Norwegian oil service magnates form pack to take on African market

With business tight on their domestic market since the 2014 slump in oil prices, several Norwegian oil services firms owned by local business tycoons have decided to try their hand at developing low cost projects in Africa with their own equipment. [...]

Mahieddine Taleb oversees Sonatrach-Baker Hughes alliance

Mahieddine Taleb, adviser to Sonatrach chairman and chief executive Abdelmoumen Ould Kaddour, is playing an increasingly crucial role. [...]

UAE's strategy to wield regional influence from Berbera

To open up Ethiopia, Abu Dhabi is investing heavily in turning the Somaliland port into a regional hub to counter Qatar. [...]

Thyssen rare earths stir up tensions in Berlin

German industrial firm ThyssenKrupp's deal with British concern Rainbow Rare Earths to purchase the latter's rare earths production in Burundi has been closely monitored by the authorities in Berlin. [...]

Magufuli at risk of losing certain types of international aid

Hoggui and Amouri clans cement alliance with Sinoma

Giant Chinese operator Sinoma International Engineering, which has already established itself as an indispensable player in Algeria’s cement industry, has set about bolstering its presence in the country with help from the Biskra-based Hoggui and Amouri families. [...]

Will Ouattara manage to shut out his ‘friend' Bedie by 2020?

Italy wants Sophia to anchor off Tripoli

The meeting of the European Council's Political and Security Committee (PSC) in Brussels on July 18 was devoted to strengthening [...]

The fortunate ‘partners' of Mohamed Ould Bouamatou

Lawyers, lobbyists, opponents…Many figures have benefited, and continue to benefit, from the businessman's generous ‘commissions'. An investigation. [...]

The murky world of arms supplies to the Horn

After interviewing sources in Djibouti and Somalia, The Indian Ocean Newsletter has gathered revealing information regarding the provenance and destination of arms transiting through Djibouti. It is a slickly run operation and the authorities, though they may not officially endorse [...]

Diamonds: Kimberley confidence not enough for USA

Not everyone is willing to accept the Kimberley Process leaders' satisfaction with the progress achieved by the Central African Republic [...]

Mezouar favours his family and the RNI at the CGEM

The appointment of committee chairpersons at employers' body CGEM on July 13 enabled chairman Siaheddine Mezouar to give precedence to [...]

Moscow sets its sights on the gold and diamonds

Having arrived amid great fanfare in Bangui to train the country's army, the Russians are being more discreet about their mining ambitions. An exclusive investigation. [...]

Why did Tullow Oil pull plug on deal with Seadrill?

Sentenced to pay Seadrill $254 million, Tullow Oil has been asked to explain its call for force majeure and a mysterious "Voldemort" project. [...]

Kampala triggers a war with the telecom operators

The telephone companies are presenting a united front against the social media tax. [...]

Jinchuan and Gecamines ready fight to the finish

The timeline for the arbitration opposing the Congolese state-owned firm and subsidiary of China's Jinchuan group has reportedly been set out. [...]

Paul Atanga Nji still at the service of Biya

Despite not obtaining the defence portfolio during the government reshuffle in March, the minister for territorial administration, Paul Atanga Nji, [...]

SNPC: Alphonse Okoye's agenda already shaped by IMF pressure

The new board chairman of the Societe nationale des petroles du Congo (SNPC) and former director general of external trade, [...]

Tekeda Alemu pays the price for his ties with Seyoum Mesfin

The Ethiopian minister of foreign affairs Workeneh Gebeyehu did not wait for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali's forthcoming meeting with [...]

Business woman Labrini Axioti tries her hand at bauxite

In late June, Sorex submitted a request to research bauxite on the Pita Lelouma permit in central west Guinea. Sorex [...]