Banking Ambition: Standard Bank says it wants to become East Africa’s biggest bank by 2030, targeting 2 million clients and doubling earnings across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Malawi. Islamic Finance Push: The Rwanda Stock Exchange has launched Islamic listing and trading rules for Shariah-compliant products like sukuk, Islamic funds and REITs, aiming to attract Gulf and regional capital. Rwanda Capital Markets: The RSE move is backed by Mayzuh and Luxembourg Aid, positioning Rwanda as a cross-listing hub for Islamic instruments. EAC Tourism Build-Up: East African Community officials are urging business-friendly policies and cross-border tourism packages ahead of Afcon 2027, pitching the tournament as a regional tourism and integration catalyst. EV Investment Race: Spiro secured $215m equity to expand electric mobility and energy infrastructure across Africa, betting on battery-swapping scale. Ebola Pressure on Peace: Analysts warn the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo could derail the Rwanda-DRC peace deal, diverting security and government resources. Regional Trade Outlook: Commentary highlights East Africa’s trade growth engine—ports, rail corridors and AfCFTA/EAC integration—while stressing the need for trade finance to unlock cross-border flows. Tech Partnerships: Afretec signed its 10th university partner, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, to deepen Africa’s engineering and digital growth.