Boko Haram Attacks: Nigerien forces suffered heavy losses in an assault near N’Guigmi, Diffa, with reports putting deaths at around 10 soldiers (and additional National Guard casualties) as troops swept the area. Security Expansion: Nigeria’s Presidential Forest Guards Initiative has been scaled to 10 states, training over 9,000 personnel, including a new batch for Kaduna, Edo and Kogi, to secure forests and remote routes used by kidnappers and bandits. Kidnapping Response Debate: Opposition ADC urged President Tinubu to make the Oriire rescue approach the national standard, including tracking families of kidnappers, after the Oyo operation that reportedly avoided ransom and negotiations. Human Rights Watch: Civicus added Burkina Faso to its 2026 civil society repression watchlist, citing mass suspensions and dissolutions under restrictive association rules. Health Watch: UNAIDS warned that funding cuts and reduced HIV prevention services could trigger a resurgence, even as infections and deaths remain low. Identity Fraud Crackdown (Niger): Niger State police dismantled a fake NIN/PVC ring, arresting a suspect linked to forged documents for over 1,000 people. ICC Pressure: US officials say Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Venezuela and Chad have notified the ICC of withdrawal plans, as Washington pushes to dismantle the court.