US-Africa Influence Watch: A new analysis asks whether Washington is still a strategic partner in Africa or shifting to a narrower, more transactional approach tied to migration control and minerals access. Wildlife & Trade Enforcement: Court cases traced a pipeline of illegal rhino horn from southern Africa into China, showing how trafficking routes keep adapting even as poaching trends fluctuate. Digital Economy & Fraud: Rwanda’s fraud rates fell in 2025, but the risk moved “upstream” to identity and account creation—an alert for digital services across the region. Education & Innovation Links: Eswatini and South Africa renewed cooperation on higher education, research, innovation and ICT, including plans for a SADC University of Technology. Customs & Trade Rules: WCO-backed training is building national pools of rules-of-origin experts to help countries use free trade agreements correctly. Green Enterprise Funding: Green entrepreneurs in eSwatini can apply for the Afri GreenPitch Challenge to pitch scalable circular economy, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture solutions. Central Bank Reserves: The Central Bank of Eswatini says it has added gold reserves worth E195 million while keeping a cautious stance on inflation pressures. Food & Manufacturing Costs: Tiger Brands warns some food prices may rise as fuel, logistics and input costs squeeze manufacturers. Water Security for Growth: Eswatini’s minister stresses shared-river cooperation with South Africa and Mozambique as key to energy, farming and climate resilience. AI Skills for Government: ERS signed an MoU with UNESWA to train 650 employees in AI literacy through the UNESWA AI Academy. Creative Sector Funding: ESWACOS launched a fund for creativity and artist development, offering grants up to E5,000—sparking debate over whether it’s enough. Labour & Migration Enforcement (Region): A crackdown in South Africa targeted undocumented workers at a textile factory, underlining ongoing pressure on labour compliance and migration. Energy & Engineering (Regional): South Africa’s grid-connection push highlights NECRT solutions as renewable projects scale.