AGP Executive Report

Maritime Cooperation: Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri handed over two rescued São Tomé fishermen to the São Tomé embassy after they drifted into Nigerian waters for about eight days, underscoring Gulf of Guinea ties and the need for deeper cross-border maritime coordination. Aviation & Trade Links: Portugal’s TAP sale process moves to a final negotiation round after bids were judged too similar, with TAP’s 14 African destinations—including São Tomé and Príncipe—highlighting how airline decisions can ripple into regional business travel and connectivity. New Leadership, Shared Priorities: São Tomé and Príncipe President Carlos Manuel Vila Nova was sworn in for a second term, with Nigeria’s Tinubu congratulating him and pledging closer cooperation on maritime security, the Nigeria–São Tomé and Príncipe JDZ, and trade/investment. Heritage for Tourism: UNESCO added six former plantation estates (“rocas”) tied to slavery to the World Heritage List, and private investors are eyeing restoration and tourism—an opportunity for jobs and services in the archipelago. Water & Sanitation Progress: UN-Water reports São Tomé and Príncipe has improved SDG 6 access to water, sanitation and hygiene, including gains in basic hygiene coverage, even as universal access remains unfinished.

Presidential Transition & Cooperation: Nigeria’s Tinubu, represented by Defence Minister Bello Matawalle, congratulated re-elected São Tomé and Príncipe President Carlos Vila Nova and pledged deeper ties on maritime security, the Nigeria–São Tomé and Príncipe JDZ, plus trade and investment. Diplomatic Momentum: Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said Lisbon and São Tomé and Príncipe are preparing a bilateral summit focused on cooperation and boosting Portuguese business investment. Heritage Meets Tourism Finance: UNESCO’s new listing of six former plantation estates (“rocas”) tied to slavery in São Tomé and Príncipe is drawing private investor interest and a 10-year restoration plan, turning history into a potential tourism pipeline. Air Connectivity & Business Travel: euroAtlantic Airways added an Airbus A330-300 to expand long-haul ACMI/charter capacity, while still serving São Tomé on its network. Water & Hygiene Progress: UN-Water highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s gains toward SDG 6, including improved drinking water and hygiene coverage. Security Context: Separate reports note Nigeria police operational successes, underscoring the wider regional focus on public safety.

Nigeria–São Tomé Diplomatic Push: Nigeria says it will deepen cooperation with São Tomé and Príncipe after President Carlos Manuel Vila Nova’s re-election, with a focus on maritime security, the Nigeria–São Tomé and Príncipe Joint Development Zone (JDZ), plus trade and investment. The message was delivered by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence Bello Muhammad Matawalle during Vila Nova’s inauguration. UNESCO Heritage & Tourism Potential: São Tomé’s newly recognized colonial-era plantation estates (“rocas”) tied to slavery are drawing private investor interest, alongside a 10-year restoration plan aimed at preserving the sites and unlocking heritage tourism. Water & Sanitation Progress: A UN-Water acceleration study highlights continued gains in drinking water, sanitation and hygiene coverage, noting improvements since 2015 even as universal access remains a work in progress. Portugal–São Tomé Summit Plans: Portugal’s prime minister says Lisbon and São Tomé and Príncipe are preparing a bilateral summit to deepen cooperation and encourage Portuguese business investment.

Maritime & JDZ Cooperation: Nigeria’s President Tinubu, via Defence Minister Bello Matawalle, congratulated São Tomé and Príncipe President Carlos Manuel Vila Nova on his re-election and urged deeper ties on maritime security, the Nigeria–São Tomé and Príncipe Joint Development Zone, plus trade and investment. New Presidential Term: Vila Nova was sworn in for a second five-year term after winning 55.88% in the July 19 vote, pledging to uphold the constitution and push economic, social and cultural progress. Portugal Investment Push: Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said Lisbon and São Tomé and Príncipe are preparing a bilateral summit focused on deepening cooperation and encouraging Portuguese business investment. UNESCO Heritage for Tourism: UNESCO’s new World Heritage listing of six plantation “rocas” tied to slavery and forced labour is already drawing private investor interest, alongside a 10-year restoration plan aimed at turning history into a tourism asset. Water & Hygiene Progress: A UN-Water acceleration study highlights gains in access to water, sanitation and hygiene, including improved basic hygiene coverage since 2015. Security & Defence Links: Serbia’s foreign ministry says talks with São Tomé’s defence minister in Belgrade focused on strengthening economic ties, especially tourism, and cooperation on security and defence. Aviation Expansion: euroAtlantic Airways added an Airbus A330-300 to boost long-haul ACMI and charter capacity, including weekly flights serving São Tomé.

UNESCO & Tourism Investment: UNESCO has added six former plantation “rocas” on São Tomé and Príncipe—built on slavery and forced labour—to the World Heritage List, with a 10-year restoration push expected to attract private investors looking to turn the sites into heritage tourism. Diplomacy & Trade Links: Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said Lisbon and São Tomé and Príncipe are preparing a bilateral summit to deepen cooperation and spur investment by Portuguese firms. Presidential Continuity: Carlos Vila Nova was sworn in for a second five-year term after winning the July 19 election with 55.88% of the vote, pledging to back constitutional and economic progress. Water & Sanitation Progress: A UN-Water acceleration study highlights notable gains in SDG 6 outcomes, including improved basic hygiene coverage and progress toward safer water and sanitation. Regional Business & Connectivity: euroAtlantic Airways added an Airbus A330-300 to expand long-haul widebody capacity, supporting its charter/ACMI growth and continued service links including São Tomé. Sports Media Rights: DAZN secured rights to broadcast LaLiga EA SPORTS across Sub-Saharan Africa for three seasons, starting this weekend, boosting premium sports access in the region.

Portugal–São Tomé Summit Prep: Portuguese PM Luís Montenegro says Lisbon and São Tomé and Príncipe are organizing a bilateral summit to deepen cooperation and spur investment by Portuguese firms, citing work in education, health and energy. Presidential Transition: Carlos Vila Nova was sworn in for a second five-year term after winning July’s election with 55.88% in the first round, pledging to uphold the constitution and drive economic and social progress. Heritage & Tourism Push: UNESCO recognition spotlights São Tomé’s former colonial “rocas” plantations, now largely abandoned but attracting private investors looking to turn history into tourism—while raising urgent preservation challenges. Water & Sanitation Progress: UN-Water reports notable SDG 6 gains in access to water, sanitation and hygiene, with basic water access up to 80% (2015) and continued improvement in hygiene coverage through 2024. Regional Business & Connectivity: euroAtlantic Airways adds an Airbus A330-300 to expand long-haul capacity, including weekly flights to São Tomé, while DAZN secures LaLiga EA SPORTS rights across Sub-Saharan Africa for 2026/27–2028/29.

Kidnapping Crackdown: Nigeria Police report rescued two kidnapped victims and arrested 13 suspects across multiple states, recovering firearms and ammunition while probing cases including armed robbery and sexual violence. Diplomatic Turnout: Angola’s foreign minister, Téte António, represented President João Lourenço at the inauguration ceremony for São Tomé and Príncipe’s re-elected President Carlos Vila Nova, underscoring CPLP and regional ties. Security & Economy Talks: Serbia’s Dušan Kozarev met São Tomé and Príncipe’s Horácio de Sousa in Belgrade, reaffirming bilateral relations and pushing closer economic links, especially tourism, alongside defence cooperation. Water & Hygiene Progress: UN-Water highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s SDG 6 acceleration, noting gains in basic hygiene and improved water access, while stressing the remaining gap to universal services. Heritage for Tourism: UNESCO’s World Heritage push spotlights São Tomé’s colonial “rocas” plantations, including forced-labour histories, as preservation needs rise and private investors eye tourism potential. Aviation Connectivity: A report says Africa’s population is 18% of the world but only 2% of global air traffic, blaming high costs and poor intra-regional connectivity. Energy Interest: Petrobras says it has entered talks for four offshore exploration blocks in Ghana, continuing its broader African expansion that includes prior interest in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Diplomacy & State Affairs: Angola’s foreign minister Téte António represented President João Lourenço at the swearing-in of São Tomé and Príncipe’s re-elected Carlos Vila Nova, underscoring close ties across CPLP and the African Union. Aviation & Connectivity: euroAtlantic Airways added an Airbus A330-300 leased from Jackson Square Aviation to boost long-haul widebody capacity, supporting its ACMI/charter growth and continued service links including São Tomé. Security & Economic Links: Serbia’s Dušan Kozarev met São Tomé and Príncipe’s Horácio de Sousa in Belgrade, reaffirming bilateral relations and focusing on tourism plus defence and security cooperation. Water & SDG Progress: UN-Water highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s gains in drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, while noting universal access still isn’t reached. Heritage & Tourism Potential: UNESCO’s World Heritage push spotlights São Tomé’s former colonial “rocas” plantations, now on the list, with preservation needs and investor interest in tourism. Sports Media Rights: DAZN secured LaLiga EA SPORTS broadcast rights across Sub-Saharan Africa through 2028/29, bringing all matches to fans in the region. Energy Investment Watch: Petrobras moved to direct negotiations for four offshore exploration blocks in Ghana, continuing its Africa expansion that already includes interests in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Fleet & Aviation: euroAtlantic Airways added a leased Airbus A330-300 from Jackson Square Aviation, boosting its long-haul widebody capacity for ACMI and charter growth; the 290-seat aircraft (three-class) is set to be registered as CS-TGI and will support routes including weekly flights to São Tomé. Diplomacy & Trade: In Belgrade, Serbia’s Dušan Kozarev met São Tomé and Príncipe’s Horácio de Sousa during the Non-Aligned Movement anniversary, reaffirming ties and highlighting new economic links, especially tourism, alongside security and defence cooperation. Water & Sanitation Progress: UN-Water reports São Tomé and Príncipe has improved SDG 6 outcomes—basic water access rose to about 80% (2015), while safely managed water sits at 37% and safely managed sanitation at 35%, with hygiene coverage up 21% between 2015 and 2024. Heritage & Tourism Potential: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee work in Busan included São Tomé and Príncipe’s plantation “rocas,” built on forced labour, now drawing investor interest for tourism—while preservation remains a major challenge. Regional Business Integration: SADC’s push to operationalise Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for service suppliers notes São Tomé and Príncipe among the ratifiers, with legal and tourism services flagged as practical starting points.

Bilateral & Security: Serbia’s foreign ministry secretary general Dušan Kozarev met São Tomé and Príncipe’s defence and internal affairs minister Horácio de Sousa in Belgrade, reaffirming ties and thanking São Tomé and Príncipe for withdrawing its earlier decision to recognize Kosovo; talks also flagged closer cooperation on economic ties (tourism) and security/defence. Water & Sanitation SDG 6: UN-Water reports São Tomé and Príncipe has made major gains in drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, with basic water access at about 80% in 2015 and improved service measures rising to 37% for safely managed water and 35% for safely managed sanitation, plus a 21% increase in basic hygiene coverage since 2015. Heritage & Tourism Potential: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee concluded with renewed focus on inclusive protection; São Tomé and Príncipe’s plantation “rocas” tied to slavery and forced labour were recognized, but preservation is a challenge as private investors eye heritage-led tourism. Energy Exploration: Petrobras submitted an expression of interest for four offshore exploration blocks in Ghana and noted it has already acquired interests in São Tomé and Príncipe and other African countries, moving toward direct negotiations. Regional Services Trade: Tralac highlights SADC progress on Mutual Recognition Agreements under Article 7, noting São Tomé and Príncipe is among the few countries that have ratified the Free Movement Protocol, with work underway toward MRAs for legal and tourism services.

Water & SDGs: São Tomé and Príncipe is accelerating progress on drinking water and hygiene, with UN-Water highlighting gains since 2015: basic water access at about 80%, while safely managed water sits at 37% and safely managed sanitation at 35%, alongside a 21% rise in basic hygiene coverage by 2024. Diplomacy & Trade: In Belgrade, São Tomé and Príncipe’s Minister of Defence and Internal Affairs Horácio de Sousa met Serbia’s Dusan Kozarev to reaffirm ties and push stronger economic cooperation, especially tourism, plus security and defence links. Heritage for Tourism: UNESCO’s World Heritage push added São Tomé’s historic “rocas” plantation estates to the list, spotlighting forced labour-era sites now facing preservation challenges but drawing interest from private investors. Aviation Costs: A report says Africa’s population is 18% of the world but only 2% of global air traffic, blaming high fares and poor intra-regional connectivity—an issue that affects travel to São Tomé and Principe. Inflation Watch: Inflation remains elevated across Africa; São Tomé and Príncipe recorded 9.7% in June 2026, up from 9.2% the month before. Regional Services Integration: SADC is moving to operationalise Mutual Recognition Agreements under Article 7, with São Tomé and Príncipe among the countries that have ratified the Free Movement Protocol. Maritime Security: The US Coast Guard kept São Tomé and Príncipe on its port-security advisory list, meaning extra ship security conditions may apply for calls linked to affected ports.

UNESCO World Heritage: The 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee wrapped up in Busan with renewed calls for more inclusive protection of sites, and São Tomé and Príncipe scoring a first-time inscription for its historic plantation “rocas,” alongside South Sudan and Comoros; UNESCO also announced a SIDS World Heritage Strategy (2026–2034) with a $13m budget. Heritage-to-Tourism Investment: Reporting on the newly listed plantation estates on Príncipe, the story highlights crumbling “rocas” and growing interest from private investors to develop tourism around sites shaped by slavery and forced labour. Sports Media Deal: DAZN secured rights to broadcast LALIGA EA SPORTS across Sub-Saharan Africa for three seasons (2026/27–2028/29), bringing all 380 matches per season to fans via live and on-demand streaming. Aviation Connectivity (Regional Cost): A report says Africa’s population share is far larger than its air-traffic share, pointing to high costs and poor connectivity that make travel— including to São Tomé and Príncipe via Lisbon—expensive and inconvenient. Maritime Security: The US Coast Guard kept São Tomé and Príncipe on its heightened port-security advisory list, meaning extra security conditions for ships calling there. Inflation Watch: Latest data shows São Tomé and Príncipe inflation at 9.70% (June 2026), up from 9.20% the prior month, with food prices a key driver.

UNESCO World Heritage: São Tomé and Príncipe secured its first UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscription(s) as the 48th session in Busan highlighted inclusion, with 25 new sites added worldwide and a new 2026–2034 strategy for Small Island Developing States backed by a $13m budget—good news for heritage-led tourism and preservation planning. Heritage & Tourism Investment: AFP reports that six former plantation estates (“rocas”) tied to slavery and forced labour were added to the World Heritage List, but most are abandoned—private investors are now eyeing tourism potential, while preservation remains a major challenge for the Gulf of Guinea archipelago. Aviation & Connectivity: A report says Africa’s population is 18% of the world but only 2% of global air traffic, blaming high costs and poor intra-continental connectivity; it notes a São Tomé–Lisbon route can cost at least $400 one-way. Maritime Security Risk: The US Coast Guard keeps São Tomé and Príncipe on its port-security advisory watch list, meaning extra security conditions for vessels calling at affected ports. Inflation Watch: São Tomé and Príncipe recorded 9.7% inflation in June 2026 (up from 9.2%), the highest since Dec 2025, with food and non-alcoholic beverages driving pressure. Sports Media Deal: DAZN won rights to broadcast LaLiga EA SPORTS across Sub-Saharan Africa for three seasons (2026/27–2028/29), bringing all 380 matches per season to 48 markets. Oil & Gas Interest: Petrobras submitted an expression of interest for four offshore exploration blocks in Ghana and is already active in São Tomé and Príncipe, holding interests in four exploration blocks.

Maritime Security & Trade: The US Coast Guard kept 10 African countries, including São Tomé and Príncipe, on its heightened port-security restrictions watch list, after finding ports were not maintaining effective antiterrorism measures; Nigeria was removed after it met the standards, but the advisory can add extra security requirements for ships calling at affected ports. Oil & Gas: Petrobras submitted an expression of interest to negotiate four offshore exploration blocks in Ghana’s Keta basin, following approval from Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition; Petrobras already has exploration interests in São Tomé and Príncipe and other African markets. Heritage & Tourism: UNESCO recognition is boosting efforts to preserve São Tomé’s colonial-era “rocas” plantation estates on Principe, but most sites are abandoned, creating a preservation challenge even as private investors eye tourism potential. Regional Services Integration: In SADC, work is advancing on Mutual Recognition Agreements under Article 7 to ease cross-border movement of service suppliers, with São Tomé and Príncipe among the ratifying countries. Inflation Watch: São Tomé and Príncipe recorded 9.70% inflation in June 2026, the highest since December 2025, as prices rose 1.2% month-on-month.

UNESCO Heritage & Tourism: São Tomé and Príncipe’s colonial-era plantation “rocas” were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List last month, but most sites are abandoned—now private investors are eyeing tourism development while descendants highlight the forced-labour legacy behind places like the crumbling Sundy plantation on Principe. Sports Media Deal: DAZN secured rights to broadcast LaLiga EA SPORTS across Sub-Saharan Africa for three seasons (2026/27–2028/29), bringing all 380 matches per season to 48 markets via live and on-demand viewing. Oil & Gas Expansion: Petrobras has submitted an expression of interest to enter direct negotiations for four offshore exploration blocks in Ghana’s Keta basin, adding to its existing African footprint that includes São Tomé and Príncipe. Regional Services Integration: SADC is pushing Mutual Recognition Agreements under Article 7 to ease cross-border movement of service providers, with São Tomé and Príncipe among the ratifiers and work underway on MRAs for legal and tourism services. Aviation Costs: A report says Africa’s 18% share of the world’s population drives only 2% of global air traffic, blaming high fares and poor connectivity—raising the cost of travel to places like São Tomé and Príncipe. Inflation Watch: São Tomé and Príncipe recorded 9.7% inflation in June 2026, up from 9.2% in May, with food and non-alcoholic beverages among the pressure points.

UNESCO Heritage & Tourism Investment: São Tomé and Príncipe’s colonial “rocas” plantation estates—built on slavery and forced labour—were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List last month, but most sites are abandoned, pushing preservation needs while private investors eye tourism potential. Sports Media Deal: DAZN secured rights to broadcast LaLiga EA SPORTS across Sub-Saharan Africa for three seasons (2026/27–2028/29), bringing all 380 matches per season live and on-demand to 48 markets. Oil & Gas Expansion: Petrobras submitted an expression of interest to negotiate four offshore exploration blocks in Ghana’s Keta basin, and the company is already active in São Tomé and Príncipe with exploration interests. Regional Trade in Services: SADC progress on Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) is moving slowly—only a few countries, including São Tomé and Príncipe, have ratified the Free Movement Protocol—while work continues toward MRAs for legal and tourism services. Inflation Watch: São Tomé and Príncipe is listed among Africa’s highest-inflation countries, with June 2026 inflation at 9.70% (up from 9.20%). Maritime Security: The Gambia remains on the US port-security restrictions watch list, with São Tomé and Príncipe included among countries previously flagged for antiterrorism measures.