Mining-to-infrastructure push: Mali’s finance minister says the revised mining framework can help mobilize up to 500-billion CFA francs for energy, water and transport, with the Energy, Water and Transport Infrastructure Development Fund already raising 109.14-billion CFA francs between Jan 2025 and Jun 2026. Gold sector pressure: Marsad Al Dahab flags massive informal gold flows, estimating 435 tons left Africa outside official channels in 2022 and warning that undeclared artisanal output keeps draining tax and export earnings. Project execution in gold: Resolute Mining says its Doropo project is on track for first gold in H2 2028 and targets more than 500,000 ounces annually within four years, while expanding resources at ABC. Security and logistics risks: BBC Verify reports Russia has delivered armored vehicles to Mali via a sanctioned ship routing through Lomé, suggesting a new logistical gateway that could intensify the conflict. Humanitarian concern: Human Rights Watch condemns a Russia-linked Africa Corps airstrike in central Mali that it says appears to have killed civilians, raising questions under international humanitarian law. Agri resilience: West African farmers and partners are scaling agroecology to cut fertilizer and climate shocks, with a conference in Accra focused on nature-based farming and soil recovery. Local industry note: Mali is moving to create a national textile company, aiming to strengthen domestic production capacity.