SME Finance (Kenya): Credit Bank set aside Sh1bn for 2026 to back SME growth, pairing lending with trade finance, insurance and transactional banking to help firms expand and create jobs. Conflict Minerals (DRC/Rwanda): A Global Witness investigation says smuggled conflict coltan from DRC-linked M23 violence is likely entering global electronics supply chains, with major brands “likely” implicated through weak due diligence. Retail & Property (South Africa): Gauteng malls and big shopping centres led Q1 2026 performance, with superregional centres showing stronger trading-density growth as health and beauty retailers outperformed. Circular Economy (South Africa): The SA Plastics Pact launched its 2030 targets, bringing brands and recyclers together to push packaging circularity and recycling outcomes. Clean Cooking Pressure (Nigeria): LPG prices jumped sharply, driving households back to charcoal as the clean-cooking push faces supply and affordability strain. EV Adoption (South Africa): EV sales are gaining momentum, but policy gaps on duties and charging infrastructure still threaten faster uptake. Food & Health Trade (Ghana): The West Africa Pharma & Healthcare Expo opened in Accra, urging investment and local manufacturing, including plans for a locally made vaccine next year. World Cup Commerce (MENA/Global): beIN Sports will carry all World Cup matches across MENA via TV and streaming, with country-specific access routes. Debt Collection Tech (South Africa): 1Stream says AI voice agents are helping some consumers engage on overdue accounts more comfortably than human collectors. Data Security (MEA): Spire Solutions partnered with Seclore to strengthen data governance and compliance readiness as AI adoption accelerates.