ECOWAS Unity Push: Ghana’s President Mahama welcomed ECOWAS backing for Ghana’s AU petition over xenophobic attacks in South Africa, as Nigeria and Ghana also condemned “Afrophobic protests” and urged AU action. Regional Energy Deal: ECOWAS leaders in Freetown formally signed the Intergovernmental Agreement endorsing the Nigeria–Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, turning a bilateral project into a regional flagship. ECOWAS Leadership Change: Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye was elected ECOWAS chair, with expectations to rebuild cooperation amid security and political strains in the Sahel. AU Financing Pressure: Zimbabwe urged AU members to pay assessed contributions in full and on time to protect sovereignty and reduce donor dependence, while Zimbabwe also took the chair of the Bureau of African Registrars General. Ghana Anti-Galamsey Crackdown: A Ghanaian court sentenced opposition figure Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (“Chairman Wontumi”) to 20 years for illegal mining-related offences. Nigeria Economic Debate: Atiku Abubakar attacked Tinubu’s model as “borrow, import and tax,” arguing for production-led growth. Health & Policy: Egypt’s proposed sugary-drink tax is linked to potential disease and healthcare-cost reductions, while clean cooking access is expanding fast but still lags population growth. Youth & Jobs: Ghana launched the Policy Bridge Institute-Africa to connect education, skills, tech adoption and employment with evidence-based policymaking. Gabon–France Ties: Gabon’s President Oligui Nguema’s France visit signals continued post-coup engagement despite wider Francophone rifts.