Conakry Port Digital Push: Conakry Terminal has launched IES (iPAKi External Site), a 24/7 online platform to handle document processing and payments, issue exit documents electronically, and track port operations in real time—aimed at speeding up Guinea’s supply chain and reducing the need for in-person visits. Mining Rights & State Control: Burkina Faso approved a permit for state miner SOPAMIB to develop the Bouboulou gold project, a move framed as a “revolution” toward greater state take and local jobs—an important regional signal for how mining governance is shifting. EU Visa Pressure on Guinea: The EU temporarily restricts Schengen visa facilitation for Guinean nationals, citing insufficient readmission cooperation; processing timelines and multiple-entry options are tightened, with knock-on effects for travel and business mobility. Cross-Border Transport Safety: A Guinea-Conakry crash involving a tanker and a passenger vehicle bound for Freetown killed seven and injured 13, highlighting ongoing risks on the Guinea corridor. Gold Infrastructure Watch: Simandou’s $27B rail link is nearing completion, with test shipments starting—key for Guinea’s iron ore logistics and the wider steel supply chain. Regional Business & Trade Context: Renault Trucks says 350 trucks are running around the clock in Guinea mines, supporting bauxite haulage and showing how fleet uptime is becoming central to mining output.