Uranium Deal Watch: Niger’s transitional authorities signed the Madaouela uranium agreement with Atomic Eagle on Sept. 23, touting mining sovereignty with a 40% state stake, a $10m payment and 1,000 jobs—while analysts warn the partner’s lack of proven industrial uranium experience and unclear safeguards could turn the deal into a costly gamble. Custody Deaths Probe: In Niger State, Nigeria’s federal government has started an independent inquiry into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody, with calls for a transparent, credible process and due process as survivors describe suffocation from extreme heat and overcrowding. Local Security & Farming Pressure: Communities in Niger State report ongoing farmer-herder clashes, injuries and destroyed farmlands despite peace meetings, while another report details bandit captivity and ransom-linked releases. Health Alert Beyond Borders: Nigeria is on high alert after Ebola cases surged in the DRC, prompting intensified surveillance and preparedness. Climate Risk: A new study warns “super El Niño” could drive heat-related deaths across the Sahel, including Niger, underscoring the need for urgent protective measures.