Sahel Security & Mining: ACLED reports jihadist groups in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are increasingly exploiting mining economies to finance attacks and expand control, with JNIM linked to 42% of mining-adjacent conflict incidents since 2015. AFCON 2032 Bid: CAF has accepted the initial joint expression of interest from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to host AFCON 2032, moving the Sahel alliance’s football push into the official bidding stage. Niger’s Climate & Jobs Angle: An Australian “forest maker” approach helped Niger farmers regenerate over 200 million trees by reviving living stumps, roots and buried seeds—boosting land recovery and livelihoods. Niger Governance & Rights: Human Rights Watch says Niger’s military junta has intensified repression since the 2023 coup, including dissolving parties, restricting civil society and detaining opponents. Regional Terrorism Pressure: The US is reportedly weighing military options in Mali against JNIM, while analysts warn Nigeria’s porous borders and weak oversight are enabling drones and weapons flows. Public Oversight & Finance: Nigeria’s House of Reps moves to investigate the Mining Marshals over alleged misuse of funds and alleged N2bn in a commander’s account. Energy & Consumer Relief: NERC is highlighted as the key channel for escalating electricity DisCo complaints, with overbilling and metering issues topping customer grievances.