Ethiopia Election Watch: Ethiopia has entered the final stretch before its June 1 general election, with preparations at the last stage and millions of voters set to cast ballots in a high-stakes democratic moment after years of conflict. Regional Monitoring: IGAD has deployed 26 election observers across Ethiopia, working under African Union guidelines, while talks also focused on human rights safeguards and how complaints will be handled. Horn of Africa Diplomacy: Djibouti is seeking Ethiopia’s backing for a Damerjog oil depot at the new Damerjog Liquid Bulk Port, with construction tied to Ethiopian financing plans. Maritime Security: The IMO’s Djibouti Code of Conduct chair warned that piracy in the Gulf of Aden remains fragile, condemning the continued detention of a Palau-flagged tanker and urging sustained vigilance. Transport Disruption Warning: The IMF says Middle East conflict is still disrupting global shipping and air routes, with knock-on effects felt even around the Bab el-Mandeb corridor near Djibouti. Investment Push for Fragile Economies: The AfDB and World Economic Forum launched the HRI Roadmap for Africa to mobilize private investment into frontier states, with pilots already underway including Djibouti. Public Health Preparedness: IGAD launched a $31.9m pandemic preparedness project for member states, using a One Health approach to strengthen cross-border surveillance and response. Sports: Kenya is confident of defending its East Africa U18/20 athletics titles in Arusha as Team Kenya heads to the June 5–6 meet. Humanitarian Eid Support: Qatar Charity says its Udhiyah project reached over 900,000 people across 43 countries, including support for vulnerable communities in the Horn of Africa.