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Friday, November 25 2022

Spotlight

Pfizer, Ooredoo and Shell mull Tunisia exodus as business climate deteriorates Free

A swathe of foreign firms are wondering whether it is worth staying on in Tunisia. The deteriorating business climate and difficulties in repatriating profits is making exodus an increasingly attractive option. [...]

SOUTH AFRICA Finance

Washington hot on trail of Islamic State's financial networks

KENYA Infrastructure

Kibaki family's new town dreams

The family of the former Kenyan president, who died this April, are actively working on a project to build a modest new town near Nakuru, with site plans due to be unveiled in early 2023. [...]

Inner circles

CAMEROON Defence

General Meka contends with rival army command structures

FRANCE MOROCCO

New leader for Franco-Moroccan MP friendship group

FRANCE RWANDA Defence

French military intelligence chief set for Kigali visit

WEST AFRICA

Jessica Davis Ba's posting to Abidjan as US ambassador delayed

CAMEROON

Struggling Globeleq opts for redundancies

The imminent opening of the Nachtigal dam is going to be a major blow to the electricity producer Globeleq, which operates the power plants of Kribi and Dibamba. Already owed enormous sums by its sole client Eneo, the company believes it has no choice but to lay off staff. [...]

news in brief

ETHIOPIA

US-based lobbyists pressure AU over Oromia conflict

ANGOLA |PORTUGAL

El Watan newspaper facing existential crisis

The Continent

IVORY COAST KENYA SOMALILAND SOUTH AFRICA Mining Politics Business 23/11/2022

The New Guard: Ivory Coast, Kenya, South Africa, Somaliland Free

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence reveals the next generation of movers and shakers in business and politics. This week: Myriam Carius (Ivory Coast), Fred Ogola (Kenya), Trudi Makhaya (South Africa), Adan Abbey (Somaliland). [...]

BURKINA FASO CONGO EQUATORIAL GUINEA GUINEA BISSAU IVORY COAST Diplomacy 22/11/2022

Palace intrigues: Alassane Ouattara, Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Aristides Gomès, Omar Denis Bongo Junior

Intrigues big and small... Every Tuesday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond. This week: Ouattara wary of the Burkinabe PM; Arlette Soudan-Nonault overdoes it; Aristides Gomès turns to France; Omar Denis Junior Bongo in Malabo to support Teodoro Obiang. [...]

Spotlight

AFRICA ITALY Diplomacy 18/11/2022

Giorgia Meloni's Africa policy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. © Gehad Hamdy/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom/MaxPPP

All articles on Africa

Eastern Africa and the Horn

ETHIOPIA Mining 24/11/2022

Addis goes for gold

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA - MAY 06: Ethiopia Minister for Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas Takele Uma in Addis Ababa, on 6 May 2022. © Minasse Wondimu Hailu / Anadolu Agency via AFP

KENYA Politics 23/11/2022

Odinga and Kenyatta's favours to family members exasperate their allies

Former president Uhuru Kenyatta (2013-2022) with his designated but defeated © Noé Michalon/Africa Intelligence

News In Brief

DJIBOUTI 24/11/2022

US military solutions expert Vectrus arrives in Djibouti

DJIBOUTI 22/11/2022

Monaco's business elite to meet in Djibouti

EUROPEAN UNION |MOZAMBIQUE |RWANDA 18/11/2022

Kigali poised to receive €20m from EU to fund its military intervention in Cabo Delgado

TANZANIA Mining 23/11/2022

Dar es Salaam banks on Williamson mine to develop diamond industry

British firm Petra Diamonds wants to gradually reduce its 63% stake in the country's leading diamond site. The Tanzanian government, meanwhile, is planning to change its tax system to encourage local trading and cutting of precious stones. [...]

Spotlight

KENYA Infrastructure 22/11/2022

Under pressure from Beijing, Ruto reveals little about mammoth rail contract

The Monbasa terminal on the Kenyan coast, June 2017. © Pan Siwei / Xinhua

ETHIOPIA HORN OF AFRICA Diplomacy 22/11/2022

Gulf and Asian countries keep a close eye on African and Western mediation in the Horn

With or without special envoys, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China and Japan have ordered their diplomats to monitor the conflict and peace talks in Tigray closely. [...]

All Eastern Africa and the Horn articles

Southern Africa and islands

MOZAMBIQUE Energy 24/11/2022

TotalEnergies resumes tender process for Afungi works

Although security remains precarious in Cabo Delgado province, the French major appears to be ready to revive its vast Mozambique LNG project. [...]

MADAGASCAR Mining 24/11/2022

New mining code project sparks political and economic wrangling

The new text, an electoral promise of Andry Rajoelina, would significantly increase taxation in the sector in Madagascar. It is due to go through cabinet shortly, but is bitterly contested within the government and is likely to spark an outcry from the Chamber of Mines. [...]

News In Brief

MADAGASCAR 21/11/2022

Egypt's EGAAD consortium to build new motorway and invest in local medicine production

MOZAMBIQUE 17/11/2022

Fura Gems to hunt for rubies in Niassa national park

AFRICA 14/11/2022

Three more countries join continent's club of oil states

SOUTH AFRICA Business 24/11/2022

Insurer Sanlam prioritises Kenya, Egypt and Nigeria

Counting on its partnership with German firm Allianz, the financial services specialist Sanlam is continuing to expand its presence on the African continent. Its first target is East Africa. [...]

BOTSWANA Mining 23/11/2022

Interest in Makgadikgadi lithium surges

Mining investors have been looking to Africa's largest salt flat, the Makgadikgadi Pan in north-eastern Botswana, for its untapped lithium potential. Gaborone has issued several exploration permits to newcomers in recent months. [...]

SOUTH AFRICA Finance 23/11/2022

Bpifrance sets out to conquer Southern Africa

A delegation from the French state investment bank will visit Johannesburg this month with a view to opening a regional office there. The South African economic capital is also favoured to host the bank's new Africa department, with a launch planned for January. [...]

All Southern Africa and islands articles

West Africa

AFRICA FRANCE Diplomacy 25/11/2022

French Foreign Affairs prepares to launch online video platform

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre. © Abacapress

Spotlight

NIGERIA Politics 24/11/2022

Kano State shaping up as key battleground of 2023 presidential election

An All Progressives Congress Party (APC) supporter waves a party flag in Kano, on 25 February 2019. © Luis Tato / AFP

News In Brief

SENEGAL 22/11/2022

Arbitration against State of Senegal over Sendou power plant suspended

SAHEL 21/11/2022

French Foreign Office set to name new Sahel Special Envoy

INDIA 21/11/2022

Narendra Modi's team to look into African Union joining G20

LIBERIA Business Diplomacy 24/11/2022

George Weah's political and business road trip

Liberian president George Weah in Paris, in November 2021. © Xose Bouzas / Hans Lucas via Reuters

Spotlight

INDIA SENEGAL Commodity traders 23/11/2022

Macky Sall makes moves as India's rice protectionism puts Dakar on edge

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Senegal's President Macky Sall in Hamburg, northern Germany, on 7 July 2017. © Ludovic Marin/Pool via Reuters

IVORY COAST Business 23/11/2022

Ezzedine family buys Castel's water business in Abidjan for €16.7m

A subsidiary of the Ivorian company Carré d'Or, controlled by the influential Ezzedine family, is buying the mineral water business of the Société de Limonaderies et de Brasseries d'Afrique, a subsidiary of French group Castel. [...]

All West Africa articles

Central Africa

DRC Mining Politics 24/11/2022

Ivanhoe loses arbitration against Tshisekedi's ex-adviser Tshimanga

The Canadian mining giant had initiated arbitration against Vidiye Tshimanga's firm Cobamin over the aborted sale of prospecting licences for south-eastern DRC, but billionaire Robert Friedland's company lost its case in September. [...]

EQUATORIAL GUINEA Diplomacy 23/11/2022

Malabo's ambassador to Paris set to move to Brussels (and vice versa)

After eight years representing Equatorial Guinea in France, where the "ill-gotten gains" saga took up much of his time, Miguel Oyono Ndong Mifumu is soon due to head up his country's embassy in Belgium. [...]

News In Brief

CONGO 24/11/2022

Coris Bank to set up shop in Brazzaville?

CENTRAL AFRICA |CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC |RUSSIA 23/11/2022

Discreet Touadéra adviser key to arrival of BRICS in Central Africa

DRC 22/11/2022

M23 clashes complicate voter enrolment process

DRC Energy Mining 22/11/2022

The Congolese private sector's race to make up for the mining industry's electricity deficit

They call themselves the "Musketeers". Well-known in the Congolese business community, this small group of businessmen is launching a wide range of projects in the electricity sector. [...]

CAMEROON Infrastructure Energy 21/11/2022

Why Exxon and Petronas sought arbitration with Yaoundé over Chad-Cameroon pipeline

Technicians at an oil pipeline in Badila, Chad, 9 June 2013. © Brahim Adji/AFP

CHAD Diplomacy 18/11/2022

Succès Masra derails Doha-N'Djamena relations

Tchadian opponent Succès Masra. © Marco Longari/AFP

All Central Africa articles

North Africa

EGYPT Business 24/11/2022

Cairo returns to Arab media arena with Al-Qahera News

United Media Services, owned by Egypt's intelligence services, has launched an Arabic-language rolling news channel. President Sisi and his Saudi ally intend to use the channel to influence Arab public opinion. [...]

LIBYA Business 24/11/2022

Swiss court upholds $1.5m fine on businessman Mohamed Ghanem

Fined heavily by a Swiss court, Ghanem has made a name for himself in Bahrain, where he is on good terms with the authorities. [...]

News In Brief

LIBYA 24/11/2022

French pharmaceutical delegation to visit Tripoli

ALGERIA |FRANCE 24/11/2022

Foreign ministry wins battle over French consul general in Algiers

LIBYA 21/11/2022

Brussels wants to boost cross-border cooperation between Tripoli and Sahel states

EGYPT Diplomacy 23/11/2022

Egyptian diplomats set for heavy cuts

Egypt's government has launched an initiative to reduce the diplomatic corps' budget. Public spending is on the line as the state's debt grows amid the war in Ukraine. [...]

EGYPT Infrastructure Energy 23/11/2022

Greek group Copelouzos leads race to connect Egypt to EU electricity grid

Two Greek companies are competing to connect Egypt to the supergrid of the European Union, which is keen to diversify its energy suppliers. Of the two, Copelouzos Group is Egypt's favourite. [...]

LIBYA Politics 22/11/2022

Dabaiba loses support in Misrata

The Prime Minister quietly travelled to Misrata to seek support from several important local figures, to project his position, currently under threat. [...]

All North Africa articles

On Twitter

See all tweets from Africa Intelligence

Africa Intelligence
@Africa_In_EN . 25/11

The head of the French military intelligence Jacques Langlade de Montgros will visit Kigali in late November. #Rwanda https://t.co/vV9ZxSskb6

Africa Intelligence
@Africa_In_EN . 25/11

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the #US Senate is not expected to before January at the earliest to approve the appointment Richard Bell's successor in Abidjan, Jessica Davis Ba, a former adviser to @VP Kamala Harris. #IvoryCaost https://t.co/KM3fNAoJZP

Africa Intelligence
@Africa_In_EN . 25/11

The opening of the Nachtigal dam will be a major blow to the electricity producer @GlobeleqC, which operates the power plants of #Kribi and #Dibamba. It believes it has no choice but to lay off staff. #Cameroon https://t.co/8p5GtK5sPW

See all tweets from Africa Intelligence

Read also

MOZAMBIQUE Defence 21/11/2022

From Madagascar to Cabo Delgado, the nine lives of Sofema's CN-235 plane

A CN-235 troop transport aircraft sold in 2019 by Sofema to Madagascar has just been delivered in new livery to Mozambique by Paramount. It will be deployed in the fight against Islamist insurgents in Cabo Delgado. [...]

SENEGAL Commodity traders 18/11/2022

Dakar set to revitalise groundnut industry

The economic outlook is on the up for the groundnut sector, a key component of Senegalese agriculture, and the government has decided to give a financial boost to Sonacos, the state company run by Modou Diagne Fada, so that it can take full advantage. [...]

SOMALIA Politics 18/11/2022

Moagadishu's budgetary headache in face of dual threat of al-Shabaab and drought

With drought hitting the country hard, Somalia is facing a major contraction of its revenues. But its security requirements have not diminished. [...]

GHANA Defence 18/11/2022

Ghana army kept waiting for UkrSpecSystems drones

Ghana's armed forces are bearing the consequences of the war in Ukraine. They ordered 10 VTOL drones from UkrSpecSystems for an estimated €15m that have yet to be delivered. [...]

DRC Politics 17/11/2022

How Tshisekedi once tried to negotiate M23 surrender with a million dollars Free

From October 2020 until late 2021, the Tshisekedi administration hosted a delegation of senior members of the M23 rebel group in Kinshasa. Tasked with negotiating the terms of their surrender, the ex-deputy prime minister Gilbert Kankonde Malamba requested a fund of $1. [...]

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Billion-dollar deal paranoia unnerves shaky Abidjan-Bamako relations

From Bolloré to Arise, Axelcium is the low-profile privateer central to African mega-deals

Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare

Finance and security, the main vehicles of Kagame's diplomacy

The Sahel threatened by a jihadist tornado

Friday, November 25 2022

Pfizer, Ooredoo and Shell mull Tunisia exodus as business climate deteriorates Free

Washington hot on trail of Islamic State's financial networks

Kibaki family's new town dreams

General Meka contends with rival army command structures

New leader for Franco-Moroccan MP friendship group

French military intelligence chief set for Kigali visit

Jessica Davis Ba's posting to Abidjan as US ambassador delayed

Struggling Globeleq opts for redundancies

US-based lobbyists pressure AU over Oromia conflict

Nelson Duarte de Matos appointed honorary consul in Cabinda

Bpifrance ready to help Eiffage develop rice production

Civilian fleet feels the heat from European port authorities

El Watan newspaper facing existential crisis

In Focus

Billion-dollar deal paranoia unnerves shaky Abidjan-Bamako relations

From Bolloré to Arise, Axelcium is the low-profile privateer central to African mega-deals

Former warlord Roger Lumbala's dangerous liaisons with Tshisekedi clan

Billion-dollar deal paranoia unnerves shaky Abidjan-Bamako relations

From Bolloré to Arise, Axelcium is the low-profile privateer central to African mega-deals

Former warlord Roger Lumbala's dangerous liaisons with Tshisekedi clan

The Continent

The New Guard: Ivory Coast, Kenya, South Africa, Somaliland Free

Palace intrigues: Alassane Ouattara, Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Aristides Gomès, Omar Denis Bongo Junior

Giorgia Meloni's Africa policy

Free Articles

How Tshisekedi once tried to negotiate M23 surrender with a million dollars

Sonangol sticks to refinery ambitions amid delays and funding shortfalls

Communications between N'Djamena and Doha break down

How Tshisekedi once tried to negotiate M23 surrender with a million dollars

Sonangol sticks to refinery ambitions amid delays and funding shortfalls

Communications between N'Djamena and Doha break down

Eastern Africa and the Horn

Addis goes for gold

Odinga and Kenyatta's favours to family members exasperate their allies

US military solutions expert Vectrus arrives in Djibouti

Monaco's business elite to meet in Djibouti

Kigali poised to receive €20m from EU to fund its military intervention in Cabo Delgado

Dar es Salaam banks on Williamson mine to develop diamond industry

Under pressure from Beijing, Ruto reveals little about mammoth rail contract

Gulf and Asian countries keep a close eye on African and Western mediation in the Horn

Southern Africa and islands

TotalEnergies resumes tender process for Afungi works

New mining code project sparks political and economic wrangling

Egypt's EGAAD consortium to build new motorway and invest in local medicine production

Fura Gems to hunt for rubies in Niassa national park

Three more countries join continent's club of oil states

Insurer Sanlam prioritises Kenya, Egypt and Nigeria

Interest in Makgadikgadi lithium surges

Bpifrance sets out to conquer Southern Africa

West Africa

French Foreign Affairs prepares to launch online video platform

Kano State shaping up as key battleground of 2023 presidential election

Arbitration against State of Senegal over Sendou power plant suspended

French Foreign Office set to name new Sahel Special Envoy

Narendra Modi's team to look into African Union joining G20

George Weah's political and business road trip

Macky Sall makes moves as India's rice protectionism puts Dakar on edge

Ezzedine family buys Castel's water business in Abidjan for €16.7m

Central Africa

Ivanhoe loses arbitration against Tshisekedi's ex-adviser Tshimanga

Malabo's ambassador to Paris set to move to Brussels (and vice versa)

Coris Bank to set up shop in Brazzaville?

Discreet Touadéra adviser key to arrival of BRICS in Central Africa

M23 clashes complicate voter enrolment process

The Congolese private sector's race to make up for the mining industry's electricity deficit

Why Exxon and Petronas sought arbitration with Yaoundé over Chad-Cameroon pipeline

Succès Masra derails Doha-N'Djamena relations

North Africa

Cairo returns to Arab media arena with Al-Qahera News

Swiss court upholds $1.5m fine on businessman Mohamed Ghanem

French pharmaceutical delegation to visit Tripoli

Foreign ministry wins battle over French consul general in Algiers

Brussels wants to boost cross-border cooperation between Tripoli and Sahel states

Egyptian diplomats set for heavy cuts