Energy & Development: A new report argues Africa’s poverty is tightly linked to energy access, noting South Sudan’s very low Human Development Index and how household air pollution from cooking fuels still harms women and girls. Regional Industry & Jobs: Dangote Industries says it will complete its $16bn East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu, Kenya, in 40 months, targeting 700,000 barrels per day and an industrial ecosystem that could create 60,000 jobs, with major engineering and digital process partners named. Local Impact & Land Disputes: Lamu residents are contesting compensation and resettlement tied to the refinery rollout, as land tenure conflicts threaten coastal projects. Power Infrastructure: Uganda and South Sudan move closer to grid integration with a new 400kV cross-border transmission project backed by the African Development Bank. Health Research Capacity: Makerere University launches a five-year Africa-wide clinical trials and epidemic preparedness initiative that includes South Sudan, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign research during outbreaks. ICT & Elections: South Sudan’s caretaker ICT ministry says SSBC will be opened for civic and voter education ahead of December elections, with leadership meetings also discussing participation in an AI forum. Public Health Alerts: WHO reports cholera deaths rose in 2025 and highlights ongoing Ebola risks as outbreaks expand into new areas, including regions bordering South Sudan. Tech, Language & Inclusion: A new push highlights how AI can exclude minority languages, while some communities use AI-supported tools to preserve and document their own languages.