ECOWAS Leadership & Currency: ECOWAS leaders meeting in Lungi, Sierra Leone, reaffirmed plans to launch the ECO single currency in 2027, with qualifying states first, and elected Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye as rotating chair while naming General Birame Diop to lead the ECOWAS Commission. Niger Politics: Niger APC’s internal crisis deepened as former governor Sani Bello’s aide Ibrahim Idris warned of possible mass defection unless President Tinubu and APC chair Nentawe Yilwatda intervene; meanwhile Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago pushed reconciliation efforts, urging members to campaign for the party ahead of 2027. Security in the Sahel: Reports say 16 Niger soldiers were killed in a militant attack in western Niger, while Mali also faced a deadly convoy ambush. Niger Development & Health: NiCare says it enrolled over 121,000 vulnerable residents into health insurance schemes, and Niger is also overhauling its radio spectrum to support faster 5G rollout. Regional Diplomacy: Niger and Oman held talks on expanding cooperation in agriculture and water resources, including modern farming and livestock investment. Child Protection: Niger police arrested two suspected child traffickers and rescued nine children in separate operations.