Niger Crisis Update: Niamey looked calm again after a day of gunfire and explosions when young soldiers attacked Diori Hamani International Airport and moved toward the presidential area; dozens were killed or arrested, and Russia’s Africa Corps reportedly backed loyalists as state media briefly went offline. Sahel Security Shock: Analysts frame the mutiny as a direct stress test for the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), since Niger hosts key command and support infrastructure—raising fears that internal threats will drain resources from the fight against jihadists. Algeria–Niger Defence Signal: Algeria deployed Su-30MKA fighters to Niger after the coup attempt, with tanker and transport support, explicitly positioning the move as deterrence against destabilisation. AI for Students in Burkina Faso: Google expanded its free one-year Google AI Plus offer to 27 African countries, including Burkina Faso, giving students Gemini tools plus cloud storage after verification. Health Tech in Senegal (regional impact): Senegal’s Teranga Pharma rolled out an Africa-made generic sickle cell treatment (hydroxyurea), aiming to cut dependence on imported medicines across multiple markets. Energy & Tech Governance: Nigeria ordered a science-based probe into major electricity losses and suspected theft along the Ikorodu–Sagamu corridor, where monitoring flagged large unaccounted megawatts. Solar Push: New analysis says Africa is on track for a record 2026 solar installation year, with mini-grids highlighted for Francophone West Africa including Burkina Faso.