Child Protection in Conflict: Amnesty says children in Sudan’s North Darfur are being recruited by the Rapid Support Forces, including boys forced to fight, herd livestock, and gather intelligence, with reports of sexual violence, starvation, and years without school. Budget & Infrastructure Tech: Algeria’s Council of Ministers backed the 2027 finance bill with planned salary and wage hikes, kept new taxes off purchasing power, and pushed ahead with immediate segments of a rail line linking the Northern region to Tamanrasset. Climate & Health Risk: New El Niño projections warn the Sahel—including Chad—could see major heat-driven harm, with Chad among the hardest hit; low electricity access and drought-linked farming dependence make cooling and resilience harder. Heat Preparedness in Southern Africa: A separate forecast flags rising extreme-heat danger across Southern Africa, urging heat preparedness as El Niño is expected to intensify into early 2027. Bankable Projects Push: UBA’s CEO urges Africa to turn opportunities into commercially viable, investable projects with strong preparation and accountable execution, including telecom financing in Chad. Security Cooperation: A report on African special operations stresses building cross-border networks for faster coordination against evolving threats. Regional Tech & Defense Expos: Azerbaijan’s ADEX 2026 and Securex Caspian showcased advanced defense and internal security tech.