Digital Connectivity for the Horn: Kenya secured €102m EU-backed support for digital transformation and announced an extra €37m to extend the Blue Raman submarine cable linking Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania—aiming to cut internet costs and strengthen regional connectivity. Clean Energy & Industry Push: President William Ruto urged Belgian investors to stop exporting Africa’s raw materials and instead build local manufacturing in Kenya using clean geothermal power, tying the pitch to Europe’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and duty-free access under the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement. Djibouti in the Climate-Action Spotlight: The Great Green Wall initiative highlights Djibouti as one of the pioneering countries in restoring degraded lands across the Sahel—shifting from a “tree wall” to a mosaic of green landscapes to support food, water, jobs and carbon capture. Trade Growth Outlook: IMF projections put Djibouti among Africa’s faster-growing economies in 2026 (6.0%), with its strategic position on major shipping routes continuing to underpin activity. Sea-Lane Risk for the Region: Commentary flags how tensions around key chokepoints like Bab al-Mandab (between Djibouti/Eritrea and Yemen) could disrupt global supply chains and energy prices—an environmental and economic concern for the Horn.