Benin–Rwanda Diplomacy: President Romuald Wadagni’s first official visit to Kigali (48 hours) with Paul Kagame spotlights deeper cooperation on security, trade, investment, technology, transport and tourism, with talks framed around shared memory and border stability. Cross-Border Trade Facilitation: Nigeria Customs chief Adewale Adeniyi called for tighter Nigeria–Benin coordination among trade regulators at the Seme-Krake One Stop Border Post, arguing that harmonised systems can cut delays and remove language/currency frictions. Benin Logistics Push: A look at Benin’s Cotonou–Niamey corridor shows how the EU/Enabel-backed €30m Cotoni project aims to upgrade the whole logistics ecosystem, not just roads, to unlock trade for landlocked Niger. Electricity Sector Oversight: Cameroon awarded Benin’s Erudit-FCG a CFA107.3m audit contract to assess Eneo’s 2023 technical performance, feeding into future regulatory audit methods. Youth & Governance Advocacy: In Benin City, youth groups urged meaningful youth participation in governance, calling for transparent, accountable leadership and better jobs, entrepreneurship and skills. Market Reconstruction for Growth (Edo): Edo’s market rebuilds under the SHINE Agenda—starting with Oba Market—aim to revive abandoned trading hubs with safer, modern facilities and renewed livelihoods. Fuel Price Pressure (Nigeria/Region): Nigeria’s labour movement warned petrol prices rising up to N1,500/litre will worsen costs of food and essentials, while a WAEMU comparison flagged Ghana’s sharper pump increases versus the regional average. Research-to-Business (Togo): Togo convened researchers and firms to improve research commercialization, tackling weak links, IP issues and limited technology transfer. Film & Creative Industry (Benin): The KAP–SOPA Pan-African Filmmaking Bootcamp ends with 20 Beninese filmmakers graduating after training in Cotonou and a production residency in Nigeria, aiming to strengthen cross-border African cinema.