AGP Executive Report

Renewable Energy Push: Comoros inaugurated three UAE-financed solar power plants (about 20MW total) across Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, backed by 16MWh battery storage and new transmission lines—aimed at cutting reliance on imported diesel and improving reliability after thousands of outages. Climate & Carbon Impact: Projected output is about 33.75GWh of clean electricity annually, supporting roughly 17,500 households and avoiding around 20,900 tonnes of CO₂ each year. Blue Economy Links: Union and Zanzibar governments in Tanzania are strengthening cooperation on Blue Economy implementation, including marine spatial planning and support for citizens such as women in seaweed farming and fishing. Local Cleanliness Effort: Exim Bank Tanzania marked its 29th anniversary with beach clean-ups and donations of cleaning equipment, tying community action to environmental cleanliness. Energy Transition Recognition: UAE executive Ali Alshimmari received Comoros’ Order of the Green Crescent for advancing renewable energy and electricity infrastructure, following delivery of the 20MW solar-plus-storage project.

Renewable Energy Push: Comoros has inaugurated three UAE-financed solar power plants across Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, totaling about 20MW and paired with 16MWh battery storage, aiming to cut reliance on imported diesel and improve reliability amid frequent outages. Clean Power Impact: The projects are expected to generate around 33.75GWh of clean electricity annually—enough for roughly 17,500 households—and avoid about 20,900 tonnes of CO2 each year, supported by new transmission lines. Energy Diplomacy & Recognition: President Azali Assoumani also awarded UAE energy executive Ali Alshimmari a national honour for advancing renewable energy and electricity infrastructure in Comoros. Community Cleanliness: Exim Bank Tanzania marked its 29th anniversary with beach and market clean-ups and donations of cleaning equipment, linking financial services to environmental cleanliness. Women’s Finance for Sustainability: AXIAN and the AfDB launched a digital finance programme for 34,000 women-led businesses, with training that also reaches Comoros, targeting gaps in access to finance and digital skills.

Renewable Energy & Energy Security: Comoros President Azali Assoumani inaugurated three UAE-financed solar power plants across Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, totaling about 20MW and backed by 16MWh battery storage plus new transmission lines—aimed at cutting reliance on imported diesel and improving reliability after heavy outage levels. Climate & Carbon Impact: Technical studies say the plants could generate around 33.75GWh of clean electricity annually, supporting roughly 17,500 households and avoiding about 20,900 tonnes of CO₂ each year. Recognition for Clean Power Delivery: Azali also awarded UAE energy executive Ali Alshimmari a top national honour for advancing renewable energy and electricity infrastructure in Comoros. Community Cleanliness: Exim Bank Tanzania marked its 29th anniversary with beach clean-ups and donations of cleaning equipment, linking environmental cleanliness to shared responsibility. Blue Economy Cooperation: Union and Zanzibar officials discussed strengthening citizens’ participation in the Blue Economy through marine spatial planning, education and support for groups such as seaweed farmers. Women’s Finance for Sustainability: AXIAN and AfDB launched a digital finance programme reaching 34,000 women-led businesses, with training support extending to Comoros. Energy Transition Context: A wider regional push for solar growth highlights how much of Africa’s PV deployment is distributed and often missed in official counts.

Clean Energy Push: Comoros has inaugurated three UAE-financed solar power plants across Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, adding about 20MW of capacity with battery storage (16MWh) and new transmission lines to cut reliance on imported diesel. The projects are expected to generate around 33.75GWh of clean electricity each year—enough for roughly 17,500 households—and avoid about 20,900 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Energy Security Context: The move comes as diesel still dominated Comoros’ power mix in 2024 (91%), with electricity demand far outpacing generation and thousands of outages reported—so the upgrades aim to make supply more reliable for households and businesses.

Clean Energy Push: Comoros has inaugurated three UAE-financed solar power plants across Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, adding about 20MW of capacity and battery storage (16MWh) to cut reliance on imported diesel; the projects are expected to generate around 33.75GWh of clean electricity yearly, enough for roughly 17,500 households and avoiding about 20,900 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. Energy Security & Grid Upgrade: The initiative, funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (about AED84.4m) and delivered by Masdar and managed by Global South Utilities, also includes new transmission lines (around 30km) to improve power movement and reliability. Women’s Finance (Regional, with Comoros link): AXIAN and AfDB launched a digital finance programme for 34,000 women-led businesses, with training reaching 25,000 women including in Comoros, aiming to close digital and credit gaps. Maritime Environment Watch: A report on small, unregistered vessels highlights how IUU fishing and other sea crimes can spread through the region, raising pressure on marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.

Renewable Energy: Comoros President Azali Assoumani inaugurated three UAE-financed solar power plants across Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, totaling about 20 MW, with battery storage (16 MWh) and roughly 30 km of transmission lines; the project is backed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (about AED 84.4 million) and implemented by Masdar and managed by Global South Utilities, expected to generate around 33.75 GWh of clean power yearly—enough for about 17,500 households—and avoid about 20,900 tonnes of CO2 annually. Women & Finance: AXIAN and the AfDB launched a digital finance programme for 34,000 women-led businesses across five countries, including Comoros in the training component, aiming to close digital and credit gaps through mobile money, digital lending, and financial literacy support. Blue Economy Governance: Union and Zanzibar officials in Tanzania strengthened cooperation on Blue Economy participation, including marine spatial planning and support for groups such as women in seaweed farming and fishing. Climate & Risk Context: A regional outlook warns southern Africa may see below-normal rainfall in the Oct–Dec 2026 season, with El Niño expected to strengthen. Heritage & Climate Resilience: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee session in Busan highlighted Comoros’ first World Heritage inscription and a new SIDS strategy for 2026–2034.

Clean Energy Boost for Comoros: President Azali Assoumani inaugurated three UAE-financed solar plants across Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, totaling about 20 MW and expected to generate 33.75 GWh of clean power each year—enough for around 17,500 households and cutting roughly 20,900 tonnes of CO2 annually. The project, backed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (AED84.4m), was implemented by Masdar and managed by Global South Utilities, and includes battery storage (16 MWh) plus about 30 km of transmission lines to strengthen reliability. Women’s Digital Finance (Regional): AXIAN and the AfDB launched a digital finance programme for 34,000 women-led businesses in five countries, with training support reaching women in Comoros as well.

Women’s Finance Push: AXIAN and the African Development Bank launched a digital finance programme for 34,000 women-led businesses across Madagascar, Tanzania, Senegal and beyond, using mobile money, digital lending, and training in financial literacy and digital skills, with a second component reaching 25,000 women including in Comoros. Port Greening: Dar es Salaam Port is rolling out hybrid cargo-handling equipment that cuts fuel use sharply and is framed as a way to lower the port’s carbon footprint while boosting efficiency. Blue Economy Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training for ship design and shipbuilding as blue economy investment grows, aiming to build local capacity ahead of its international blue economy conference. Hidden Solar Boom: A new analysis finds Africa’s solar growth is largely “hidden” in distributed systems not fully captured in official stats, with 36 of 54 countries projected to hit record PV levels this year. Climate & Food Pressure: East Africa faces mixed weather impacts, with Kenya’s grain belt hit by a dry spell and regional grain supplies tightening as new climate and value-chain finance is announced. Maritime Risks for the Region: Reports highlight how small, unregistered vessels can enable sea crimes and how disruptions around key sea routes raise pressure on coastal security and trade. World Heritage Milestone: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee session in Busan included Comoros’ first inscription and a new SIDS heritage strategy for 2026–2034.

Port Decarbonisation: Dar es Salaam Port is rolling out hybrid cargo-handling equipment that cuts fuel use dramatically (about 480 litres/24 hours for older machines to roughly 21 litres with newer hybrids), aiming to lower emissions while boosting efficiency. Blue Economy Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training for ship design and shipbuilding as blue economy investment grows, with new courses and curriculum updates ahead of the Fifth International Blue Economy Conference (Sept 7–9). Women’s Finance for the Blue Economy: AfDB and AXIAN launched a digital finance programme to support 34,000 women-led enterprises across Madagascar, Tanzania, Senegal and beyond, using mobile platforms plus training to improve access to capital and formal services. Solar Boom, Hidden in Plain Sight: A new analysis finds Africa’s PV expansion is accelerating, with much of the growth coming from distributed solar that often isn’t captured in official statistics, driven by rapid panel deployment across many countries. Climate Pressure on Food: East Africa’s grain outlook is worsening in places as weather shocks hit production, while new climate and value-chain finance is being announced to help farmers and agribusinesses adapt. Comoros in the Spotlight: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee session in Busan marked Comoros’ first World Heritage inscription and announced a SIDS heritage strategy for 2026–2034.

Solar & Energy Transparency: A new Ember and African Tech Futures Lab analysis says Africa’s solar boom is largely “hidden” in official stats, with 3/4 of 2023–2025 panel deployment happening via distributed solar that often goes uncounted; using Chinese customs export data, the report expects 36 of 54 countries to hit record PV installs in 2026, with standout growth in places like the DRC, Zimbabwe and Egypt. Blue Economy Skills & Marine Jobs: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training for ship design and shipbuilding as blue economy investment grows, aiming to equip more specialised workers for expanding maritime opportunities. Blue Economy Governance (Union–Zanzibar): Tanzania’s Union and Zanzibar governments say they’re deepening cooperation on blue economy policy, including marine spatial planning, public education, and support for citizens such as women’s groups in seaweed farming and fishing. Maritime Crime & IUU Risks: Kenya reports a major methamphetamine seizure from an unregistered fishing boat, highlighting how small, unmarked vessels can fuel wider illegal trade along Indian Ocean shipping lanes, alongside IUU fishing and trafficking. Climate Outlook (Southern Africa): A SADC climate outlook warns the Oct–Dec 2026 rainy season may bring below-normal rainfall, with El Niño strengthening and the Indian Ocean Dipole neutral. World Heritage for Small Islands: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in Busan inscribed Comoros for the first time and announced a SIDS heritage strategy (2026–2034) with a $13m budget, underscoring heritage protection as a tool for inclusion and resilience. Women’s Finance for Coastal Businesses: AfDB and AXIAN launched a digital finance and training programme for 34,000 women-led enterprises across Madagascar, Tanzania, Senegal and Comoros, combining mobile lending, financial literacy and business support.

Women’s Finance Push: AfDB and AXIAN launched a digital finance programme for 34,000 women-led enterprises across Madagascar, Tanzania, Senegal and Comoros, combining mobile lending with financial literacy and business support to close a major funding gap. Blue Economy Skills & Governance: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training for ship design and shipbuilding as blue economy investment grows, while Union and Zanzibar in Tanzania are also strengthening cooperation on marine resource management through blue economy policy implementation and marine spatial planning. Climate & Rainfall Outlook: Southern Africa’s seasonal forecast points to below-normal rainfall for Oct–Dec 2026, with El Niño expected to strengthen and influence regional weather patterns. Maritime Crime & Shipping Risks: A report on small unregistered vessels highlights how sea crimes and trafficking can thrive along Indian Ocean routes, while another explainer warns that “false flag” ships and fraudulent registries are increasingly used to mask illegal operations. World Heritage for Small Islands: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in Busan inscribed Comoros for the first time and announced a new SIDS heritage strategy (2026–2034) with a $13m budget.

Blue Economy Cooperation: Union and Zanzibar are deepening cooperation to expand citizens’ participation in the Blue Economy, including financing, skills development, marine spatial planning, public education, and coordination on regional marine agreements—aimed at sustainable management of marine resources. World Heritage & Climate Resilience: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee session in Busan highlighted renewed commitments to protect underrepresented regions, with Comoros celebrating its first World Heritage inscription and a new Small Island Developing States strategy for 2026–2034 backed by a $13 million budget. Maritime Crime & Illegal Trade: A regional operation in the Indian Ocean and wider waters underscores how small, unregistered vessels enable drug trafficking and other sea crimes, with authorities pointing to the use of vessels without markings to move illegal goods along shipping lanes. Weather & Rainfall Outlook: Southern Africa’s climate outlook warns of below-normal rainfall for the October–December 2026 period, with El Niño expected to strengthen—an important signal for island and coastal planning across the region. SRHR Monitoring: A SADC meeting in Harare focused on accelerating implementation and reporting of sexual and reproductive health and rights strategies, noting that environmental and humanitarian pressures are affecting health systems and outcomes.

Blue Economy Governance: Union and Zanzibar are deepening cooperation on Blue Economy policy implementation, with plans for marine spatial planning, public education, and coordination on regional marine agreements—aimed at helping citizens, including women’s seaweed farming and fishing groups, access capital and participate in sustainable marine resource management. Climate & Rainfall Outlook: Southern Africa’s rainy season is forecast to be mixed, with below-normal rainfall likely across much of the SADC region from Oct–Dec 2026, driven by a strengthening El Niño; however, normal to above-normal rainfall is expected for parts including Comoros, while temperatures may stay above average—raising risks for water and agriculture. World Heritage & Islands: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee session in Busan marked Comoros’ first World Heritage inscription and announced a World Heritage Strategy for Small Island Developing States (2026–2034) with a $13 million budget, spotlighting more inclusive protection for underrepresented regions. Maritime Security & Illicit Trade: Reports highlight how small unregistered vessels and false-flag practices enable sea crimes, including IUU fishing and trafficking, while regional operations continue to seize suspect vessels linked to transnational drug trafficking across Indian Ocean shipping lanes. Migration Pressure on Mayotte: France says development aid to Comoros and other partners will be tied to cooperation against people smugglers and to efforts to take back irregular migrants, alongside stepped-up maritime monitoring around Mayotte. Regional Cooperation: Tanzania and Comoros are discussing deeper economic ties in trade, investment, finance, infrastructure, energy, tourism, and agriculture, with a focus on improving movement of goods and people.

Blue Economy Cooperation: The Union and Zanzibar are deepening cooperation on Blue Economy policy implementation, aiming to expand citizens’ participation while protecting marine resources. Officials say work will align the 2024 National Blue Economy Policy with Zanzibar’s 2022 plan, including marine spatial planning, public education, and coordination on regional and international marine agreements. Climate & Water Risks: Southern Africa’s climate outlook warns of a dry, hot rainy season ahead, with below-normal rainfall likely across much of the SADC region from October to December 2026, driven by a strengthening El Niño. For Comoros and parts of the region, forecasts point to normal to above-normal rainfall in some areas, but temperatures are expected to stay a concern, raising risks for water and agriculture. World Heritage & Climate Resilience: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee session in Busan highlighted stronger inclusion in site protection, including Comoros’ first World Heritage inscription and a new strategy for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) for 2026–2034. Migration Pressure on Mayotte: France says development aid to Comoros and other regional partners will be conditional on efforts to fight people smuggling and improve returns of irregular migrants, while stepping up maritime monitoring around Mayotte. Maritime Crime & False Flags: Reports on small unregistered vessels and the growing use of false-flag ships underscore rising risks of IUU fishing, trafficking, and other sea crimes across Indian Ocean routes.

Climate & Rainfall Outlook: Southern Africa’s rainy season is forecast to fall below expectations, with a strong El Niño set to drive drier conditions across much of the SADC region (Oct–Dec 2026) and a sharper north–south rainfall split into 2027—raising alarms for water shortages and pressure on agriculture, including parts of Tanzania and Comoros. World Heritage & Islands: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee wrapped in Busan with renewed focus on protecting underrepresented sites; Comoros marked its first World Heritage inscription and a new SIDS strategy (2026–2034) was announced—an important boost for conservation planning in small island ecosystems. Maritime Security & Illicit Trade: Reports highlight how small, unregistered vessels are enabling sea crimes—ranging from drug trafficking to IUU fishing and wildlife trafficking—while false-flag practices and shifting maritime routes complicate enforcement across the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Migration Pressure on Mayotte (Comoros link): France says development aid to Comoros and other partners will be tied to cooperation on people-smuggling and returns of irregular migrants to curb unlawful crossings to Mayotte, where reconstruction after Cyclone Chido is also still behind schedule. Comoros in Regional Cooperation: Tanzania and Comoros agreed to deepen ties in trade, investment, financial services and infrastructure—potentially relevant for energy, tourism and agriculture that underpin environmental resilience.

Maritime Security & Wildlife: Kenya Navy seized over a metric ton of methamphetamine from the unregistered MV Mashallah near Lamu, highlighting how small, unmarked vessels are increasingly used for drug trafficking and other sea crimes across Indian Ocean shipping lanes. Maritime Governance: A separate report explains how “false flag” vessels exploit unrecognized or fraudulent ship registries and unauthorized flags—an issue tied to growing smuggling and piracy risks. Climate Outlook for Comoros & the Region: Southern Africa’s rainy season is forecast to be below normal in many areas, driven by a strengthening El Niño, with Comoros among places expected to see normal to above-normal rainfall—while temperatures may stay high, raising water and agriculture pressures. World Heritage & Small Islands: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in Busan marked Comoros’ first World Heritage inscription and launched a World Heritage Strategy for Small Island Developing States (2026–2034), underscoring heritage as a tool for inclusion and resilience amid the climate crisis. Biodiversity Data Access: A push for digitising African herbaria—especially across western Indian Ocean islands including the Comoros—aims to make plant records searchable before more biodiversity information is lost. Migration-Linked Pressure in the Comoros-Mayotte Zone: France said development aid to Comoros and other partners will be tied to efforts against people smugglers and to “take back” irregular migrants, while Mayotte reconstruction after Cyclone Chido is still moving too slowly.