Security & Trade Diplomacy: Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire agreed in Abidjan to deepen cooperation on intelligence sharing, cross-border crime and terrorism, and to intensify action against illegal gold mining. Port & Logistics Pressure: Ghana’s importers warn they may reroute cargo via Abidjan if port congestion and clearance delays aren’t fixed before the December peak, raising dwell time, storage and demurrage costs. Maritime Infrastructure Deal: Hapag-Lloyd signed with DP World to secure long-term terminal capacity at Dakar, Luanda and Dar es Salaam, while supporting infrastructure development at Banana (DRC) and Maputo (Mozambique). AI for Industry: Côte d’Ivoire’s PM says the country wants to help build a high-performing, responsible African AI sector, calling for stronger data use, computing capacity, energy, skills and governance. Healthcare & Local Capacity: Humanity First inaugurated the Masroor Centre for Healthcare in Yopougon, adding ICU, diagnostics and specialist cardiology and gastroenterology services for Abidjan and referrals. Textiles & Industrial Sovereignty: Burkina Faso’s Traoré launched a $30m textile complex to cut reliance on imported clothing, targeting millions of metres of fabric and garments annually. Cocoa Supply Signals: Cocoa prices eased after Ivory Coast shipment and harvest figures rose, pointing to bearish supply pressure for the market. Energy & Climate Tech: Google selected four Indian startups for its AI for the Planet accelerator, focusing on climate data, biodiversity and carbon measurement—relevant for regional agribusiness and monitoring needs.