Mental Health Policy: South Africa’s Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi is set to keynote WHO’s East and Southern Africa mental health workshop in Johannesburg, with São Tomé and Príncipe among participating countries expected to produce a rapid mental health landscape analysis ahead of Kigali’s 7th Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit. Maritime Law & Sovereignty: The UN Tribunal for the Law of the Sea awarded just over $14m in compensation over the 2022 seizure of the crude oil tanker Heroic Idun, a case involving violations of navigation and free passage rules tied to actions in São Tomé and Príncipe’s EEZ. EU Fisheries Access: The European Parliament approved renewed EU fisheries agreements with São Tomé and Príncipe, securing continued access for European tuna and longliner fleets in the Gulf of Guinea in exchange for financial contributions aimed at supporting sustainable local marine resource management. Innovation for SIDS: FAO-backed Global AgriInno Challenge 2026 opened applications for agrifood innovators targeting Small Island Developing States, with São Tomé and Príncipe reserved finalist spots and a path to workshops and investor matchmaking in Hangzhou. Regional Health Security: ECSA-HC is intensifying joint Ebola border surveillance and emergency response with partners across East Africa after cases spread from DRC into Uganda, with coordinated preparedness measures relevant to regional cross-border health governance.