Red Sea Security & Shipping: Djibouti Code of Conduct signatories agreed to set up a Combined DCoC Task Force to coordinate anti-piracy patrols and speed responses across the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, with a Kenya-hosted Mombasa workshop next (7–9 Sept) to finalize the operational plan. Maritime Defence Coalition: Saudi Arabia launched a 14-country Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition to counter Houthi attacks near Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden, naming Djibouti among founding members. Nile Water Tensions: Egypt sharply criticized Ethiopia’s plan for three more Blue Nile dams, warning it could not accept a “de facto” change to downstream rights, as analysis highlights how the dispute now pulls in ports, alliances, and Red Sea competition. Ethiopia’s Water Sovereignty: Ethiopia’s Water and Energy Minister said the country needs no permission to develop Nile resources, rejecting any joint management that would give others control, while noting power exports already reaching Djibouti. Trade & Logistics for the Horn: Kenya hosted a validation workshop for the Horn of Africa Initiative Trade Facilitation Roadmap (2026–2031), targeting corridor governance and smoother cross-border trade for Djibouti–Ethiopia–Kenya–Somalia–South Sudan routes. Agriculture & Exports: Ethiopia is pushing banana exports by improving quality and meeting phytosanitary standards, and ENA reports Ethiopia’s electricity supply to neighbors including Djibouti. Weather & Risk: IGAD/ICPAC seasonal outlooks point to wetter-than-normal conditions later in 2026 tied to El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole shifts, relevant for planning across the region.