Fuel & Transport Costs: South Africa’s August outlook looks rough for diesel, with estimates pointing to increases of about R1.63–R1.80/litre, while petrol may only see marginal cuts as oil under-recoveries and volatility bite. Energy Policy Pressure: Nigeria faces renewed electricity tariff hike fears as consumers push back over poor power supply performance, while lawmakers also back tougher ECOWAS enforcement to cut cross-border trade barriers. Digital Payments & Banking: QNB Group wins “Best Digital Bank” in Qatar and “Best for Product Marketing” across MENA at the MEED MENA Banking Excellence Awards, highlighting rapid digital feature rollouts; Lesaka also rebrands to consolidate merchant fintech brands under one name. Consumer & Retail Moves: TotalEnergies launches 45c/litre cashback rewards for Club members on Friday petrol purchases in South Africa. Regional Trade & Integration: The Morocco–Nigeria gas pipeline is framed as moving from a bilateral idea toward an ECOWAS-backed African project, but the Sahara question remains central. Security & Illicit Trade: Zimbabwe police bust a lithium smuggling attempt at Forbes Border after an alleged bribe to bypass a raw-lithium export ban. Market Watch: Nigeria’s NGX gains N481bn ahead of the insurance recapitalisation deadline, with insurance and consumer goods stocks leading.