Horn of Africa Trade & Ports: A new analysis warns Djibouti’s long-standing grip on Ethiopia’s sea trade is being pressured by alternative corridors, with Berbera’s rise forcing the African Union to juggle sovereignty rules against integration goals. Maritime Security: Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif urged stronger maritime defence capabilities, linking sea-lane safety to uninterrupted trade. Energy Connectivity: AfDB-backed Desert to Power progress includes signed project implementation contracts for the 225kV Mauritania–Mali interconnection, part of a wider push to expand solar access across the Sahel to Djibouti. Ethiopia Debt & Overexpansion: Ethiopian officials concede state-led megaprojects have left heavy debt and underused infrastructure, with a shift toward commercially driven investment and tighter financing. Djibouti Solar Plan: Djibouti is partnering with Morocco to develop solar power with storage to cut reliance on imported electricity. Regional Payments & Transport: COMESA delegates, chaired by Djibouti, discussed digitising the Yellow Card cross-border motor insurance scheme to speed compensation and reduce border bottlenecks. Cyber Cooperation: IGAD launched a regional cyber drill in Addis Ababa to improve cross-border readiness against digital threats. Remittances: Qatar Post launched international money transfers to Djibouti and four other countries, promising fast delivery via post offices.