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East Africa
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- 1New migrant arrivals reported on Mallorca coast●A new group of illegal migrants has just arrived in Mallorca, Spain. The Spanish government continues to flood the count
A group of migrants has arrived in Mallorca, Spain, amid continuing arrivals across the Canary Islands and the Spanish coastline. Commentators critical of the government, including the account that circulated the news, accuse Madrid of failing to curb irregular migration from Africa and the Middle East. The story is fuelling wider European debate over border policy and how arrivals should be distributed across the EU.
- 2Dangote hires refinery engineers for new Kenya crude plant●Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, has hired the engineers that built his Lagos refinery to work on the new crude p
Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest person, has hired the engineers who built his Lagos refinery to work on a new crude processing plant in Kenya, with construction expected to begin this month. The move extends his refining ambitions beyond Nigeria, and observers are watching whether the project can replicate the scale and impact of his Lagos facility on East Africa's fuel supply.
- 3Kenya and US militaries hold first full-scale joint base defence drill▼Kenya and US military test defence of strategic East African base in first full-scale joint drill
Kenyan and American forces have carried out their first full-scale joint exercise testing the defence of a strategic East African base. The drill focused on repelling possible attacks on the installation, underscoring deepening security cooperation between Nairobi and Washington in a region facing threats from armed groups such as al-Shabaab.
- 4Egypt backs Trump's Gaza plan amid Mediterranean war drill with France, Italy and Greece▼Africa’s most powerful military and Middle East’s strongest back Trump’s Gaza plan after Egypt joins France, Italy and Greece for major Mediterranean war drill
Egypt has endorsed Donald Trump's Gaza plan, with its military — widely ranked as Africa's most powerful — also joining France, Italy and Greece for a major Mediterranean naval exercise. The endorsement adds a key Arab state to supporters of the proposal, and the joint drill with European navies signals deepening security coordination around the eastern Mediterranean at a sensitive moment for Gaza diplomacy.
- 5Nigeria seen hitting 5% growth as Kenya faces rate hikes▼COMMENT: Nigeria heads for 5% growth as Kenya faces rate hikes, Capital Economics says
Capital Economics forecasts Nigeria's economy growing at around 5%, while Kenya is expected to face further interest rate increases. The contrasting outlook highlights diverging monetary pressures across Africa's major economies, with Nigeria's expansion outpacing Kenya's as East Africa grapples with inflation and tighter policy.
- 6
A heated debate is underway over whether immigration policies should apply selectively to people from Middle East and North Africa regions. Supporters and critics are clashing over the fairness and implications of treating immigrants differently based on their region of origin, with the discussion drawing sharp reactions and wide engagement across social platforms.
- 7MENA startup funding keeps growing despite regional headwinds▼Startup wrap — Funding momentum continues in MENA despite regional headwinds
Arab News reports that startup funding across the Middle East and North Africa continues to build momentum even as the region faces broader economic and political challenges. The roundup highlights ongoing investor interest in MENA-based startups, with new funding deals signaling resilience in the regional tech ecosystem despite headwinds that might otherwise discourage investment.
- 8
Tanzania and Sudan are meeting in the final of the CECAFA U20 championship, with the match being followed live by large audiences across East Africa. The fixture pits two of the region's strongest youth sides against each other for the regional under-20 title, and viewers are reacting heavily as the game unfolds.