Gold & Industrial Processing: Burkina Faso inaugurated its first gold refinery in Ouagadougou, aiming to keep more value in-country and tighten control over mining amid jihadist-linked informal production. Mining Output in Côte d’Ivoire: Montage Gold hit first gold pour at its Koné mine (~1,140 oz) ahead of schedule, with oxide circuit ramp-up targeting commercial production by end-2026 and hard-rock works on track for 2027. Cocoa Supply Chain & Pricing Pressure: Ivory Coast’s cocoa traceability logged 50,085 tons in two weeks and port receipts rose 51.6%, while cocoa prices faced pressure from signs of ample supply; the wider West Africa cocoa picture remains weather-sensitive. Telecom Infrastructure: Côte d’Ivoire’s AIGF is set to brief the public on radio frequency management, focusing on allocation, interference control, and security—key for mobile and broadcast reliability. Space for Industry: ASPEX 2026 in Abidjan pushed space applications toward deployment, with Côte d’Ivoire signing the Artemis Accords and highlighting the push to build more African capability. Women’s Finance & Growth: AfDB’s AFAWA launched a Côte d’Ivoire learning event to expand women entrepreneurs’ access to finance and digital business growth. Regional Water Governance: ECOWAS/UEMOA/CILSS adopted the Abidjan Declaration to strengthen shared river management and climate-resilient water planning across West Africa.