Beekeeping in the Congo Basin offers ecological, economic, and therapeutic benefits, contributing to the preservation of forests. Beekeepers face challenges such as fires set by farmers during the dry season. Bees are essential pollinators for food security and indicators of environmental quality. The income from bee products like honey, royal jelly, and wax can surpass that from oil, yet these benefits are often overlooked by locals. Authorities and citizens are challenged to promote beekeeping to reduce forest exploitation and preserve the Congo Basin forests.

In Hinda, located 25 km east of Pointe-Noire, oil companies boast about establishing basic social infrastructures as part of their corporate social responsibility. However, locals argue that this is insufficient, citing issues such as outdated compensation rates, water and crop pollution, and lack of consultation with residents before implementing oil projects. This situation is seen as a living example of the 'resource curse' as described by NGOs.

The Democratic Republic of Congo implemented a new mining code on March 9 to increase revenue from its natural resources and improve the lives of its citizens. Since then, relations with multinational mining companies have deteriorated. Algeria and Gabon are considering similar measures to raise taxes on mineral exploration. The analysis suggests that adding value to mineral resources could significantly benefit the continent.

The Panama Papers and Paradise Papers have highlighted the extent of illicit financial flows and their harmful impact on Africa's economic development. These illicit financial activities are supported by an infrastructure that includes tax havens and an army of mercenaries made up of tax firms, law firms, and certain banks.

The Congo Basin, home to 10% of global biodiversity and the world's second-largest carbon reserve after the Amazon, is the focus of a conference in Brazzaville discussing the operationalization of the Blue Fund. This initiative aims to preserve the basin and promote economic development. Experts, including Congolese Minister of Tourism and Environment Arlette Soudan Nonault, emphasize the urgency of action. The fund is seen as a catalyst for development, with calls for regional cooperation. The conference set a six-month goal to activate the fund, and Congo Basin states plan to present a united front at the upcoming Cop 23 in Bonn, Germany.

Central African countries are uniting to secure their maritime space, with the center of gravity for maritime piracy shifting from the Gulf of Aden to the Gulf of Guinea. Regular training is being conducted for national navies and administrations involved in sea management. An operation named 'MERGALOPS II' took place in Pointe-Noire, Congo, from June 19 to 22, 2017. Captain Sosthène Loulla-Mabicka, director of CRESMAC, highlighted numerous threats including drug trafficking, small arms trafficking, human trafficking, protected animal trafficking, and illegal fishing. The challenges are so numerous that no single country can combat them alone, necessitating joint efforts. The exercise aims to harmonize efforts to contain various threats, recognizing the sea's key role in the economic life of states, with 90% of exchanges conducted by sea. The long-term goal is to establish a robust maritime security architecture to make the Gulf of Guinea safe for navigation.

Breast ironing, a practice where heated objects are used to massage young girls' breasts to prevent growth, persists in Cameroon despite civil society campaigns. A 2013 study by IRESCO for GIZ found that 12% of girls and women are affected, with the 11-14 age group being the most victimized. The practice is believed to protect girls from male attention and early pregnancy but has severe health consequences, including breast anomalies, pain, and psychological trauma. Organizations like RENATA are fighting against it through education and sexual health awareness. The prevalence has decreased from 25% to 12% between 2006 and 2013, and the Cameroonian penal code may soon criminalize the practice.