Maritime Security & Trade Continuity: The IMO is urging urgent action to secure the release of 44 seafarers held by pirates in Somali waters, as piracy and armed robbery incidents rise and crews face critically low food and water. Regional Maritime Systems: Yemen has approved a roadmap to set up a National Maritime Information Sharing Centre in Aden and strengthen the Regional Maritime Information Sharing Centre, aligning procedures with the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment standards. East Africa Power Connectivity: Ethiopia and Kenya signed a new electricity supply deal to boost cross-border power trade, with Ethiopia exporting to Kenya’s state distributor and supporting a more integrated regional market. Horn of Africa Logistics & Industry: Kenya is pushing for regional backing for the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport Corridor, tying corridor upgrades to industrial growth and the planned Dangote Lamu refinery. Compliance Pressure on Business: Analysts warn African firms face a “compliance minefield” as overlapping US and Chinese sanctions expand across mining, energy, telecoms, banking, and infrastructure. Environment & Coastal Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries met in Accra to harmonise microplastics monitoring protocols using nuclear and isotopic techniques, aiming for comparable data and better coastal policy.