Power & Business Costs: An AfDB report says unreliable electricity is hitting firms hard in the region, with Nigerian businesses losing about 3% of annual sales to outages and generator dependence; in Mali and Chad, the hit can reach 10%. Humanitarian Coordination: The African Union launched a new humanitarian coordination platform to tighten crisis response, as Africa faces a major funding gap and rising displacement, hunger, and climate-linked disasters. Security & Counterterrorism: Nigeria’s North-East and the Lake Chad area remain volatile after the reported elimination of an ISWAP commander, with analysts warning the death could still trigger fresh threats. Energy & Solar Supply Chains: China set another record for solar component exports, and demand is surging across Africa—Nigeria’s imports jumped sharply—fueling faster clean-energy deployment. Trade & Women Entrepreneurs: In Malawi, experts say simplified trade regimes help women and youth access markets, but border harassment, weak infrastructure, and limited finance still block full participation. Agriculture & Food Systems: A report highlights how hybrid rice cooperation is taking root in West Africa, while broader livestock and meat supply chains are under pressure from conflict, policy shocks, and climate stress.