilitation: Customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined EU-WCO Rules of Origin training-of-trainers workshops, building local capacity to help businesses apply preferential trade rules correctly. Energy & Investment Signals: Petrobras reported growing international activity, including recent acquisitions in São Tomé and Príncipe, as it seeks reserves beyond Brazil. Sports Governance (Regional): While not STP-specific, coverage highlights how football administration and commercialization are being pushed as lessons from major tournaments—relevant to STP’s own sports policy debates.

Diplomatic Appointments: India named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as its next ambassador to São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up posts shortly. EU Aviation Oversight: The European Commission updated the EU Air Safety List (48th revision), banning 154 airlines; the list includes carriers certified in São Tomé and Príncipe due to inadequate safety oversight. Trade Facilitation: Under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined Training of Trainers workshops, building local capacity to apply preferential rules of origin across trade agreements. Energy & Investment Signals: Petrobras said it is expanding internationally, including recent acquisitions in São Tomé and Príncipe, as it pursues new offshore reserves beyond Brazil. Regional Sports Governance: A delegation led by João Da Costa Manuel of São Tomé and Príncipe visited Nigeria for preparations for the Abuja 2027 Africa Schools Games, with Nigeria reiterating its commitment to host the event.

Diplomatic Appointments: India named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as its next ambassador to São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up their posts soon. Aviation Oversight: The EU updated its Air Safety List, banning 154 airlines; São Tomé and Príncipe appears among the countries whose certified carriers are banned from EU skies due to inadequate safety oversight. Trade & Customs Capacity: Under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined Training of Trainers workshops, building local capacity to apply rules of origin in preferential trade agreements. Regional Sports Diplomacy: Nigeria’s Abuja 2027 Africa Schools Games preparations included a coordination visit led by João Da Costa Manuel of São Tomé and Príncipe, as the event’s local organising work and venues are inspected. Global Context (Wealth & Climate): A Bloomberg/IMF comparison highlights how Dangote’s wealth now exceeds the GDP of several African economies, including São Tomé and Príncipe; separate reporting flags May 2026 as the world’s second-warmest May on record.

Diplomatic Appointments: India named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as its next ambassador to São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up posts soon. Aviation Safety: The EU updated its Air Safety List, banning 154 airlines; the list again includes carriers certified in São Tomé and Príncipe, alongside other countries, after regulators cited safety oversight gaps. Regional Sports & Youth Policy: Nigeria reiterated plans for the 2027 Africa Schools Games in Abuja, with an ANOCA coordination team led by João Da Costa Manuel from São Tomé and Príncipe inspecting venues and preparations. Energy & Investment: Petrobras said it is expanding internationally, including recent acquisitions in São Tomé and Príncipe, as it pursues new offshore deals and reserve growth beyond Brazil. Trade Capacity Building: Customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined EU-WCO Rules of Origin training to strengthen how preferential trade rules are applied across participating African states.

Diplomatic Appointments: India named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as its next ambassador to São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up posts soon. Aviation Oversight: The EU updated its Air Safety List, banning 154 airlines from EU airspace; the list still includes carriers certified in São Tomé and Príncipe, alongside many others, while also adding Air Express Algeria after “serious safety concerns.” Regional Sports Coordination: ANOCA’s Africa Schools Games team, led by João Da Costa Manuel of São Tomé and Príncipe, met Nigeria’s National Sports Commission to review venues and preparations for Abuja 2027, with Nigeria reiterating its commitment to a world-class event. Trade Capacity Building: Under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined Training of Trainers workshops to strengthen rules-of-origin expertise for preferential trade agreements.

EU Aviation Safety Update: The European Commission’s 48th revision of the EU Air Safety List bans 154 airlines from flying in EU airspace, including overflying, after regulators found carriers that fail to meet international safety standards; the list now includes Air Express Algeria, while Kyrgyzstan-certified airlines were removed after “significant progress” in oversight. Diplomatic Appointments: India named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as its next ambassador to São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up posts shortly. Energy & Investment: Petrobras says it is expanding internationally, adding new offshore Cote d’Ivoire blocks and weighing further investment opportunities in Mexico and Venezuela, alongside recent acquisitions including in São Tomé and Príncipe. Trade Facilitation: Under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined training-of-trainers workshops to build local capacity for applying preferential trade rules. Sports Governance Link: São Tomé and Príncipe’s João Da Costa Manuel leads an ANOCA coordination team visiting Nigeria for preparations for the Abuja 2027 Africa Schools Games, underscoring regional sports planning ties.

Sports diplomacy and youth development: ANOCA’s Africa Schools Games coordination team, led by São Tomé and Príncipe’s João Da Costa Manuel, met Nigeria’s National Sports Commission in Abuja as preparations for the 2027 event continue, with NSC chair Shehu Dikko stressing grassroots sports reforms and world-class venue readiness. International appointments: India named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as its next ambassador to the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up posts soon. EU aviation oversight affecting the region: The European Commission updated its EU Air Safety List, banning 154 airlines in total; the list includes carriers certified in São Tomé and Príncipe due to inadequate national safety oversight. Trade facilitation for Portuguese-speaking Africa: Under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined Training of Trainers workshops to build local capacity for applying preferential trade rules. Maritime security and enforcement: Indonesia reported action against illegal fishing vessels, including a case involving a foreign vessel flying the São Tomé and Príncipe flag, highlighting links between illegal fishing and broader transnational crime.

Diplomacy Appointments: India has named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as its next ambassador to the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up posts shortly. Aviation Safety Oversight: The EU updated its Air Safety List (48th revision), cutting the number of banned airlines to 154 and removing all Kyrgyz carriers after safety improvements, while adding Air Express Algeria for serious safety concerns; the list also continues to include airlines tied to São Tomé and Príncipe among countries with inadequate oversight. Energy & Investment Signals: Petrobras says it is expanding internationally, including recent acquisitions in São Tomé and Príncipe, alongside new offshore deals in Côte d’Ivoire and potential investment talks in Mexico and Venezuela. Trade Capacity Building: Under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined training-of-trainers workshops to strengthen how origin rules are applied in preferential trade agreements. Maritime Security: Indonesia reported action against illegal fishing vessels, including a case involving a foreign vessel flying the São Tomé and Príncipe flag and allegedly smuggling protected fish.

Diplomatic Appointments: India named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as its next ambassador to the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up posts soon. Aviation Safety Oversight: The EU updated its Air Safety List (48th revision): Kyrgyz-certified carriers were removed after safety improvements, while Air Express Algeria was added after “serious safety concerns,” keeping the list at 154 banned airlines; the EU list also continues to include São Tomé and Príncipe among countries whose certified carriers face EU bans due to inadequate oversight. Trade Facilitation: Under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, Customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined Training of Trainers workshops to build local capacity for applying preferential rules of origin in trade agreements. Energy & Investment Watch: Petrobras said it is expanding internationally via new production-sharing contracts in Côte d’Ivoire and is also assessing investments in Mexico and Venezuela, alongside recent acquisitions including in São Tomé and Príncipe. Governance & Justice: A survey by Afrobarometer ranks Nigeria among the worst on access to justice and judicial trust, with São Tomé and Príncipe also reported among the countries with worse outcomes on some indicators.

Diplomatic Appointments: India named Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu as its next Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Vinay Kumar as its next Ambassador to São Tomé and Príncipe, with both expected to take up duties shortly. EU Aviation Oversight: The EU updated its Air Safety List, adding Air Express Algeria and removing all Kyrgyz-certified carriers, while noting that carriers from São Tomé and Príncipe are among those banned from operating in Europe. Trade Rules Training: Under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, Customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined Training of Trainers workshops to build local capacity on rules-of-origin checks for preferential trade agreements. Regional University Links: São Tomé and Príncipe is included among Portuguese-speaking countries participating in AULP’s 35th annual meeting in Macau, focused on strengthening academic and cultural ties. Governance & Courts: A survey by Afrobarometer ranks São Tomé and Príncipe among the worst performers on access to justice and trust in courts, alongside Angola, Comoros and Guinea. Environment & Heritage: A feature highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s endemic birdlife and the political legacy of Portuguese colonisation tied to the islands’ plantation history.

Diplomatic Appointments: India has named Vinay Kumar as its next Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, with Lakshmanan Ramesh Babu appointed to Cote d’Ivoire—both expected to take up duties shortly, underscoring continued Indian engagement in Lusophone Africa. Aviation Safety Oversight: The EU updated its Air Safety List: all Kyrgyz carriers were removed after safety improvements, while Air Express Algeria was added and barred from operating in the EU over serious compliance concerns—an indirect reminder of how international standards can affect regional connectivity. Trade Rules Capacity: Under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, Customs officials from São Tomé and Príncipe joined Training of Trainers workshops, building local expertise to help businesses apply preferential trade rules correctly and reduce friction in cross-border commerce. Justice and Courts (Regional Context): A survey reported Nigeria among the worst performers on access to justice and trust in courts, with only São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola, Comoros and Guinea recording worse results—highlighting a governance challenge that resonates across the region.

Trade & Customs Capacity: Sao Tome and Principe customs officers took part in EU-WCO “Rules of Origin Africa” Training of Trainers workshops, joining Nigeria, Comoros, Morocco and others to build local expert pools for applying preferential trade rules. Diplomacy: South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held bilateral talks in Seoul with counterparts including Sao Tome and Principe, discussing expanded cooperation across economy, defense, maritime security, development and coordination on the international stage. Judicial Confidence (Regional Context): A new Afrobarometer survey ranks Nigeria among Africa’s worst for access to justice and trust in courts, with Sao Tome and Príncipe also listed among the lowest performers—an issue that resonates for Lusophone governance debates. Public Health & Social Services (Church-linked): Catholic officials in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe renewed calls for children’s commitments to be implemented in daily life, citing food insecurity and gaps in maternal healthcare access. Education/Politics-Adjacent: The AULP annual meeting in Macao (15–17 June) will bring together Portuguese-speaking universities, including Sao Tome and Príncipe-linked academic networks, under a theme of strengthening collaboration and the Portuguese language as a bridge.

Cancer Care Capacity: Merck Foundation marked World Cancer Day 2026 by expanding oncology training across Africa, including one-year clinical scholarships and postgraduate cancer/clinical oncology and pain management diplomas, aiming to address late diagnosis and the shortage of specialists. Judicial Confidence in Courts: A new Afrobarometer survey ranks Nigeria among the worst in Africa on access to justice, judicial independence perceptions, and fair outcomes—only São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola, Comoros and Guinea recorded worse results—highlighting how court trust remains a political governance issue. Maritime Security & Illicit Fishing: Indonesia says it disrupted illegal fishing involving 1,210 vessels since 2021, citing a case where a foreign vessel flying the Sao Tomé and Príncipe flag was linked to smuggling 1.2 tons of humphead wrasse, tying enforcement to broader transnational crime risks. Korea–Africa Diplomacy: South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held bilateral talks with counterparts including Sao Tomé and Príncipe, discussing expanded cooperation in economy, defense, maritime security, development, and coordination on the international stage. Regional Finance Oversight: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde under BEAC/COBAC hosting, stressing stronger supervision for emerging risks like digital fraud, cybersecurity, and climate risks to protect financial stability.

Korea-Africa Diplomacy: South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held one-on-one talks with counterparts from 11 African countries, including São Tomé and Príncipe, agreeing to expand cooperation on economy, defense, maritime security, development, and coordination on the international stage. Judicial Confidence in Courts: A new Afrobarometer survey ranks Nigeria among Africa’s worst on access to justice and trust in courts, with only 28% of Nigerians confident ordinary citizens can get justice—while São Tomé and Príncipe is listed among the countries recording worse results. Banking Supervision Focus: Central African banking leaders met in Yaounde to push stronger supervisory know-how for “emerging risks,” highlighting digitalization, cyber threats, and cross-border banking groups as priorities for financial stability. Startup Push Tied to Portuguese-Speaking Countries: The 929 Challenge and 929 Summit will be integrated into AIE Expo 2026 in Macao, with a new acceleration programme aimed at helping startups reach the Greater Bay Area, explicitly including São Tomé and Príncipe among the Portuguese-speaking countries in the initiative. Maritime Security Warning: Indonesia says it disrupted illegal fishing by 1,210 vessels since 2021, and cites a case involving a vessel flying the São Tomé and Príncipe flag concealed in a hidden compartment. Child Nutrition Pressure in Church Reports: The Catholic Church in Angola and São Tomé warns that many children attend school without having eaten and urges government to implement commitments for children in practice.