Cocaine Trafficking Crackdown: Liberia’s Drug Enforcement Agency seized 198 compressed plates of cocaine worth about US$19.2M at Roberts International Airport on June 8, hidden in six cargo boxes and reportedly linked to Europe-bound airline operations—another warning that Liberia is not a transit or safe haven. Offshore Energy Deal (Gambia): Eni signed a Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Licence Agreement with The Gambia for offshore Block A1, reviving hopes for deepwater drilling after past licence exits and stalled exploration. Gulf Labour Restrictions: Kuwait’s Interior Ministry tightened domestic worker recruitment, banning sourcing from Kenya and 25 other countries (including Guinea-Bissau) and limiting hiring to a smaller approved list—reshaping the regional labour corridor. Trade Rules of Origin Training: With WCO support under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, customs officials from Guinea-Bissau and others completed training-of-trainers on preferential rules of origin to help firms use trade deals correctly. West Africa Power Push: The World Bank said its regional electricity programme has expanded access to over three million people, built 4,000+ km of transmission lines across 15 countries, and is preparing a regional electricity market. Rice Self-Sufficiency Drive: AfDB urged West Africa to move from rice plans to action, citing a US$3.5B annual import bill, and highlighted REWARD’s $680M push across ECOWAS, including projects in Guinea-Bissau.