Livestock & Trade: Nigeria reaffirmed its push to eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats by 2030, citing stronger surveillance, lab capacity, targeted vaccination and cross-border collaboration as key to cutting poverty and boosting livestock productivity. Human Trafficking Alarm: A viral video from Mali shows Nigerian women and girls living in makeshift black-tarp shelters, renewing concerns about trafficking routes for forced labour and sexual exploitation. Sahel Security & AU Reform: Burkina Faso’s prime minister urged the African Union to move beyond “empty rhetoric” on terrorism, calling for decision-making and funding reforms so support matches the continent’s existential threats. Regional Cooperation: Nigeria and Mali plan a joint commission to deepen ties in security, trade, energy, transport and illegal migration—especially as AES countries step back from ECOWAS. Justice & Sovereignty: Niger’s formal withdrawal from the ICC was framed as a dangerous retreat from international accountability, coming amid broader institutional pullbacks in the Sahel. Business & Investment (Niger): Niger State acknowledged the need to speed up completion of a 5-star hotel in Minna as part of its urban renewal drive to attract investors and tourism. Inflation Watch (Nigeria): Nigeria’s headline inflation eased to 15.91% in June, but food prices stayed under pressure—highlighting continued cost-of-living strain for households.