Ebola Crisis in Eastern Congo: UNHCR confirmed the first Ebola-related deaths in the Kpangba displacement camp in Ituri, where 30,000 people are crowded; the outbreak has now reached 689 confirmed cases and 139 deaths, with aid workers warning transmission risks are especially high in overcrowded sites and mistrust is complicating response. Cross-Border Telecom Deal: Angola and the Republic of Congo signed a memorandum in Luanda to prevent communications from interfering across borders, aiming to keep signal expansion within national territory under international telecom rules. Regional Health Pressure: Congo’s Ebola response is also expanding into new health zones, while officials say contact tracing remains too low for the scale of the outbreak. CEMAC Export Hit: BEAC reported a sharp fall in agricultural export prices across CEMAC in Q1 2026, driven mainly by a steep cocoa price drop, threatening earnings for member states including Congo. Trade Integration Push: AfCFTA’s secretary-general said intra-African trade is on track to reach $250bn in 2026, urging faster implementation to offset shrinking access to global markets. World Cup Spotlight on Congo: Portugal’s Ronaldo said the team must focus on a strong start, with Portugal set to open against Congo in Houston—turning Congo into a key early test for a tournament favorite.