Judiciary Independence Under Fire (Zimbabwe): Lawyers in Zimbabwe criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa after he presented retired Chief Justice Luke Malaba with an agricultural mechanisation package, arguing the gift could undermine confidence in judicial independence. Ebola Response (DRC/Region): UNICEF said it is rapidly scaling up Ebola support in the DRC and neighboring countries, dispatching over 100 metric tons of emergency supplies including PPE, medicines, and WASH materials, while warning donors must urgently fill funding gaps. Ethiopia’s Capital Market (Addis Ababa): Nigeria’s United Capital won ECMA approval to operate investment banking in Ethiopia via a wholly owned local subsidiary, positioning it as the first foreign investment bank in Addis Ababa and a test of Ethiopia’s financial reforms. Ethiopia’s Red Sea Push (Horn of Africa): A new report says Ethiopia’s election-era campaign for Red Sea access relies on repeated messaging and pressure on neighboring states, despite the legal complexities of access by consent. Election and Governance (Ethiopia): Coverage highlights Ethiopia’s 7th general election as peaceful and well-administered, with observers and partners pointing to institutional and electoral progress. Migration Politics (South Africa): South Africa’s Ramaphosa promised action on illegal migration amid xenophobic tensions, stressing only authorized state officials can enforce immigration laws. Global Aid Pressure: A development-focused report warns official aid fell sharply in 2025, hitting least developed and sub-Saharan countries hardest as humanitarian needs rise.