AGP Executive Report

Diplomacy Anniversary: Venezuela and São Tomé and Príncipe marked 20 years of diplomatic relations with meetings in Luanda, reviewing cooperation in education, agriculture, gender, culture and other South-South areas. World Bank Leadership: The World Bank named Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, with prior experience leading World Bank work in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. Maritime Security: The US Coast Guard kept 22 countries on its port security advisory list, including São Tomé and Príncipe, saying ports are not maintaining effective antiterrorism measures—potentially adding security requirements for ships before US arrival. Citizenship-by-Investment: São Tomé and Príncipe’s “golden passport” program is open to eligible foreigners from a $90,000 investment to the National Transformation Fund, with processing typically around two months and citizenship inheritable. Oil & Gas Interest (Regional): Petrobras began negotiations to acquire exploration rights for four offshore blocks in Ghana’s Keta Basin, signaling continued Brazilian exploration push across Africa, including mention of São Tomé and Príncipe. Civic Space Watch: A new analysis says only Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe are considered “open” on civic space, while most of Sub-Saharan Africa is blocked, repressed or closed.

Diplomacy: Venezuela and São Tomé and Príncipe marked 20 years of diplomatic relations with talks in Luanda focused on education, agriculture, gender, culture and technical cooperation under South-South principles. Oil & Gas: Petrobras has begun negotiations with Ghana after the Ministry of Energy approved talks on four offshore blocks in the underexplored Keta Basin, as Ghana seeks to reverse falling crude output. World Bank: The World Bank named Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, noting he previously led World Bank engagements with Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. Security & Shipping: The US Coast Guard says 22 countries remain on its port security advisory list, including São Tomé and Príncipe, after ports were judged not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures. Civic Space: A new analysis by CIVICUS highlights that only Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe are considered “open” in Sub-Saharan Africa, while most others are blocked, repressed or closed. Health: A World Bank-backed regional training in Dar es Salaam is strengthening mentors for frontline epidemiologists, including São Tomé and Príncipe, by integrating chronic disease surveillance into outbreak-ready field training.

Petroleum & Investment: Ghana has approved Petrobras’ request to negotiate exploration contracts for four offshore blocks in the underexplored Keta Basin, as the country pushes to reverse a near-50% drop in oil output since its 2019 peak; the talks cover contract terms only, with no drilling timetable or investment figures disclosed. Diplomacy: Venezuela and São Tomé and Príncipe marked 20 years of diplomatic relations with meetings in Luanda, reviewing cooperation in education, agriculture, gender, culture and other areas under South-South principles. World Bank: The World Bank named Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, and he previously led World Bank engagements in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. Citizenship by Investment: A guide highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s 2025 “golden passport” route, offering citizenship via a $90,000 investment to the National Transformation Fund, with typical processing around two months. Security & Shipping: The US Coast Guard says 22 countries remain on its port security advisory list, including São Tomé and Príncipe, after it found ports were not maintaining effective antiterrorism measures. Civic Space: A regional analysis notes that only Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe are considered “open” on civic space, while most of Sub-Saharan Africa is blocked, repressed or closed.

Oil & Gas Talks: Brazil’s Petrobras has begun negotiations with Ghana after the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition approved talks for four offshore blocks in the underexplored Keta Basin, as Ghana’s crude output fell to 37.3 million barrels in 2025. Diplomacy: Venezuela and São Tomé and Príncipe marked 20 years of diplomatic relations, with both sides reviewing cooperation in education, agriculture, gender, culture and technical collaboration. World Bank Appointments: The World Bank named Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, with prior leadership roles that included World Bank engagements in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. Citizenship by Investment: A new report highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s “golden passport” option, offering citizenship via a $90,000 investment to the National Transformation Fund, with processing typically around two months. Maritime Security: The US Coast Guard says 22 countries remain on its port security advisory list, including São Tomé and Príncipe, after ports were found not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures. Health & Resilience: A World Bank-backed regional training in Dar es Salaam is equipping health workers across 11 countries, including São Tomé and Príncipe, to strengthen surveillance for non-communicable diseases alongside frontline outbreak response.

Oil & Gas: Petrobras has submitted an expression of interest and begun negotiations to explore four offshore blocks in Ghana’s Keta Basin, with the company also flagging São Tomé and Príncipe as part of its wider Africa push. Diplomacy: Venezuela and São Tomé and Príncipe marked 20 years of diplomatic relations, reviewing cooperation in education, agriculture, gender, culture and other South-South projects. World Bank: The World Bank named Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, with prior experience leading World Bank work in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. Security & Shipping: The US Coast Guard kept 22 countries on its port security advisory list, including São Tomé and Príncipe, saying ports there are not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures. Civic Space: A new CIVICUS-focused analysis says São Tomé and Príncipe is one of only two Sub-Saharan countries rated “open,” while most others are blocked, repressed or closed. Economy & Cost of Living: A currency roundup puts São Tomé and Príncipe’s dobra among Africa’s weakest, with more than 22,000 units needed for one US dollar. Citizenship by Investment: A report highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s $90,000 “golden passport” route to citizenship, including eligibility rules and processing timelines.

US Maritime Security: The US Coast Guard says 22 countries, including São Tomé and Príncipe, are still on its port security advisory list after it found ports were not maintaining effective antiterrorism measures; Nigeria was removed after improvements. Diplomacy: Venezuela and São Tomé and Príncipe marked 20 years of diplomatic relations, with both sides reviewing cooperation in education, agriculture, gender, culture and technical support under South-South principles. World Bank Leadership: The World Bank named Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, noting he previously led World Bank engagements in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. Citizenship-by-Investment: A report highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s “golden passport” scheme, offering citizenship via a $90,000 investment to the National Transformation Fund, with processing typically around two months. Health & Training: A World Bank-backed programme in Eastern and Southern Africa is training mentors to strengthen frontline surveillance, including NCD detection, with São Tomé and Príncipe among participating countries. Youth & Church: An Angolan Catholic bishop urged young people in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe to resist corruption and engage in politics as a service to human dignity.

Diplomacy Anniversary: Venezuela and São Tomé and Príncipe marked 20 years of diplomatic relations with meetings between senior ambassadors in Luanda, reviewing cooperation in education, agriculture, gender technical work, culture and other South-South priorities. World Bank Leadership: The World Bank named Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, and notes he previously led the bank’s engagements in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe—an indirect signal of continued institutional attention to the islands. Health Preparedness: A World Bank-funded regional training in Dar es Salaam is strengthening São Tomé and Príncipe’s frontline health capacity, training mentors to fold non-communicable disease surveillance into existing field epidemiology work across 11 countries. Citizenship-by-Investment: A report highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s $90,000 golden passport route, describing eligibility, due diligence checks, and the role of the National Transformation Fund in infrastructure and social projects. Currency Pressure: A separate roundup flags São Tomé and Príncipe’s dobra among Africa’s weakest currencies, pointing to rising import costs and squeezed household purchasing power. Youth and Church: Catholic leaders in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe used National Youth Day messaging to urge young people to resist corruption and take active civic roles.

World Bank Leadership: The World Bank has named Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, overseeing IBRD, IFC and MIGA work there; Alvarez previously led World Bank engagements in Angola and São Tomé, and the move follows an April agreement to set up a permanent World Bank office in Port of Spain. Citizenship-by-Investment Watch: A new report highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s “golden passport” scheme, offering citizenship for a $90,000 investment plus fees via the National Transformation Fund, with processing often around two months and no need to visit during review. Health System Training: A World Bank-backed regional programme is training mentors for frontline epidemiologists, integrating non-communicable disease surveillance into existing field training across Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe and other Eastern and Southern African countries. Currency Pressure: August 2026 exchange-rate data puts São Tomé and Príncipe’s dobra among Africa’s weakest, at about 22,282 per US dollar, underscoring rising import costs and squeezed household purchasing power. Regional Telecom Update: Ncell (Nepal) introduced a 60-second pulse rate for international outgoing calls to 198 countries, effective August 18, 2026, after regulator approval.

Citizenship-by-investment spotlight: São Tomé and Príncipe’s “golden passport” is being marketed as a fast route to citizenship, with applications reportedly processed in about two months and eligibility tied to a $90,000 investment plus fees, with dependents allowed and no need to live in the country during processing. Energy & data for exploration: French firm Viridien signed a multi-client subsurface data deal with Senegal’s Petrosen, aiming to improve geoscience information and boost exploration interest across the MSGBC offshore basin. Regional diplomacy: President Adama Barrow joined Gabon’s 66th Independence celebrations in Libreville, with leaders including São Tomé and Príncipe’s President Carlos Vila Nova among the attendees. Currency pressure: A report on August 2026 exchange rates lists São Tomé and Príncipe’s dobra among Africa’s weakest currencies, with the dollar requiring over 22,000 units. Health systems training: A World Bank-backed programme trained health professionals across Eastern and Southern Africa to strengthen frontline surveillance, including NCD monitoring, with São Tomé and Príncipe among participating countries.

Independence & Diplomacy: President Adama Barrow joined Gabon’s 66th Independence celebrations in Libreville, with regional leaders including São Tomé and Príncipe’s President Carlos Vila Nova attending the military parade and memorial inauguration. Currency Pressure: A new exchange-rate snapshot puts São Tomé and Príncipe’s dobra among Africa’s weakest currencies, needing about 22,282 units to buy $1—raising import costs and squeezing household purchasing power. Health & Data Skills: São Tomé and Príncipe is included in a World Bank-backed regional push training health workers to spot chronic disease risks earlier, strengthening non-communicable disease surveillance across Eastern and Southern Africa. Youth & Faith: Catholic youth leaders in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe urged young people to resist corruption and engage society with civic responsibility, framing politics as service rather than self-promotion. Investment Migration: As EU investor-citizenship rules shift, more African states—including São Tomé and Príncipe—are expanding golden visa and residency-by-investment options to attract foreign capital.

Telecom Update: Ncell has introduced a new 60-second pulse rate for international outgoing calls to 198 countries, effective August 18, 2026, after approval by Nepal’s telecom regulator NTA. Blue Economy: Africa’s fisheries, aquaculture and marine industries are being framed as major economic engines, with aquatic foods still under-supplied across the continent and new projects pushing climate-resilient aquaculture and coastal livelihoods. Health Training (São Tomé and Príncipe): A World Bank-backed regional programme in Dar es Salaam is training health professionals to strengthen non-communicable disease surveillance, including mentors supporting frontline epidemiologists across Angola, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Youth and Governance (Angola & São Tomé and Príncipe): Catholic leaders in Angola’s youth events urged young people to engage in politics as a service, while resisting corruption and intolerance. Diplomacy: Serbia’s foreign minister Marko Đurić met São Tomé and Príncipe’s prime minister to discuss cooperation in education, healthcare, agriculture, digitalization and culture, including Serbia’s interest in deeper political and economic ties.

Blue Economy: A new push across Africa is turning oceans and rivers into economic engines, with fisheries and aquaculture highlighted as key to food security and jobs as aquatic foods remain under-supplied. Health Training: São Tomé and Príncipe is among 11 countries in a World Bank-backed programme training health workers to spot chronic disease risks earlier, by weaving non-communicable disease surveillance into frontline field epidemiology. Investment Migration: Golden visa and citizenship-by-investment schemes are expanding across Africa as EU investor-citizenship rules change, with São Tomé and Príncipe named among countries with active frameworks. Offshore Energy: TGS has started a new 2D seismic reprocessing project off São Tomé and Príncipe with the goal of improving subsurface clarity and supporting future exploration decisions. Diplomacy: Serbia’s foreign minister met São Tomé and Príncipe’s prime minister to discuss cooperation in education, healthcare, agriculture and digitalization, and to strengthen bilateral ties. Climate Watch: July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the hottest July on record, underscoring ongoing climate pressure.

Blue Economy: Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture are being pushed as major economic engines, with aquatic foods supplying about 19% of animal protein on average while availability remains low—creating room for sustainable growth and jobs. Health Security: A World Bank-backed regional training in Dar es Salaam is strengthening how frontline workers spot chronic disease risks, including in São Tomé and Príncipe, by folding non-communicable disease surveillance into existing field epidemiology training. Offshore Energy: TGS has started a new 2D seismic reprocessing project off São Tomé and Príncipe, covering 14,651 km of older data to improve subsurface imaging and support future exploration decisions. Investment Migration: A surge in “golden visa” and citizenship-by-investment schemes across Africa is being linked to shifting global rules after the EU ended investor citizenship programmes. Diplomacy: Serbia’s foreign minister met São Tomé and Príncipe’s prime minister to discuss expanding cooperation in education, healthcare, agriculture, digitalization and culture. Climate Watch: July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the hottest July on record, underscoring ongoing warming pressures.

Blue Economy: A new push across Africa is treating oceans, lakes and rivers as economic assets, with fisheries and aquaculture highlighted as a way to close a major food-protein gap and create jobs and coastal livelihoods. Health & NCDs: In Dar es Salaam, a World Bank-backed programme is training health workers to spot chronic diseases earlier by folding non-communicable disease surveillance into frontline field epidemiology in countries including São Tomé and Príncipe. São Tomé and Príncipe Energy: TGS has started a 2D seismic reprocessing project off São Tomé and Príncipe, covering 14,651 km of data to improve offshore imaging and support future exploration decisions. Diplomacy: Serbia’s foreign minister met São Tomé and Príncipe’s prime minister to discuss cooperation in education, healthcare, agriculture and digitalization, and to thank the country for its stance on Kosovo. Travel Rules: A guide explains who may need a Schengen visa for Italy and how the process works, depending on nationality. Climate: July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the hottest July on record, according to NOAA and other climate services.

Youth, Faith & Anti-Corruption: Angola’s Catholic Bishop Hisilenapo urged young people in São Tomé and Príncipe and across Angola to “love the Church,” take responsibility in society, and resist corruption, calling for active participation beyond church activities. Health & Surveillance: A World Bank-backed regional training in Dar es Salaam is equipping frontline health workers from nine countries—including São Tomé and Príncipe—to spot chronic disease risks earlier by integrating non-communicable disease surveillance into field epidemiology. Offshore Energy: TGS and São Tomé and Príncipe’s petroleum agency ANP-STP have started a new 2D seismic reprocessing project covering 14,651 km offshore, aiming to improve subsurface imaging and support future exploration decisions. Investment Migration Pressure: Reports say Africa’s “golden visa” and citizenship-by-investment market is expanding as Europe tightens investor-citizenship rules, with São Tomé and Príncipe listed among countries with active frameworks. Climate Watch: July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the hottest July on record, reinforcing the heat trend seen globally.

Health & Preparedness: A World Bank-backed regional training in Dar es Salaam is equipping frontline health workers across Eastern and Southern Africa—including São Tomé and Príncipe—with skills to spot chronic disease risks early, by weaving non-communicable disease surveillance into existing frontline epidemiology training. Energy & Industry: TGS has started a São Tomé and Príncipe 2D seismic reprocessing project with ANP-STP, covering 14,651 km of offshore data to improve imaging and prospect assessment; priority lines are due within seven months, with full results expected in Q3 2027. Diplomacy: Serbia’s foreign minister, Marko Đurić, met São Tomé and Príncipe’s prime minister to discuss bilateral ties and expand cooperation in areas like education, healthcare, agriculture, and digitalization. Heritage & Tourism: UNESCO added 25 new World Heritage Sites in July, including São Tomé and Príncipe’s first-ever inscription, a milestone that can unlock conservation support and boost the country’s tourism profile. Global Policy Watch: A U.S. visa bond program is now permanent for 50 countries, with concerns it could sharply reduce travel demand.