Red Sea Access & Horn Politics: Ethiopia’s election week also doubled as a push for Red Sea access, with Addis Ababa repeating its claims and framing them as “reasonable” and “fair” despite needing consent to use the sea. Djibouti-Ethiopia Corridor: A new look at the corridor underlines how tightly Djibouti’s port economy is tied to Ethiopian trade—port activity is described as the backbone of Djibouti’s GDP and transit revenues. US Visa Hub Cuts (Djibouti Included): The US plans to cut visa-processing embassies across Africa from nearly 50 to 20, keeping full services in hubs that include Djibouti—meaning applicants may have to travel farther for interviews. AU Austerity Pressure: The African Union Commission says budget deficits are forcing it to run with about 30% of needed staffing and signals an austerity 2027 budget. Regional Peacekeeping Role: SIPRI data highlights East Africa’s outsized troop contribution even as global peacekeeping funding and deployments shrink. Maritime Security Watch: With Red Sea and Hormuz chokepoints under strain, reporting flags how Bab al-Mandab and the wider region could face renewed disruption risks. Education & Governance Signals: Djibouti appears in regional cooperation coverage as Egypt’s education reforms boost attendance and literacy, while a separate scholarship partnership expands Chevening-linked funding across Djibouti and the region.