Dangote Refinery Deal: Aliko Dangote has offered East African countries a combined 30% equity stake in his planned 700,000-bpd Lamu oil refinery, with Kenya expected to take 10% worth about $500m; Ethiopia and Rwanda have signaled interest, and the project is estimated at $16–17bn for the refinery plus port and petrochemical upgrades. Ebola Border Response: ECSA-HC launched a six-month emergency push to stop Ebola spreading from DRC through 33 priority border points and 16 trade/migration corridors, including Burundi, using faster detection, safe isolation and cross-border notification supported by the World Bank. Bujumbura Fire Losses: A major early-morning blaze gutted two central Bujumbura shopping malls (Galerie Ndayizamba and Le Parisien), disrupting businesses and leaving traders with heavy losses as authorities investigate. Water Stress in the Capital: Residents in several Bujumbura neighborhoods say drinking water deliveries remain irregular, driving long queues and a costly water market. University Food Restart: Burundi plans to relaunch catering for about 4,000 University of Burundi students from 2 September, with over 11bn Burundian francs allocated for meals. Trade & Health Controls: Ten countries in the region have stepped up border health checks in response to DRC Ebola, including Burundi, with drills and standardized screening at crossings. UN Leadership Watch: The race to replace Antonio Guterres for a 2027 term is narrowing after Security Council straw polls, with candidates including Rebeca Grynspan and Rafael Grossi.