Somaliland–Djibouti Model: Somaliland President Abdirahman Irro says his administration wants to replicate Djibouti’s playbook by developing Berbera port as a Horn trade gateway and offering foreign military bases to boost security and revenue. He also urged Ethiopia to route more trade through Berbera, where the UAE has invested in port infrastructure. Nile Dams & Regional Spillover: Ethiopia’s plan for three more Blue Nile hydropower dams is reigniting the Nile dispute and widening it into a contest over Red Sea access, ports, and Middle East-backed partnerships—raising the stakes for regional diplomacy. Ethiopia–China Trade: Ethiopia’s Trade Minister highlighted fast-growing EXIM trade with China as both a driver and a sign of deeper economic ties, pointing to tariff access and industrial cooperation. Djibouti Code of Conduct on Piracy: Djibouti Code of Conduct member states are setting up a task force to tackle renewed piracy and armed robbery in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, including faster intelligence sharing and coordinated naval/coast guard action. Horn Trade Facilitation: Kenya hosted a workshop to validate the Horn of Africa Initiative Trade Facilitation Roadmap 2026–2031 for Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan, focusing on reducing border frictions and improving corridor governance. Weather Tech for Mariners: A weather alert system using AI and satellite data is being promoted to help coastal communities respond faster to storms—blending modern tech with local maritime know-how.