Sahel Security Shock: Gunmen attacked Niamey’s Diori Hamani airport again, with residents reporting gunfire from the airport entrance and explosions; it follows an earlier Islamic State in the Sahel strike in January and highlights Niger’s struggle against jihadist violence. Regional Diplomacy: IGAD urged restraint after Somaliland opened an embassy in Jerusalem, reiterating Somalia’s sovereignty and warning the move could inflame tensions. World Cup—Africa’s Mixed Start: After the first round, African teams posted 2 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats, scoring 7 and conceding 16; Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1-0, Ghana edged Panama 1-0, while Tunisia, Senegal, South Africa and Algeria suffered heavy losses. Trade & Agriculture: Kenya is pushing new export deals with Oman to expand markets for tea, coffee, livestock, flowers and horticulture. Energy Transition: Exxon signed an initial LNG deal linked to South Africa’s Richards Bay terminal, as the country seeks to cut coal reliance while keeping power supply stable. Ocean Protection: West African states are calling to include the Eastern Atlantic in the first wave of marine protected areas under a new high-seas treaty.