Red Sea Shipping Risk: Yemen’s Houthis warn they could close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a move that could spike oil prices toward $200 and trigger a wider global shock, as attacks and counterattacks keep shipping lanes under pressure. Maritime Rules: The IMO Council reaffirmed freedom of navigation and urged de-escalation around key straits, stressing transit rights and calling for safety of seafarers. Eritrea Internet Affordability: A new global ranking highlights Eritrea’s extreme digital divide, with 1GB of data reported at about $338—an affordability barrier for most households. Horn-of-Africa Trade & Energy: Analysis frames the Horn and West Asia as increasingly linked through energy, food, and maritime disruptions, with Eritrea’s Danakil potash and other critical minerals tied to future investment debates. UK Visa Tightening (Eritrea Included): The UK updated visitor visa rules, requiring entry clearance for Eritrean travelers (and many other African nationalities) for short stays and some transit cases. Ethiopia Debt & Exports: Ethiopia’s export story remains concentrated in gold and coffee, while debt restructuring continues as an “exit ramp” that is still not fully completed. Ethiopia–GERD Information War: An American analyst says Egypt is escalating “information warfare” over GERD, while Ethiopia argues it has sovereign rights to use the Abay River for power and development. Tigray Peace Under Strain: Reports claim TPLF hardliners are undermining the Pretoria Peace Agreement through parallel structures and recruitment concerns, raising risks for regional stability.