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The 2025 East African Community Competition Act introduces expanded public interest considerations into merger control assessments, requiring the EAC Competition Authority to weigh factors beyond pure competition analysis. This development reflects broader African trends in regional competition regimes, raising questions about how public interest concerns interact with traditional antitrust evaluation and when they may override competition-focused findings.

Bahrain's Personal Data Protection Authority has licensed five entities to provide External Data Protection Officer services, creating new compliance options for businesses. This development raises practical questions about when DPO appointment is mandatory, how to choose between internal and external models, and what wider obligations remain under the Personal Data Protection Law.

Bahrain has significantly expanded its SME definition, increasing the medium enterprise threshold to 250 employees or BHD20 million in annual revenue. More businesses can now qualify for SME status, opening access to government support, preferential financing, procurement advantages and programmes designed to help companies grow and expand.