Citizenship-by-investment spotlight: São Tomé and Príncipe’s “golden passport” is being marketed as a fast-track route to citizenship, with applications tied to a $90,000 investment plus fees and typically processed in about two months, including options to add dependents and without requiring applicants to live in the country during processing. World Bank leadership: The World Bank Group appointed Juan Carlos Alvarez as Country Manager for Trinidad and Tobago, consolidating oversight across IBRD, IFC and MIGA; Alvarez previously led the World Bank’s engagement with Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. Regional health policy: A World Bank-funded training programme in Dar es Salaam is strengthening how frontline health workers in Eastern and Southern Africa spot chronic disease risks, including São Tomé and Príncipe, by integrating non-communicable disease surveillance into existing field epidemiology training. Currency pressure watch: A report on August 2026 exchange rates lists São Tomé and Príncipe’s dobra among Africa’s weakest currencies, highlighting how dollar-linked weakness can raise import costs and strain household purchasing power. Energy data partnership (regional): French geoscience firm Viridien signed a multi-client subsurface data deal with Senegal’s Petrosen for the MSGBC basin, aiming to improve exploration decision-making and investment appeal.