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Tuesday, September 27 2022

TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné and QatarEnergy CEO Saad Sherida al-Kaabi at the signing of the partnership agreement for the North Field East project in Doha, Qatar, on 12 June 2022. © Imad Creidi/Reuters

Spotlight

AFRICA Energy

TotalEnergies and ENI barter African assets to enter Qatari gas market

The European and US energy giants learnt early on that to gain access to QatarEnergy's huge gas projects they would have to include the Qatari company in all their African and Latin American deals. [...]

AFRICA

Palace intrigues: Emmanuel Macron, Nana Akufo-Addo, Laurent Gbagbo, Sylvie Baïpo-Temon

GUINEA Mining

Robert Friedland's discreet meetings with Guinea coup leader Doumbouya

DRC Mining

Fortunat Biselele and Theophas Mahuku, the men behind miner Sud South's dizzying rise

CONGO Energy

IMF recommendations on conflicts of interest spell trouble for oil ministry

ETHIOPIA

Addis-Ababa tries to reassure investors as fighting in Tigray surges

From left to right and clockwise: the outgoing governor of Mombasa, Ali Hassan Joho; MP Esther Passaris; one of the leading figures in the interior counties, Kalonzo Musyoka; Senator Edwin Sifuna. © Noé Michalon/Africa Intelligence

KENYA

Odinga presidential defeat sparks turf wars in his former strongholds

Kenya's western and coastal regions have provided long-standing support for opposition leader Raila Odinga. But after his latest failed presidential bid, they are now the scene of local power struggles. Some of his erstwhile followers have defected or formed new parties. [...]

EGYPT SOUTH SUDAN Infrastructures

Egyptian moves on White Nile waters divide South Sudanese leaders

SOUTH AFRICA BRAZIL

Brazil names new Cape Town consul to appease South Africa after Bolsonaro gaffe

news in brief

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC |FRANCE |Defence

Rwandan army and MINUSCA in the running to take over M'Poko base

IVORY COAST |Infrastructures

Ivory Coast gives up on second Abidjan metro line

ALGERIA

Issad Rebrab back in hotseat

SOUTH AFRICA FRANCE

Who is on the shortlist to be France's next ambassador to South Africa?

Since mid-September, the French foreign ministry has been studying applications from those in the running to be France's next ambassador to South Africa. [...]

The Continent

UNITED STATES Politics Diplomacy 21/09/2022

US diplomat Dana Banks to run US-Africa summit

The Biden administration's main adviser on Africa, US diplomat Dana Banks, will be in charge of the second US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, scheduled for mid-December. [...]

AFRICA CAMEROON EGYPT GUINEA ZIMBABWE Politics Business 21/09/2022

The new guard: Guinea, Cameroon, Egypt and Zimbabwe

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence reveals the next generation of movers and shakers in business and politics. This week: Moussa Moise Sylla (Guinea), Guy Gweth (Cameroon), Rami El-Dokany (Egypte) and Joana Mamombe (Zimbabwe). [...]

AFRICA Politics Diplomacy 20/09/2022

Palace intrigues: Emmanuel Macron, George Weah, François Hollande, DSK and Antoine Cesareo

Intrigues big and small... Every Tuesday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond. This week: Macron and Bazoum dined; Weah seeks Harris; Hollande's billionaire-sponsored PR trip; DSK back in Africa; Cesareo, Houphouët-Boigny-era master builder, passes away. [...]

All articles on Africa

Eastern Africa and the Horn

SOMALIA Politics Diplomacy 26/09/2022

Somali officials apologise to ousted UN envoy Haysom in political ploy

The South African diplomat Fink Haysom was declared persona non grata in Somalia by the former president Farmajo in 2019. Some regional officials have now apologised to him, in an apparent ploy to undermine South West state president Abdiaziz Laftagareen. [...]

KENYA Politics 26/09/2022

Ruto forges delicate balance between politicians and technocrats

The new Kenyan president's administration is having trouble finding enough experts to put his programme into action but also needs to meet the demands of his political allies. [...]

News In Brief

FRANCE |KENYA 16/09/2022

Top French auditor helps Nairobi tackle corruption

AFRICA |UNITED NATIONS 15/09/2022

African high up agenda of France's Security Council presidency

SUDAN 14/09/2022

Foreign ministry appoints new Africa expert

EAST AFRICA FRANCE KENYA Diplomacy 23/09/2022

Macron keen to do business with Ruto

President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Kenya in 2019. © Thomas Mukoya/Reuters

UGANDA Energy Commodity traders 23/09/2022

Museveni fears fuel shortage after turning down Russian oil

Under pressure from the United States, Uganda has declined to import fuel from Russia, but its reserves are now getting dangerously low. [...]

BURUNDI Politics 22/09/2022

President and former PM take their battle to the pulpits Free

Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiyeni and his former prime minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni. © Evrard Ngendakumana/Reuters / Guven Yilmaz/Anadolu Agency via AFP

All Eastern Africa and the Horn articles

Southern Africa and islands

SOUTH AFRICA Politics Diplomacy 26/09/2022

Ramaphosa takes active stance against Africa's "Anti-Russia bill" on Washington trip

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met his US counterpart Joe Biden in Washington on 16 September 2022. © Pete Marovich - Pool via CNP/picture alliance / Consolidated News Photos/Newscom/MaxPPP

MOZAMBIQUE Mining 26/09/2022

Former first lady's cousin moves into gemstones

Jose Eduardo Dai, who has long played a key role in the Guebuza family's mining business, is launching a new company to exploit gems in northern Mozambique. [...]

News In Brief

MOZAMBIQUE 23/09/2022

Serdar Karliev expands his mineral sand interests

ANGOLA 22/09/2022

Oil minister gives official approval to Somoil's acquisitions in blocks 14 and 14T

MOZAMBIQUE |RWANDA 22/09/2022

EU to send €20m to support Rwandan war effort in Cabo Delgado

Angolan president João Lourenço (right) and vice president Esperanca Maria Eduardo Francisco da Costa. © Ampe Rogerio/EPA/MaxPPP

Inner circles

ANGOLA Politics 23/09/2022

Lourenço banks on feminising MPLA in his second term

SOUTHERN AFRICA PORTUGAL Politics 22/09/2022

Portugal overhauls its Africa policy team

The Portuguese foreign ministry has decided to overhaul its entire Africa department just months after its first change of boss since 2015. [...]

MOZAMBIQUE Defence Mining 21/09/2022

After security and gas, Rwanda sees graphite opportunities in Cabo Delgado

Rwandan army and police personnel boarded a plane for Mozambique in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda, on July 10, 2021. © Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua News Agency/Newscom/MaxPPP

All Southern Africa and islands articles

West Africa

AFRICA Politics Diplomacy 26/09/2022

AU Peace and Security Commissioner Bankole Adeoye sends angry letter of reproach to his staff

Nigerian Ambassador to the African Union Bankole Adeoye. © Thomas Imo/photothek.de via www.imago-images.de/Reuters

BURKINA FASO FRANCE Defence Diplomacy 26/09/2022

France to provide Burkina Faso with military and financial support

While France has just completed its withdrawal from Mali, Paris is preparing to provide nearly €15m in budgetary aid to Ouagadougou. It is also considering a military support programme to strengthen Burkina Faso's armed forces as they face increased threats from Islamist militant groups. [...]

News In Brief

NIGERIA 26/09/2022

Nigeria wins round in battle against P&ID shareholder

AFRICA |FRANCE 23/09/2022

Who will be France's new head of defence cooperation?

IVORY COAST 22/09/2022

NSIA Banque sells head office to Plateau city council for €21m

BENIN RWANDA Defence Diplomacy 23/09/2022

Rwanda firms up its plans for military support

Revealed by Africa Intelligence, the new military accord between Kigali and Cotonou that is in the process of being finalised should see Rwandan soldiers being deployed to Benin in the near future, with a particular focus on supporting Benin's special forces in the north of the country. [...]

Spotlight

BURKINA FASO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES GUINEA RUSSIA Mining 23/09/2022

Nordgold gets creative to refine its African gold in the Emirates

Alexei Mordashov, Nordgold's main shareholder, has been targeted by European sanctions. © Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

GUINEA Diplomacy 23/09/2022

Doumbouya tightens his diplomatic belt

The leader of the transition recently tasked his foreign minister with reviewing the performance of Guinea's diplomatic representatives abroad, his aim being to improve the efficiency of the country's embassies. [...]

All West Africa articles

Central Africa

CAMEROON Diplomacy 26/09/2022

NW/SW: Cameroon's government takes small steps towards the secessionists

Cameroonian President Paul Biya met with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis in early September to discuss the NW/SW crisis. © AMR Alfiky/Reuters//Stephane Lemouton/Pool/Abacapress.com/Reuters

GABON Finance 26/09/2022

Dismissed in Libreville in its dispute with Orabank, Titane Constructions turns to the CCJA

For two years, the company Titane Constructions has been seeking compensation after the public auction of a piece of land valued at nearly €20m by the bank Orabank. The matter has been referred to the Ohada Common Court of Justice and Arbitration. [...]

News In Brief

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 23/09/2022

Wagner's phantom reinforcements

DRC 22/09/2022

Kinshasa launches audit of petroleum products as fuel shortage kicks in

DRC 21/09/2022

Congolese lieutenant-general Philémon Yav accused of colluding with Kigali

CHAD Politics 23/09/2022

Shadowy presidential advisers implicated in Mahamat Zene Chérif's resignation

Former Chadian foreign minister Mahamat Zene Chérif. © Ibraheem Al Omari/Reuters

DRC Mining 23/09/2022

Louis Watum attempts to defuse local tensions in Kipushi

The project to resurrect the zinc and copper mine is only just getting started, but frictions with local communities over recruitment have already necessitated the intervention of Robert Friedland's trusted lieutenant in the DRC. [...]

CONGO Politics 22/09/2022

Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso loses ground in Brazzaville

Despite considerable self-promotion efforts, the international cooperation minister is struggling to find his place within a government where he has managed to irk several ministers. His public-private partnership law has just been rejected by his father, the Congolese president, who keeps him at a safe distance from presidential affairs. [...]

All Central Africa articles

North Africa

NORTH AFRICA ALGERIA Infrastructures 26/09/2022

China's CRCC in Algiers' bad books over East-West motorway delays

The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) is at odds with the Algerian authorities over the delivery of the road linking Bejaia to the East-West motorway. With many hurdles hampering the works, the road may well end up taking several more years to complete. [...]

ALGERIA Infrastructures 23/09/2022

Bejaia port extension to resume after 5-year hiatus

Algeria's second biggest port, which is set to play a crucial role in a number of industrial and mining projects, is to relaunch the extension project it began in 2017. Five new quays are to be built and China's CHEC has been contacted for the dredging of the port's existing docks. [...]

News In Brief

NORTH AFRICA |GERMANY |TUNISIA 26/09/2022

Tunisian intelligence specialist appointed Military Attaché in Berlin

LIBYA 22/09/2022

New Libyan defence attaché Gibril Shtiwi Mohamed finds his feet in Paris

TUNISIA 21/09/2022

Pentagon strengthens ties with the army despite the diplomatic crisis

EGYPT FRANCE Politics Diplomacy 23/09/2022

Senate president due in Paris to revive Franco-Egyptian friendship group

The upper house of the Egyptian parliament was dissolved in 2013 but was re-established by President Sisi after the 2019 constitutional referendum. The formation of a bi-national group would further enhance the already strong relationship between the two countries. [...]

Spotlight

ALGERIA Diplomacy 22/09/2022

Tebboune shakes up his secret services

Director of the DGSE Bernard Emie, French Armies Minister Sebastien Lecornu, French President Emmanuel Macron and French Chief of the Defence Staff General Thierry Burkhard, attend a lunch with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (2nd R) and Algerian generals at the presidential residence in Zeralda on 26 August 2022, during an official visit to Algeria. © Ludovic MARIN/Pool/AFP

MOROCCO Politics Diplomacy 22/09/2022

Crown prince Moulay Hassan gets first taste of life in royal cabinet

Crown prince Moulay Hassan with his father, Moroccan King Mohammed VI, and his uncle Prince Moulay Rachid (right). © AFP/Moroccan National Press Agency

All North Africa articles

Read also

GHANA Commodity traders 22/09/2022

Cocobod grapples with cocoa farmers' associations

Communications between the cocoa sector regulator and the main bean producer organisations have become strained. The latter reproach the public body for not consulting them, particularly on the re-evaluation of the on-farm price, unchanged since 2019. [...]

BENIN FRANCE Defence 22/09/2022

Benin's security chiefs negotiate military support plan in Paris

Bertin Bada, President Patrice Talon's chief of military staff, met senior colleagues of French army chief General Thierry Burkhard in Paris in mid-September. Talks are in progress on military equipment purchases and a plan to set up a Beninese government arms procurement service. [...]

AFRICA FRANCE Defence 21/09/2022

Senator Morozov, Moscow's go-to PR rep in Africa for Putin, Russian business and the FSB

The all-powerful Niger Delta leaders at the heart of the country's oil and political crises

Africa in the Russia-Ukraine war

Chad post-Idriss Deby: the big unknown

Transition in Guinea: what's next after the coup?

Tuesday, September 27 2022

TotalEnergies and ENI barter African assets to enter Qatari gas market

Palace intrigues: Emmanuel Macron, Nana Akufo-Addo, Laurent Gbagbo, Sylvie Baïpo-Temon

Robert Friedland's discreet meetings with Guinea coup leader Doumbouya

Fortunat Biselele and Theophas Mahuku, the men behind miner Sud South's dizzying rise

IMF recommendations on conflicts of interest spell trouble for oil ministry

Addis-Ababa tries to reassure investors as fighting in Tigray surges

Odinga presidential defeat sparks turf wars in his former strongholds

Egyptian moves on White Nile waters divide South Sudanese leaders

Brazil names new Cape Town consul to appease South Africa after Bolsonaro gaffe

Rwandan army and MINUSCA in the running to take over M'Poko base

Ivory Coast gives up on second Abidjan metro line

Issad Rebrab back in hotseat

Who is on the shortlist to be France's next ambassador to South Africa?

In Focus

Senator Morozov, Moscow's go-to PR rep in Africa for Putin, Russian business and the FSB

The all-powerful Niger Delta leaders at the heart of the country's oil and political crises

Dobékréo, the battle-hardened general dispatched to softly crush secessionists

Senator Morozov, Moscow's go-to PR rep in Africa for Putin, Russian business and the FSB

The all-powerful Niger Delta leaders at the heart of the country's oil and political crises

Dobékréo, the battle-hardened general dispatched to softly crush secessionists

The Continent

US diplomat Dana Banks to run US-Africa summit

The new guard: Guinea, Cameroon, Egypt and Zimbabwe

Palace intrigues: Emmanuel Macron, George Weah, François Hollande, DSK and Antoine Cesareo

Free Articles

Manuel Domingos Augusto makes strong MPLA comeback

How key ANC body steers South Africa's foreign policy

Turkey's armed drones make third Sahel conquest

Manuel Domingos Augusto makes strong MPLA comeback

How key ANC body steers South Africa's foreign policy

Turkey's armed drones make third Sahel conquest

Eastern Africa and the Horn

Somali officials apologise to ousted UN envoy Haysom in political ploy

Ruto forges delicate balance between politicians and technocrats

Top French auditor helps Nairobi tackle corruption

African high up agenda of France's Security Council presidency

Foreign ministry appoints new Africa expert

Macron keen to do business with Ruto

Museveni fears fuel shortage after turning down Russian oil

President and former PM take their battle to the pulpits Free

Southern Africa and islands

Ramaphosa takes active stance against Africa's "Anti-Russia bill" on Washington trip

Former first lady's cousin moves into gemstones

Serdar Karliev expands his mineral sand interests

Oil minister gives official approval to Somoil's acquisitions in blocks 14 and 14T

EU to send €20m to support Rwandan war effort in Cabo Delgado

Lourenço banks on feminising MPLA in his second term

Portugal overhauls its Africa policy team

After security and gas, Rwanda sees graphite opportunities in Cabo Delgado

West Africa

AU Peace and Security Commissioner Bankole Adeoye sends angry letter of reproach to his staff

France to provide Burkina Faso with military and financial support

Nigeria wins round in battle against P&ID shareholder

Who will be France's new head of defence cooperation?

NSIA Banque sells head office to Plateau city council for €21m

Rwanda firms up its plans for military support

Nordgold gets creative to refine its African gold in the Emirates

Doumbouya tightens his diplomatic belt

Central Africa

NW/SW: Cameroon's government takes small steps towards the secessionists

Dismissed in Libreville in its dispute with Orabank, Titane Constructions turns to the CCJA

Wagner's phantom reinforcements

Kinshasa launches audit of petroleum products as fuel shortage kicks in

Congolese lieutenant-general Philémon Yav accused of colluding with Kigali

Shadowy presidential advisers implicated in Mahamat Zene Chérif's resignation

Louis Watum attempts to defuse local tensions in Kipushi

Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso loses ground in Brazzaville

North Africa

China's CRCC in Algiers' bad books over East-West motorway delays

Bejaia port extension to resume after 5-year hiatus

Tunisian intelligence specialist appointed Military Attaché in Berlin

New Libyan defence attaché Gibril Shtiwi Mohamed finds his feet in Paris

Pentagon strengthens ties with the army despite the diplomatic crisis

Senate president due in Paris to revive Franco-Egyptian friendship group