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Congo

TotalEnergies joins probe into Commisimpex arbitration

Launched in 2021, the judiciary investigation into potential corruption behind the arbitration that validated the company's €1bn claim against the Republic of Congo has been bolstered by a new heavyweight. The French oil major has just joined the proceedings as a civil party.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 20.02.2026

Defence and security think tank set up in Brazzaville

The CAS-RC think tan has been set up as part of the country's drive to strengthen its digital capabilities and will begin it's first workshops in May.

Subscribers only Defence 13.02.2026

Sassou-Nguesso whips up an extra-large campaign team

Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso in Brazzaville in August 2025. © Benoît Doppagne/Belga/AFP

Subscribers only Politics 11.02.2026

Unable to get paid, Swiss multinational SGS exits the country

Global specialist in inspection and certification Société Générale de Surveillance is withdrawing from Congo-Brazzaville. This is due to repeated difficulties in obtaining payment from public authorities, such as with the Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo.

Subscribers only Energy 11.02.2026

Oligui Nguema convinces Sassou-Nguesso to repatriate oil revenues

At the CEMAC heads of state conference, the Gabonese and Congolese presidents agreed to guarantee the economic stability of the region and avoid a devaluation of the CFA franc.

Subscribers only Finance 29.01.2026

Dangote solicits Sassou-Nguesso's support for mining project

Aliko Dangote, in Doha, on 6 December 2025. © Noushad Thekkayil/Imago/Reuters

Subscribers only Mining 26.01.2026

Faye prepares official visit to Brazzaville

The Senegalese president plans to visit Congo in early February at the invitation of his counterpart Denis Sassou-Nguesso. Several strategic issues are expected to be discussed during the trip.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 26.01.2026

Guterres parts ways with special representative for the region

The head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa will not be reappointed at the end of his term, which expires next month. The Nigerien diplomat has been weakened by an internal investigation into alleged acts of "sexual exploitation and abuse".

Subscribers only Diplomacy 23.01.2026

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, in New York, 17 December 2025.

Brazzavile finally wins arbitration against Sundance over Nabeba iron ore project

The International Chamber of Commerce in London has delivered a long-awaited ruling in favour of Congo in the matter of the iron ore project on the border with Cameroon. It comes nearly five years after the case was brought.

Subscribers only Mining 23.01.2026

Fragmented campaign set-up for presidential elections

Weakened by internal divisions and palace infighting, President Denis Sassou-Nguesso's campaign is being prepared without, for the time being, calling on major international communications agencies.

Subscribers only Politics 20.01.2026

Minister of Transport vetoes opening of new ECAir regional routes

The relaunch of the national airline's activities has met with strong resistance at the Ministry of Transport.

Subscribers only Business 07.01.2026

Sassou fine-tunes his campaign team

With four months to go before the presidential election, the head of state is relying on the Parti Congolais du Travail, which is holding its congress at the end of December, and on a small circle of loyalists, while dealing with tensions within his clan.

Subscribers only Politics 11.12.2025

Brazzaville misses out on joining the UNESCO World Heritage Committee

After Firmin Edouard Matoko's defeat for the director-general role at the UN institution, Congo suffers another setback in not being elected to the heritage committee.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 09.12.2025

Discussions on funding for mining and oil site restoration reach impasse

Despite years of discussions, the BEAC still hasn't managed to reach an agreement with extractive industries representatives. Negotiations are stalling over the sensitive issue of repatriating funds to the CFA franc zone for the restoration of mining and oil sites.

Subscribers only Energy, Mining 25.11.2025

Sassou-NGuesso calls on Blackstone and Morgan Stanley to launch his eurobond

The $670m bond issued on the international markets in early November is helping the state reduce refinancing pressure on the regional market in the short term.

Subscribers only Finance 21.11.2025

President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso in Beijing, on 4 September 2025.

Spotlight
IMF programmes jeopardized by Gabon's public deficit

Gabon's debt is destabilising the CFA franc zone and posing a direct threat to the International Monetary Fund's programmes with Chad and the Central African Republic. However, during a recent visit to Libreville, the international institution's director for Africa said he was open to discussions with Gabon.

Subscribers only Finance 19.11.2025

IMF African Department Director Abebe Aemro Selassie (right) during the organisation's annual meetings, Washington, October 2024.

Spotlight
Scuppered acquisition spares Lukoil and Gunvor headaches in Africa

Gunvor has finally abandoned its bid to acquire the Russian oil company, which has a strong E&P and trading presence in Africa. The transaction would not have gone down well in several sub-Saharan countries.

Subscribers only Energy 10.11.2025

SNPC's expansion into gas exasperates Ministry of Hydrocarbons

The establishment of a new "gas and new energies" division within the national oil company is perceived internally as a move to favour the SNPC at the expense of its supervisory ministry.

Subscribers only Energy, Politics 20.10.2025

Spotlight
Corruption probe into Commisimpex arbitration gathers pace

The French judicial probe over possible corruption in an arbitration that in 2013 validated Commisimpex's claim for more than €1bn against the Republic of Congo, has been expanded to include charges of organised fraud and use of forged documents.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 15.10.2025

Plaque at the entrance of the International Chamber of Commerce, in Paris.

The Treasury quietly reschedules its debts again

As the year draws to a close, Congo once more faces several repayment deadlines with its creditors. The Ministry of Finance, which has managed to reschedule almost €600m, is negotiating further deferrals.

Subscribers only Finance 13.10.2025

António Guterres looks for his new regional representative

UNOCA remains in turmoil and its head is the subject of an internal investigation for alleged sexual exploitation. At the United Nations headquarters in New York, the teams of Secretary-General António Guterres are seeking a solution and a replacement to lead the bureau.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 10.10.2025

UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York, 23 September 2025.

Spotlight
Mercuria backs SNPC on M'Boundi oil field

The Geneva-based trader has lent the national oil company the funds needed to purchase the stake previously held by ENI. However, Mercuria's involvement goes beyond this financial transaction.

Subscribers only Energy 09.10.2025

Sassou-Nguesso's last chance saloon campaign for UNESCO leadership

The head of state is personally involved in Firmin Edouard Matoko's candidacy for the head of UNESCO. Brazzaville has hired an American communications agency to help him in his mission.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 30.09.2025

Congo Grand Lodge holds AGM

On 18 October the freemasons of the Congo Grand Lodge will hold their AGM in Brazzaville for the first time in two years, at the invitation of Grand Master Denis Sassou-Nguesso.

Subscribers only Politics 29.09.2025

Secret African clients of former Paris CIA chief revealed

The CIA's French station chief at the start of the 2010s, Dale Bendler, became a consultant while keeping a foot in his former employer's camp. Awaiting sentencing for accessing classified documents for private clients, he worked for many figures active in Africa.

Subscribers only Business 26.09.2025

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Congo

TotalEnergies joins probe into Commisimpex arbitration

Defence and security think tank set up in Brazzaville

Sassou-Nguesso whips up an extra-large campaign team

Unable to get paid, Swiss multinational SGS exits the country

Oligui Nguema convinces Sassou-Nguesso to repatriate oil revenues

Dangote solicits Sassou-Nguesso's support for mining project

Faye prepares official visit to Brazzaville

Guterres parts ways with special representative for the region

Brazzavile finally wins arbitration against Sundance over Nabeba iron ore project

Fragmented campaign set-up for presidential elections

Minister of Transport vetoes opening of new ECAir regional routes

Sassou fine-tunes his campaign team

Brazzaville misses out on joining the UNESCO World Heritage Committee

Discussions on funding for mining and oil site restoration reach impasse

Sassou-NGuesso calls on Blackstone and Morgan Stanley to launch his eurobond

Spotlight
IMF programmes jeopardized by Gabon's public deficit

Spotlight
Scuppered acquisition spares Lukoil and Gunvor headaches in Africa

SNPC's expansion into gas exasperates Ministry of Hydrocarbons

Spotlight
Corruption probe into Commisimpex arbitration gathers pace

The Treasury quietly reschedules its debts again

António Guterres looks for his new regional representative

Spotlight
Mercuria backs SNPC on M'Boundi oil field

Sassou-Nguesso's last chance saloon campaign for UNESCO leadership

Congo Grand Lodge holds AGM

Secret African clients of former Paris CIA chief revealed

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Indigo Publications' websites

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Indigo Publications' websites

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China National Petroleum Corp

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

Congo

TotalEnergies joins probe into Commisimpex arbitration

Defence and security think tank set up in Brazzaville

Sassou-Nguesso whips up an extra-large campaign team

Unable to get paid, Swiss multinational SGS exits the country

Oligui Nguema convinces Sassou-Nguesso to repatriate oil revenues

Dangote solicits Sassou-Nguesso's support for mining project

Faye prepares official visit to Brazzaville

Guterres parts ways with special representative for the region

Brazzavile finally wins arbitration against Sundance over Nabeba iron ore project

Fragmented campaign set-up for presidential elections

Minister of Transport vetoes opening of new ECAir regional routes

Sassou fine-tunes his campaign team

Brazzaville misses out on joining the UNESCO World Heritage Committee

Discussions on funding for mining and oil site restoration reach impasse

Sassou-NGuesso calls on Blackstone and Morgan Stanley to launch his eurobond

Spotlight IMF programmes jeopardized by Gabon's public deficit

Spotlight Scuppered acquisition spares Lukoil and Gunvor headaches in Africa

SNPC's expansion into gas exasperates Ministry of Hydrocarbons

Spotlight Corruption probe into Commisimpex arbitration gathers pace

The Treasury quietly reschedules its debts again

António Guterres looks for his new regional representative

Spotlight Mercuria backs SNPC on M'Boundi oil field

Sassou-Nguesso's last chance saloon campaign for UNESCO leadership

Congo Grand Lodge holds AGM

Secret African clients of former Paris CIA chief revealed

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Spotlight
IMF programmes jeopardized by Gabon's public deficit

Spotlight
Scuppered acquisition spares Lukoil and Gunvor headaches in Africa

Spotlight
Corruption probe into Commisimpex arbitration gathers pace

Spotlight
Mercuria backs SNPC on M'Boundi oil field