ECOWAS Border Trade Push: ECOWAS is holding stakeholder engagements at the Noépé–Akanu joint border post to cut delays and improve services along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, with calls for sustained public education on the free movement protocol and better use of tools like biometric IDs and SIGMAT. Security Rift Watch: Social-media claims that Côte d’Ivoire “enables” jihadists in Burkina Faso are driving a diplomatic chill, but reporting says the border reality is more complex than a single-direction “invasion” narrative. Cocoa Market Signals: Cocoa prices edged back up after sharp drops tied to strong West African weather expectations; meanwhile, COCOBOD projects Ghana’s output could fall next season, keeping regional supply tight in focus. Mining Update (Côte d’Ivoire): EU Gold Mining says its maiden diamond drilling at the Kimoukro project confirmed bedrock gold mineralisation, refining targets for follow-up work. Maritime & Training: OMAOC visited the ASABA facilities in Malabo to showcase vessel construction/repair capabilities and explore collaboration with regional maritime training institutions. India–Côte d’Ivoire Ties: India’s MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh visited Abidjan for National Day, holding talks on defence, security and economic cooperation. Retail Snapshot (Region): Maverick Research reports Ghana led H1 2026 retail recovery (value +15.6%), while Côte d’Ivoire posted modest growth (about 3% volume, 2% value).