AGP Executive Report

Newborn Vaccine Trial: A US-backed hepatitis B study in Guinea-Bissau is again under scrutiny after Stand Up for Science released a field investigation alleging serious concerns over consent, ethics and conflicts of interest. The proposed trial would delay the birth dose for some infants; Guinea-Bissau’s health ministry says it has not approved the study. Travel: Guinea-Bissau is among 20 African countries whose citizens can apply online for Malaysia’s social-visit eVisa, including for tourism and short stays. Elections and Culture: The government says December’s elections must be postponed, with no new date set. Civil society activists have also cited the unresolved killing of rapper and political movement founder Vigário Luís Balanta as a sign of pressure on dissent.

Child Health: Guinea-Bissau’s health minister says the government has not approved a proposed hepatitis B study involving newborns, contradicting reports that it had the go-ahead. The planned trial would compare birth-dose vaccination with vaccination at six weeks; the minister says research involving children must meet national law and ethical standards. Elections and Civic Life: The transitional government says December’s presidential and legislative elections must be delayed, with no new date set. The prime minister cited missed candidate and party deadlines. Civil society activists also point to the unsolved killing of rapper and political organizer Luis Balanta as a concern; the government denies involvement and says it is investigating.

Health and Ethics: Guinea-Bissau’s health minister says the country has not approved a proposed hepatitis B study involving 14,000 newborns, despite reports that Danish researchers’ ethics committee had cleared a revised plan. The study would delay the birth dose for half the babies until six weeks; the minister says research involving children must meet national and international ethical standards. Politics and Culture: The government has postponed December’s elections without setting a new date, citing missed deadlines and a lack of conditions for voting. Civil society activists point to the unresolved killing of rapper and political activist Vigário Luís Balanta as a sign of pressure on dissent; the government denies involvement and says it is investigating.

Vaccine Trial Dispute: Guinea-Bissau’s health minister says the government has not approved a proposed hepatitis B study involving newborns, contradicting reports that it had received local clearance. The planned trial would enroll 14,000 babies, with half receiving the vaccine at six weeks rather than at birth. The minister said research involving children must meet national laws and international ethics standards; the US health department also says the study is not approved. Election Delay: The government says December’s presidential and legislative elections must be postponed, with no new date set. The prime minister cited missed deadlines and parties yet to choose their leaders. Civil society activists also point to pressure on dissent and the unsolved killing of rapper and political movement founder Vigario Luis Balanta; the government denies involvement and says it is investigating.

Child Health: Guinea-Bissau’s health minister says the government has not approved a proposed hepatitis B vaccine trial involving newborns, and the US health department also says it is not authorised. Earlier reports said the study had received new approvals. The plan would compare vaccination at birth with a six-week dose among 14,000 babies, drawing ethical concerns from critics. Politics & Civil Rights: The government says December’s elections must be delayed, with no new date set. The prime minister cited missed candidate deadlines and party congresses; activists also point to the unresolved killing of rapper and political organiser Vigário Luís Balanta, while the government denies involvement.

Newborn Health Debate: Guinea-Bissau has approved a revised hepatitis B vaccine trial involving 14,000 newborns. Half will receive the vaccine at birth; the rest at six weeks. Babies whose mothers test positive will be vaccinated and excluded. The study had drawn international criticism, and the WHO recommends a birth dose within 24 hours. Election Delay: Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té says December’s presidential and legislative elections cannot go ahead, with no new date set. Civil society groups have also raised concerns over political dissent and the unsolved killing of rapper and activist Vigário Luís Balanta. Football: Guinea-Bissau-born Newcastle signing Afner Ca visited St James’ Park to pay tribute to club legend Kevin Keegan, showing an early interest in the culture of his new home.

Newborn Health: Guinea-Bissau has approved a revised hepatitis B vaccine trial involving 14,000 newborns. Half will get the vaccine at birth; the rest at six weeks, under the country’s routine schedule. Babies born to mothers who test positive will be vaccinated and excluded. The WHO had criticized the original design, and some ethics committee members resigned over the approval. Elections and Culture: The December election has been postponed, with no new date set. Activists point to the unsolved killing of rapper and political movement founder Vigário Luís Balanta as a sign of pressure on dissent; the government denies involvement and says it is investigating. Football Abroad: Guinea-Bissau-born Newcastle signing Afner Ca paid tribute to club legend Kevin Keegan shortly after joining, visiting St James’ Park as fans gathered in remembrance.

Human Rights: Civil society groups are meeting in Dakar ahead of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights session, with discussions including civic space, youth, gender and cultural rights. Vaccine Trial: Guinea-Bissau has approved a controversial hepatitis B study involving 14,000 newborns; half would not receive the birth-dose vaccine until six weeks. Critics warn that withholding a proven vaccine raises serious ethical concerns. Election Delay: The December 6 vote has been postponed, with no new date announced. The prime minister cited missed candidate-registration deadlines and parties that have yet to choose their leaders; activists also point to the unresolved killing of rapper and political organiser Vigário Luís Balanta. Regional Identity: Guinea-Bissau is among seven ECOWAS countries that have launched the bloc’s biometric identity card, which leaders aim to accept at regional borders by December. History and Culture: A feature on Algiers recalls its role as a refuge and meeting place for liberation movements, quoting Amílcar Cabral’s famous description of the city as a pilgrimage destination for national liberation movements. Community Giving: Shoebox gifts collected in Canada are due to reach children in Guinea-Bissau and other countries in 2026.

Rights and Culture: The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is meeting in Dakar through October 20, after a civil society forum that discussed civic space, democracy and cultural rights. Newborn Vaccine Trial: Danish researchers plan to enroll 14,000 babies in Guinea-Bissau, giving half the hepatitis B vaccine at birth and delaying it for the rest by six weeks. The trial has drawn sharp ethical criticism; Guinea-Bissau officials have approved it. Election Delay: Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té says the December 6 presidential and legislative elections cannot go ahead, with no new date announced. Parties missed key preparations, while activists point to the unsolved killing of rapper and political movement founder Vigario Luis Balanta as a sign of pressure on dissent. Regional Mobility: Guinea-Bissau is among seven ECOWAS countries that have launched the bloc’s biometric identity card, which the region aims to accept at borders by December.

Liberation History: A new look at Algiers’ role as an anti-colonial hub recalls Amílcar Cabral’s famous description of the city as a pilgrimage site for liberation movements. Health Ethics: Researchers have won approval to study the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine in Guinea-Bissau, enrolling 14,000 newborns and withholding the shot from half for six weeks. Critics say the design raises serious ethical concerns. Political Voice: Guinea-Bissau’s December elections will be delayed, with no new date set. Activists cite the unsolved killing of rapper and movement founder Vigário Luís Balanta as part of a wider climate of fear; the government denies involvement and says it is investigating. Regional Mobility: Guinea-Bissau is among seven ECOWAS countries that have launched the bloc’s biometric identity card, with mutual acceptance at regional borders targeted by December.

Cabral’s Legacy: A new account of Algiers’ rise as an anti-colonial hub recalls Amílcar Cabral’s famous description of the city as a gathering place for liberation movements. Children’s Gifts: Canadian Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes are destined for Guinea-Bissau and other countries in 2026; organizers say the gifts can also connect communities with literacy, clean-water and school-meal programs. Vaccine Trial: Guinea-Bissau has approved a controversial hepatitis B study involving 14,000 newborns. Half would not receive the vaccine at birth, but at six weeks; critics warn that withholding a proven dose raises serious ethical concerns. Election Delay: Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té says December’s presidential and legislative elections must be postponed, with no new date set. Activists cite political intimidation and the unresolved killing of rapper and political activist Vigário Luís Balanta. Regional Travel: Guinea-Bissau is among seven ECOWAS countries that have launched the bloc’s biometric identity card, as the region aims for mutual recognition at borders by December. Visa-Free Travel: Guinea-Bissau passport holders are included in the Philippines’ 30-day visa-free entry arrangement for citizens of 46 African countries.

Newborn Vaccine Trial: A controversial hepatitis B study in Guinea-Bissau has been cleared to proceed, with researchers planning to enroll 14,000 babies and delay the birth dose for half of them until six weeks. Critics say withholding a proven vaccine raises serious ethical concerns. Election Delay: Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té says December’s presidential and legislative elections cannot go ahead, with no new date set. Civil society groups also cite fears over political dissent and the unresolved killing of rapper and activist Vigário Luís Balanta. Regional Travel: Guinea-Bissau is among seven ECOWAS countries to launch the bloc’s biometric identity card, with mutual acceptance at regional borders targeted by December. Off the Pitch: Guinea-Bissau striker Flávio Silva spent the international break with his family in Zanzibar before returning to a busy run of club fixtures.

Infant Health: A controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has received approval to proceed. Researchers plan to enroll 14,000 newborns, withholding the birth dose from half for six weeks—a decision drawing sharp ethical criticism. Elections and Culture: The December 6 elections will be delayed, Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té said, without announcing a new date. Civil society activists also cite the unsolved killing of rapper and political movement founder Vigário Luís Balanta as a symbol of pressure on dissent; the government denies involvement. Regional Mobility: Guinea-Bissau is among seven ECOWAS countries that have launched the bloc’s biometric identity card, with mutual border acceptance targeted by December. Travel: Guinea-Bissau citizens are eligible for up to 30 days of visa-free travel to the Philippines under its African visitor scheme.

Elections and Civic Space: Guinea-Bissau’s December 6 presidential and legislative elections will be delayed, with no new date set. Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té said parties had not chosen their leaders and candidates missed the filing deadline. Activists also cite the unsolved killing of rapper and political movement founder Vigário Luís Balanta as a sign of pressure on dissent; the government says it is investigating. Public Health: The U.S. CDC is reportedly seeking funds to restart a hepatitis B vaccine study involving newborns in Guinea-Bissau. The trial was previously suspended after critics raised ethical concerns, including withholding a proven vaccine dose. Regional Mobility: Guinea-Bissau is among seven ECOWAS countries to launch the bloc’s biometric identity card, as the region targets acceptance at borders by December.

Election Delay: Guinea-Bissau’s December 6 presidential and legislative elections must be postponed, Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té said, with no new date set. He cited missed deadlines and parties that have not held leadership congresses. Activists also point to the unresolved killing of rapper and political organizer Vigário Luís Balanta as a sign of pressure on dissent; the government denies involvement and says it is investigating. Health & Rights: The CDC has reportedly set aside $1.6 million for a renewed hepatitis B vaccine study involving newborns in Guinea-Bissau. Critics say the trial raises ethical concerns, including withholding a proven birth-dose vaccine. Regional Mobility: Guinea-Bissau is among seven ECOWAS countries that have launched the bloc’s biometric identity card, with mutual acceptance at regional borders targeted by December. Feminist Voices: A new discussion of Portuguese-speaking African feminism says movements in Guinea-Bissau and other countries remain overlooked by funders despite their work on gender justice and community needs.

Health Research: The CDC is moving to set aside $1.6 million for a hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau, a study previously suspended amid ethical concerns. Researchers revised its protocol after international criticism. Regional Mobility: Guinea-Bissau is among seven ECOWAS countries that have launched the bloc’s biometric identity card, with mutual acceptance at regional borders targeted by December. Travel: Guinea-Bissau passport holders are eligible for up to 30 days of visa-free entry to the Philippines under a scheme covering 46 African countries. Culture: A new film revisits the life of Pan-Africanist thinker Mario Pinto de Andrade, who served as Guinea-Bissau’s culture minister after independence. Women’s Rights: Advocates say feminist groups in Portuguese-speaking Africa, including Guinea-Bissau, need more equitable access to funding and networks. Politics: The military high command says security conditions do not permit exiled former president Umaro Sissoco Embaló to return ahead of the December election.