South Africa–Namibia ties: President Cyril Ramaphosa used the South Africa–Namibia Bi-National Commission to push closer collaboration on minerals, energy and agriculture-linked value chains, including skills and industrialisation. SEZ push: Deputy President Paul Mashatile opened South Africa’s Second International Special Economic Zones conference in Durban, pitching SEZs as a magnet for investment and jobs. Livestock disease overhaul (Nigeria): Nigeria is reviewing and overhauling its animal disease control plan to better tackle peste des petits ruminants (PPR), with stronger monitoring and ECOWAS coordination. Chronic disease coverage (Cameroon): Health experts in Yaoundé urged reforms to expand access to affordable care for chronic illnesses, including using private insurance models linked to WHO PEN-Plus. El Niño food risk: Climate experts warn a strengthening El Niño could bring heat, floods and droughts across Eastern and Southern Africa, threatening food security and farm incomes. Rooibos to space (South Africa): Rooibos seeds will be launched to the ISS in October for a microgravity study, with school pupils and local farmers involved. Nigeria farm finance: Nigeria unveiled a $500m agriculture fund for the Niger Delta, targeting aquaculture, palm oil and livestock. PPR and food security (Nigeria): A second report reiterates the PPR “goat plague” threat and the need for measurable progress toward a PPR-free Nigeria.