AGP Executive Report

Workers’ Rights & Democracy: A new International Trade Union Confederation report says attacks on unions and collective bargaining are systematically weakening democracy, with Guinea-Bissau named among countries on a watchlist for rising violations. Fashion & Identity: Niuku designer Kadiata Diallo reclaims African luxury through fashion shaped by discrimination, persistence, and a Paris training journey. Cultural Memory & Pilgrimage: A 74-year-old scholar returns home with family to complete an ancestral journey 250 years in the making, grounding the story in church, elders, and family history. Regional Trade for Women: ECOWAS is hosting a Lomé event on women’s small-scale cross-border trade, spotlighting progress and barriers along key corridors. Education & Language in the Lusophone Space: The 35th AULP annual meeting in Macao brings together Portuguese-language universities, including Guinea-Bissau, to deepen higher-education cooperation. Air Connectivity: United Nigeria Airlines signs an MoU with Guinea-Bissau to relaunch Air Bissau via a joint venture, with training and local hiring plans. Health & Science Scrutiny: US politics spills into science leadership as Zoe Lofgren urges a public hearing over Jim O’Neill’s NSF nomination, raising questions about qualifications and past grant decisions.

Ancestral Pilgrimage: Dr. Leroy Frazier, a retired scholar and family historian, is set to return to Senatobia, Mississippi with relatives to complete a 250-year journey rooted in Black church memory and family lineage. Workers’ Rights & Democracy: A new International Trade Union Confederation Global Rights Index warns that attacks on unions and collective bargaining are weakening democracy, placing Guinea-Bissau on a watchlist alongside other countries. Regional Integration for Women: ECOWAS is hosting a two-week Lomé event on women’s small-scale cross-border trade, bringing together traders, banks, and policymakers to push safer, more inclusive regional commerce. Language & Higher Education Links: The 35th AULP annual meeting in Macao gathered Portuguese-language universities, including Guinea-Bissau, to deepen academic cooperation and cultural education. Air Bissau Relaunch: United Nigeria Airlines signed an MoU with Guinea-Bissau to restart the national carrier via a joint venture, with training and local staffing planned. Church Leadership & Peacebuilding: RUPWA’s conference in Africa highlighted language learning, safeguarding children, and training priests as “artisans of peace” across the region. Culture Through Food & Space: A feature explores how what we eat shapes architecture and landscapes—turning food history into a lens for cultural life.

Workers’ Rights & Democracy: A new International Trade Union Confederation Global Rights Index warns that attacks on workers, unions and collective bargaining are “systematically weakening democracy,” with Guinea-Bissau named on a watchlist for rising violations. Women’s Cross-Border Trade: ECOWAS is convening women traders in Lomé for a two-week push on small-scale cross-border commerce, reviewing progress on corridors like Dakar–Banjul–Bissau and Tema–Ouagadougou. Air Bissau Relaunch: United Nigeria Airlines signed an MoU with Guinea-Bissau to restart the national carrier through a joint venture, including training and local hiring. Reparatory Justice & Culture: Ghana will host an international conference on reparatory justice and restitution of cultural artefacts, following a UN resolution declaring enslavement and trafficking of Africans crimes against humanity. Regional Church & Language: West African Catholic priests and church leaders commit to learning multiple languages to strengthen fraternity, reconciliation and protection of children. Trial in Exile: In the CAR, a UN-backed court begins the in-absentia trial of former president François Bozizé, accused of crimes against humanity, with him living in exile in Guinea-Bissau.

Workers’ Rights & Democracy: A new International Trade Union Confederation report warns that attacks on workers, unions, and collective bargaining are systematically weakening democracy, with Guinea-Bissau listed among countries seeing a measurable rise in violations. Women’s Cross-Border Trade: In Lomé, ECOWAS is running a two-week regional event (June 18–29) backing women small-scale traders, reviewing progress across corridors like Dakar–Banjul–Bissau and pushing for more inclusive, secure regional integration. Reparatory Justice & Culture: Ghana is set to host a major reparatory justice conference in Accra (June 17–19), aiming to create global panels on reparations and the restitution of cultural artefacts after a UN resolution recognized trafficking and enslavement of Africans as crimes against humanity. Regional Church & Languages: West African Catholic priests and leaders are meeting to strengthen missionary leadership, including learning multiple languages and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Air Bissau Relaunch: United Nigeria Airlines signed an MoU with Guinea-Bissau to re-establish Air Bissau through a joint venture, with training and local hiring planned. International Court Watch: A UN-backed court in the Central African Republic opened the in-absentia trial of former president François Bozizé over alleged crimes against humanity, with him living in exile in Guinea-Bissau.

International Yoga Day: Indian diplomatic missions marked the 12th International Day of Yoga with the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” including sessions from Tibet to Peru, highlighting yoga’s cross-generational health message. Regional Women’s Trade: In Lomé, ECOWAS is running a two-week event on women’s small-scale cross-border trade, bringing together traders, banks, and policymakers to review corridor campaigns and push more inclusive, secure regional integration. Aviation & National Identity: Guinea-Bissau signed an MoU with United Nigeria Airlines to relaunch Air Bissau through a joint venture, with commitments on licensing, training, and local staffing—aimed at boosting connectivity and reducing reliance on foreign carriers. Reparatory Justice Push: Ghana is set to host a June 17–19 conference in Accra to advance reparatory justice, including plans for global advisory and restitution panels and a transcontinental consultative forum. Courtroom Accountability: A UN-backed court in the Central African Republic opened the in-absentia trial of former president François Bozizé over crimes against humanity, with he living in exile in Guinea-Bissau since 2023.

Documentary Activism: At the Encounters Documentary Festival in Johannesburg and Cape Town, filmmakers are using investigation and storytelling to challenge what’s ignored—spotlighting women’s health and labour in Mmabatho Montsho’s “Marxism and Period Pains,” which pushes back against patriarchal myths around menstruation. Women’s Trade in West Africa: Lomé is hosting a two-week ECOWAS regional event on women’s small-scale cross-border trade, bringing together traders, banks, and policymakers to review progress on corridors like Dakar–Banjul–Bissau and tackle barriers at the border. Air Bissau Relaunch: Guinea-Bissau signed an MoU with United Nigeria Airlines to re-establish the national carrier, with a joint venture expected to bring aircraft, training, and management support—aiming to cut reliance on foreign airlines. Reparatory Justice Push: Ghana’s Accra conference (June 17–19) is set to advance reparations and restitution of cultural artefacts, including plans for new global advisory and legal panels. Regional Church Leadership: A West African Catholic priests’ and missionary leadership meeting, involving Guinea-Bissau, focused on language learning, unity, and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

Aviation & National Identity: Guinea-Bissau has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria’s United Nigeria Airlines to relaunch a national carrier, Air Bissau, with a joint venture based at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau; the plan includes Nigerian investment, aircraft and management support, plus training for pilots, cabin crew and maintenance staff. Regional Women’s Trade: Lomé hosted a two-week ECOWAS event (June 18–29) focused on women’s small-scale cross-border trade, bringing together women traders, financial institutions and policymakers to review progress on corridors like Dakar–Banjul–Bissau and tackle barriers at borders. Culture, Language & Education: The 35th AULP annual meeting in Macau (June 15–17) gathered universities from Portuguese-speaking countries including Guinea-Bissau, strengthening cooperation in higher education and Portuguese language/cultural education. Food & Place (Culture Lens): A new piece flips the usual story of architecture by looking at how what we eat shapes landscapes and built environments—an angle that fits Guinea-Bissau’s food-and-living traditions.

National Aviation Boost: United Nigeria Airlines has signed an MoU with Guinea-Bissau to relaunch the country’s national carrier, Air Bissau, via a joint venture, with the Nigerian airline expected to bring investment, aircraft, management know-how, and training, while Guinea-Bissau will support licensing, airport and security arrangements, and local staffing. Regional Women’s Trade: ECOWAS is hosting a two-week Lomé event on women’s small-scale cross-border trade, bringing together women traders, financial institutions, and policymakers to review progress on key trade corridors and push for more inclusive, secure regional integration. Higher Education & Language Links: The 35th AULP annual meeting in Macao (with Guinea-Bissau among participating Portuguese-language universities) focused on strengthening academic exchange and cooperation, including partnerships tied to tourism and cultural education. Church Leadership & Languages: A West African Catholic clergy gathering (including Guinea-Bissau) emphasized priests learning multiple languages to strengthen fraternity, reconciliation, and child safeguarding across the region. Culture in Books: A new editor’s note highlights “Roots Stirred,” a multi-voiced novel set in the Azores, tracing island life, church influence, music, and the stories that travel with people.

Aviation & National Identity: Guinea-Bissau signed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Nigeria Airlines to relaunch a national carrier, Air Bissau, via a joint venture that would use Bissau’s Osvaldo Vieira International Airport as a hub and include training and local hiring. Women’s Cross-Border Trade: Lomé hosted a two-week ECOWAS regional event on women’s small-scale cross-border trade, bringing together traders, banks, and policymakers to review progress across corridors like Dakar–Banjul–Bissau and Abidjan–Lagos. Portuguese-Language Education: The 35th AULP annual meeting wrapped up in Macao, with Guinea-Bissau among participating Portuguese-speaking universities, focusing on deeper higher-education cooperation and cultural exchange. Faith & Community Life: A profile of footballer Kevin Dos Santos highlights how Christian faith shapes his discipline and career mindset at Derry City. Regional Church Leadership: West African Catholic priests and missionary leaders met under a theme linking African fraternity and a synodal church, with emphasis on language learning and safeguarding children. Human Rights & Justice: A UN-backed court in the Central African Republic began the trial in absentia of former president François Bozizé over alleged crimes against humanity, with Bozizé living in exile in Guinea-Bissau.

Women in Trade: Lomé is hosting a two-week ECOWAS event on women’s small-scale cross-border trade (June 18–29), bringing together traders, financial institutions and policymakers to review progress on corridors like Tema–Ouagadougou, Dakar–Banjul–Bissau and Abidjan–Lagos. Aviation & Connectivity: Guinea-Bissau signed a MoU with United Nigeria Airlines to relaunch Air Bissau as the national carrier, using a joint venture model with investment, aircraft and management support, plus training and local hiring plans. Regional Faith & Languages: West African Catholic priests and missionary leaders gathered under a regional theme on synodal church leadership, with a focus on language learning, intercultural formation, and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Higher Education & Portuguese Culture: The 35th AULP annual meeting in Macao (June 15–17) highlighted cooperation across Portuguese-speaking universities, including Guinea-Bissau, with cultural and academic exchange at the center. Human Rights in Focus: A UN-backed court in the Central African Republic opened the in-absentia trial of former president François Bozizé over crimes against humanity, with his exile in Guinea-Bissau cited as a key hurdle. Reparatory Justice Agenda: Ghana’s foreign minister outlined plans for an Accra conference (June 17–19) to push reparatory justice, including restitution of cultural artefacts and new global advisory and legal panels.

Air Bissau Relaunch: Guinea-Bissau signed a MoU with United Nigeria Airlines to re-establish the national carrier “Air Bissau,” using a joint venture model, with the airline expected to provide aircraft, management, and training while the government supports licensing and airport arrangements. Education & Data: Guinea-Bissau’s GEMS system is helping inspectors monitor schools more rigorously, cut visit time and costs, and improve the quality of information used for faster interventions. Higher Education & Portuguese Culture: The 35th AULP annual meeting in Macau brought together universities including Guinea-Bissau to deepen cooperation in Portuguese-language higher education and cultural education. Reparatory Justice Push: Ghana’s upcoming June 17–19 Accra conference aims to advance reparations work, including restitution of cultural artefacts and new global advisory and legal panels. Human Rights in the Region: A UN-backed court in the Central African Republic opened the in-absentia trial of former president François Bozizé over alleged crimes against humanity, with his exile in Guinea-Bissau cited as a key hurdle. Faith & Community: A Catholic priests’ regional effort focuses on learning multiple languages to strengthen fraternity across West Africa. Global Spotlight on Gaza Activism: Brazilian flotilla organizer Thiago Ávila describes alleged kidnapping and torture after an Israeli interception, linking the case to the wider humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Air Bissau Relaunch: United Nigeria Airlines signed an MoU with Guinea-Bissau to re-establish the national carrier, with a joint venture set to use Osvaldo Vieira International Airport as a hub and include training and local hiring. Portuguese-Language Education & Culture: The 35th AULP annual meeting in Macao brought together universities from across Portuguese-speaking countries, including Guinea-Bissau, to deepen academic and cultural cooperation. Education Monitoring Upgrade: Guinea-Bissau’s GEMS system is helping inspectors and education officials move from paper checks to faster, data-driven school monitoring and quicker support for gaps. Regional Church Leadership: West Africa’s Catholic priests and missionary leaders committed to learning multiple languages and strengthening child safeguarding, peacebuilding, and reconciliation through a synodal approach. Literature & Memory: “Roots Stirred” highlights island life in the Azores through a coming-of-age story shaped by church power, hardship, music, and the resilience of people who stayed and those who sailed. Human Rights & Justice: A UN-backed court in the Central African Republic opened the in-absentia trial of former president François Bozizé over crimes against humanity, with his exile in Guinea-Bissau noted.

Aviation & Connectivity: Guinea-Bissau is moving to revive its national carrier after signing a memorandum of understanding with United Nigeria Airlines to relaunch Air Bissau, using Bissau’s Osvaldo Vieira International Airport as a hub and setting up a joint venture where the Nigerian airline brings investment, aircraft and management while Guinea-Bissau handles traffic rights, licensing support, and infrastructure coordination. Diplomacy & Culture: Venezuela’s ambassador met Guinea-Bissau’s foreign minister to review the bilateral agenda and expand cooperation in areas like vocational training, agriculture, fishing, education, culture, and air transport. Education & Everyday Life: Guinea-Bissau’s school monitoring gets a boost through GEMS, shifting from paper forms and occasional visits to faster, data-driven inspections that help identify gaps and target support more quickly. Human Rights & Justice (Regional Watch): A UN-backed court in the Central African Republic opened the in-absentia trial of former president François Bozizé over alleged crimes against humanity, with the case tied to abuses at a prison and military training centre.

Aviation & Connectivity: Guinea-Bissau has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria’s United Nigeria Airlines to explore creating a national carrier, Air Bissau, with Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau as the hub—aiming to cut reliance on foreign airlines and boost travel links. Diplomacy & Culture Exchange: Venezuela’s ambassador met Guinea-Bissau’s foreign minister to review the bilateral agenda, highlighting cooperation in vocational training, agriculture, fishing, education, culture, air transport, and technical exchange under South-South principles. Education & Everyday Reform: Guinea-Bissau’s Education for All project is using a digital school monitoring system (GEMS) to speed up inspections, improve data quality, and help authorities spot gaps and support schools faster. Regional Justice Watch: In the Central African Republic, a UN-backed court opened the in-absentia trial of former president François Bozizé over alleged crimes against humanity, with his case tied to abuses at a prison and military training centre. Health & Gender (Global): A major global study revisits pelvic inflammatory disease burdens and trends, underscoring ongoing risks to women’s reproductive health.

Aviation & Connectivity: Guinea-Bissau signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria’s United Nigeria Airlines to explore a national carrier, AIR BISSAU, with Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau as the hub—aiming to cut reliance on foreign airlines and boost regional links. Education & Data-Driven Oversight: Guinea-Bissau’s GEMS school monitoring system is credited with moving from occasional visits to faster, more rigorous inspections, helping planners spot gaps and improve teaching oversight with better, more reliable field data. Reparatory Justice Diplomacy: Ghana is set to host a June 17–19 international reparatory justice conference in Accra, with plans to create global bodies for reparations policy and restitution of cultural artefacts, following a UN resolution declaring trafficking and enslavement of Africans crimes against humanity. Regional Legal Accountability: In the Central African Republic, a UN-backed court opened the trial in absentia of former president François Bozizé for crimes against humanity, with abuses alleged from 2009–2013 and Bozizé living in exile in Guinea-Bissau.

Aviation & Connectivity: Guinea-Bissau has signed an MoU with Nigeria’s United Nigeria Airlines to explore launching a national carrier, Air Bissau, with Bissau’s Osvaldo Vieira International Airport as the hub—aiming to cut reliance on foreign airlines and boost travel links. Education & Data-Driven Oversight: Guinea-Bissau’s GEMS system is helping inspectors monitor schools more rigorously, speed up visits, and use field data to target gaps and improve planning. Diplomacy & Culture Exchange: Venezuela’s ambassador met Guinea-Bissau’s foreign minister to review cooperation, highlighting plans in vocational training, agriculture, fishing, education, culture, air transport, and technical exchange. Human Rights in the Region: A UN-backed court in the Central African Republic opened the in-absentia trial of former president François Bozizé over alleged crimes against humanity, with Bozizé living in exile in Guinea-Bissau.