Mauritania Energy Deal: ACWA signed a PPP and power purchase agreement for the 230 MW N’Diago gas-fired CCGT plant, set to become Mauritania’s first large-scale gas IPP and feed the national grid using domestic gas from the GTA field. Digital Sovereignty: Mauritania launched its first national cloud platform to host government data and digital services locally, aiming to boost cybersecurity and keep public services running securely. Education & Jobs: MBRGI and The Digital School unveiled a digital learning push reaching 500,000+ people over three years across Mauritania, Nigeria, Lesotho, Zambia, Namibia and Angola, with school support, teacher training and job-ready skills. Payments for Trade: Central banks and infrastructure providers agreed interoperable payment systems are key to boosting cross-border trade and AfCFTA implementation, with discussions in Romania including ISO 20022 and PAPSS. Regional Business & Water: Spain-Morocco tourism, water and sustainable development conference held in Dakhla focused on public-private partnerships for emerging Sahara destinations. Private Sector Finance: ICD signed 13 agreements to catalyze private sector growth across member countries, including SME financing lines. Tech for Creators: Google Play launched a $1m Indie Games Fund for African studios, offering equity-free capital plus mentorship and technical support. Mining & Markets: Kinross set its Q2 results date (July 29) as gold consolidation and M&A momentum continue.