Red Sea Shipping Shock: Yemen’s Houthis warned carriers not to load or discharge at Saudi ports or face attack, triggering course reversals by two oil tankers and a vehicle carrier; even China-linked Cosco reported a U-turn after a clearance was cancelled, raising fears of tighter supply and higher prices. Djibouti’s Strategic Role: The Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint sits between Yemen and Djibouti, putting Djibouti-linked logistics and regional trade at the center of the next shipping disruption. Energy Market Spillover: Multiple reports tie the threat to potential new oil price spikes as Saudi tries to reroute flows via the Red Sea. Regional Trade & Finance: An OpEd highlights how prolonged Gulf conflict ripples into Horn ports, agriculture, and banking ties. Public Health Pressure: WHO says conflict, outbreaks, and funding cuts are worsening crises across the Eastern Mediterranean, with Djibouti among the hardest hit by acute food insecurity. Local Business Link: PACCI elected Tanzania’s Minja as East Africa VP, with Djibouti included among the represented countries. Maritime Security: East Africa faces a growing criminal economy at sea, after Kenya seized over 1,000 kg of crystal meth on an unregistered dhow.