Online Safety & Elections: Kenya’s political parties and regulators met in Nairobi to tackle technology-facilitated gender-based violence ahead of the 2027 polls, calling for legal reforms and stronger party mechanisms. Anti-Xenophobia Push in South Africa: A South African editorial warns that blaming foreigners for social woes fuels dangerous violence, stressing equal protection under law for documented and undocumented residents. Digital Trust in Finance (Nigeria): NITDA says Nigeria’s next banking era will hinge on AI-driven trust, RegTech and cyber resilience. AI in Everyday Services (South Africa): Kandua’s Santam unit launched “Jess,” an AI home companion that helps users diagnose issues and book vetted service providers. Tax Season Security (South Africa): SARS rolled out Filing Season 2026 with faster auto-assessments and refunds, while warning of AI-powered phishing scams. Energy & Industry: South Africa’s solar market outlook and grid needs were spotlighted at Power Africa Today, as the focus shifts from electrification to industrially enabling power. Health Sovereignty (Kenya): Japan pledged KSh3bn to boost Kenya’s vaccine manufacturing push toward 2027. Climate & Land: Africa’s Great Green Wall aims to restore degraded landscapes across an 8,000-km Sahel belt, beyond tree planting. Regional Digital Integration (East Africa): EAC partners approved a framework for trusted cross-border data flows and stronger personal data protection.