Nigeria Election Kickoff: Campaigns begin for Nigeria’s January 2027 presidential vote as Bola Tinubu seeks a second term amid inflation, insecurity and voter anger; a Reuters read frames the race as a test of whether Nigerians will accept “short-term pain” for reform gains. Maritime Trade Boost: Nigeria’s marine minister says the US Coast Guard has lifted a 12-year “Condition of Entry” on Nigerian vessels, a win for port competitiveness and security compliance. Capital Markets Watch: Nigeria slips to third in global stock market performance rankings, behind South Korea and Ghana, despite still-strong local investor activity. Zimbabwe Regional Trade Push: Zimbabwe’s COMESA chairmanship should focus on removing trade barriers and modernising border posts to raise intra-COMESA trade, currently stuck at single digits. Zimbabwe Property Momentum: ZimReal highlights a growing listed property/REIT market and hospitality investment ahead of its Aug 26 forum. Ebola & Mining Reality Check: In eastern Congo, artisanal gold miners—often hard to monitor—complicate Ebola containment as the outbreak spreads. Fintech & Payments: Equity Bank’s regional network helps Uganda’s UKI Uganda reduce cross-border payment delays into the DRC. Startup Funding: South Africa’s Jem HR raises $8.4m Series A to expand beyond WhatsApp HR into workforce management. Connectivity Deal: Airtel Africa and Starlink expand satellite-to-phone coverage in DRC, pushing connectivity into remote areas. Sports Business: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are urged to prepare early for AFCON 2027 with a focus on procurement and local business participation.