Ebola Update: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has crossed a grim regional threshold, now the second-largest on record and the fastest-spreading yet, with 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 deaths across five provinces—raising urgent questions about how to contain epidemics amid conflict and displacement. War Economy: A new look at eastern Congo’s fighting describes how “tolls” and illegal taxation at mineral checkpoints can turn violence into a business that keeps the war going. Connectivity Under Fire: In Fizi (South Kivu), mobile networks and internet have been cut since July 3 for more than a month, disrupting calls, SMS, journalism, and local economic activity—prompting a CPJ demand to restore access. Regional Trade Push: Tanzania and DR Congo are deepening ties after Tshisekedi’s visit to Zanzibar, focusing on the Central Corridor, port and rail links, border procedures, mining cooperation, and a cross-border fibre-optic backbone. Mobile Tech Leap: Airtel Africa and Starlink launched Africa’s first commercial satellite-to-mobile service in DR Congo, enabling eligible users to access SMS and light data (including WhatsApp) in areas without terrestrial coverage. Banking Stress: Afriland First Bank RDC is reported to be in negative equity ($116.9m) and nearing insolvency, after regulators moved against the bank years ago. Mining Policy & Prices: DR Congo’s export ban on copper and cobalt concentrates (Aug 6) is adding pressure to a global copper squeeze, as prices hit record highs. Security-Trade Link: The M23 conflict is also reshaping alliances, including deeper cooperation between Kinshasa and Bujumbura beyond military coordination into trade, infrastructure, energy, and agriculture.