Structured Finance: NAB Consulting says it has completed a €250m structured finance facility for Niger, co-arranged with Coris Bank Niger and provided by Afreximbank, aimed at Niger’s economic recovery with focus on agriculture, energy, healthcare, infrastructure and support for SMEs. AI & Skills: Maghreb countries, including Mauritania, are pushing AI education and research; Algeria is highlighted for moving from isolated start-ups to university-linked AI and cybersecurity clusters meant to speed commercialization. Tech Rollout: Google expands Ask Gemini in Chrome to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, with a wider Africa rollout that includes Mauritania, aiming to make AI search and understanding more accessible. Energy & Trade: Nigeria exported solar panels worth N85.79bn in Q1 2026 to the US and several African markets, signaling a shift from consumer to regional supplier. Regional Power Risk: A study warns climate change could increasingly synchronize solar output shortfalls across African power pools, raising resilience risks for grid planning. Offshore Oil (Gambia): Eni signs a Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Licence Agreement for offshore Block A1 with The Gambia, marking a new push after years of stalled exploration. Security & Fraud (Nigeria): Ogun State police arrest eight foreign nationals over a staged kidnapping/self-kidnapping scheme allegedly used to extort ransom from families abroad. Mauritania Diplomacy: Libya and Mauritania discuss boosting ties during an official visit, including preparations for a joint higher committee and activating prior agreements.