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Friday, June 2 2023

SCROLL THROUGH EDITION

Westwin Elements CEO KaLeigh Long at the Cobalt Congress 2023. © Cobalt Institute

Spotlight

DRC UNITED STATES Mining Commodity traders

Oklahoma cobalt refiner eyes DRC's natural resources

BURKINA FASO GUINEA MALI Mining

Oleg Maximov, Nordgold's discreet junta go-between

Former Mozambican finance minister Manuel Chang. © Wikus de Wet/AFP

MOZAMBIQUE SOUTH AFRICA

Pretoria to extradite ex-Mozambican finance minister Chang to US

The governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, Mamo Mihretu. © @NBEthiopia/Twitter

Inner circles

ETHIOPIA Finance

Mamo Mihretu embarks on central bank reforms

Catapulted to the head of the National Bank of Ethiopia at the beginning of the year, Abiy Ahmed's young protégé has already won support within the bank.

LIBYA

Candidates from west jockey to replace Dabaiba Free

MOROCCO

Interior minister thwarts justice reforms

In early May, the cabinet decided to suspend discussions on justice minister Ouahbi's new legal bill, apparently in the face of opposition from interior minister Laftit.

NIGERIA Defence

Turkish defence consortium to secure dangerous Abuja-Kaduna road

Asisguard, Havelsan and Nurol Makina have just finalised a deal with the outgoing Nigerian government for the supply of drones, armoured vehicles and electronic systems to secure the Abuja-Kaduna road.

News in brief

IVORY COAST |Infrastructure Energy

Agétip Energies faces two-year exclusion from public contracts

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC |SOUTH AFRICA

Touadéra pays visit to Gupta brothers' Indian base

SOMALIA

Somalia's partners to meet in Doha next week

The Continent

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, on 26 July 2018. © Gulshan Khan/Pool via Reuters

Inner circles

AFRICA Diplomacy 19/05/2023

Modi's diplomatic drive in Africa

AFRICA ETHIOPIA Diplomacy 09/05/2023

AU seeks to placate Addis after audit finds Ethiopian officials not up to scratch

African Union Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat is seeking to avoid embarrassment for the institution's host country after an audit questioned the skills of around a hundred of its senior officials, most of them Ethiopian.

All articles on Africa

Eastern Africa and the Horn

ETHIOPIA Business 01/06/2023

Safaricom determined to capitalise on its headstart in Ethiopia

Last month the Kenyan telecoms giant secured a mobile banking licence that it intends to make use of as soon as possible before other private telecoms operators descend on the country.

SUDAN Diplomacy 31/05/2023

World Food Programme's distribution woes

WFP trucks by shelters for Sudanese refugees from the Tandelti area who crossed into Chad, in Koufroun, 30 April 2023. © Gueipeur Denis Sassou/AFP

News In Brief

KENYA 01/06/2023

Forex shortage prompts banks to restrict withdrawals

EAST AFRICA 31/05/2023

World Bank's plan to boost connectivity in the Horn

ETHIOPIA 25/05/2023

Oromia: new violence undercuts dialogue between OLA and Abiy

Spotlight

SUDAN Diplomacy 30/05/2023

AU sets out plan to take the reins on Sudan de-escalation

Bankole Adeoye, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), talk between themselves as they arrive at the AU headquarters for a meeting of the Extended Mechanism on the Sudan Crisis in Addis Ababa on 2 May 2023. © Amanuel Sileshi/AFP

ALGERIA MOROCCO TANZANIA WESTERN SAHARA Diplomacy 30/05/2023

Western Sahara question looms large over Morocco-Tanzania relations

Having long backed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Tanzania has in recent months been courted on multiple fronts by Morocco. Algeria, meanwhile, is not sitting on its hands.

KENYA Politics 29/05/2023

Deputy President Gachagua's regional ambitions still frustrated by Kenyatta

Kenyan vice-president Rigathi Gachagua in Nairobi, on 15 May 2023. © Daniel Irungu/EPA/MaxPPP

William Ruto's new order

All Eastern Africa and the Horn articles

Southern Africa and islands

MOZAMBIQUE Politics 31/05/2023

Frelimo gets ready for 2024 elections

A Mozambican woman by a banner for the ruling Frelimo party before the general elections, Maputo, 10 October 2014. © Gianluigi Guercia/AFP

SOUTH AFRICA Diplomacy 30/05/2023

Pretoria defends top South African UNESCO official demoted for harassment

Assistant Director-General of UNESCO Shamila Nair-Bedouelle addresses the closing session of World Science Forum, WSF, in Budapest, Hungary, 23 November 2019. © Tamas Kovacs/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

News In Brief

ANGOLA 01/06/2023

Bolloré Angola set to take lead in Congolese Copperbelt exports

MADAGASCAR 01/06/2023

Parliament prepares for final vote on mining code reform

SOUTH AFRICA 30/05/2023

State firm PetroSA's 'gas bridge' with Mozambique still on the books

MADAGASCAR Commodity traders 29/05/2023

Rajoelina puts his people in new vanilla body to take control of the sector

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina in October 2021. © Joel Kouam/Reuters

MOZAMBIQUE Diplomacy 25/05/2023

Roeland van de Geer seeks to kick-start Cabo Delgado mediation Free

Former Dutch ambassador Roeland van de Geer. © Lionel Healing/AFP

Cabo Delgado

ANGOLA Politics Business 25/05/2023

Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook al-Maktoum gives army veterans turned farmers a helping hand

Farming cooperatives run by former soldiers are poised to receive an initial consignment of tractors, which will be assembled in the country thanks to the Emirati investor.

All Southern Africa and islands articles

West Africa

The Speaker of the National Assembly Adama Bictogo and Prime Minister Patrick Achi on 28 May 2023. © @semadamabictogo/Twitter

Spotlight

IVORY COAST Politics 01/06/2023

PM and parliament speaker lock horns yet again as local elections loom

News In Brief

MALI 01/06/2023

Touareg and rebel groups meet to decide response to constitutional referendum

NIGERIA 30/05/2023

Kano bigwig Rabiu Kwankwaso vies for seat in Tinubu government

WEST AFRICA 30/05/2023

African Parks picks Benin's Akpona as new West Africa boss

BURKINA FASO Politics 01/06/2023

Ibrahim Traore's trusted spin doctors

In recent months, the Burkinabe junta leader has been relying on two confidants, one of whom is his brother, to steer his communications strategy. The duo played a key part in the running of the pro-transition events in May.

Spotlight

SENEGAL Infrastructure Finance 31/05/2023

State's move on DP World Dakar sparks tension Free

Senegalese President Macky Sall in The Netherlands, 4 September 2022. © Martin Bertrand/Hans Lucas/AFP

GHANA Energy Politics 31/05/2023

Panic spreads at Ghana's GNPC over Saltpond field decommissioning

Following our revelations about the dismantling of Ghana's oldest oil field, the state-run oil firm was quick to stage a counter-attack. The incident has embarrassed the Ghanaian authorities just as they have negotiated a $3bn loan with the IMF.

All West Africa articles

Central Africa

DRC Defence 01/06/2023

Kinshasa procures four new attack helicopters

The DRC government is continuing to beef up its military capabilities in order to deal with the M23, its latest acquisition being four MI-24s from the Chadian army.

DRC Politics 01/06/2023

Tshisekedi plans tour of regions in run-up to presidential election

Congoles president Félix Tschisekedi. © Martin Bertrand/Hans Lucas/Reuters

News In Brief

CAMEROON 31/05/2023

Military judge rejects Maxime Eko Eko's request for bail

CONGO 29/05/2023

Brazzaville manages to keep Trump Tower condo out of Commisimpex's clutches

GABON 26/05/2023

Jean Ping allowed to travel again after years of house arrest

DRC Defence Politics 31/05/2023

Tshisekedi forced to reshuffle intelligence chiefs after ANR boss taken ill

ANR intelligence agency boss Jean-Hervé Mbelu Biosha's health problems have forced DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi to rush through a security services reshuffle that had been on the cards for at least a year.

CAMEROON Business 30/05/2023

Business leaders divided over plan to merge employers' bodies

Private sector chiefs don't see eye to eye about the merging of two organisations representing their interests. Both camps are trying to rally support, right up to the highest echelons of state.

DRC Mining 29/05/2023

Tshisekedi appoints Eric Kalala as new head of EGC

Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi in Beijing on 26 May 2023. © Thomas Peter/Pool/Getty Images via AFP

All Central Africa articles

North Africa

EGYPT Business Diplomacy 01/06/2023

Cairo's telecoms minister to meet French business leaders in Paris

Amr Talaat will be arriving in the French capital in ten days' time for a string of meetings with French companies that do business in Egypt. The minister wants to encourage French investment in data centres.

EGYPT Energy 31/05/2023

Brussels baulks at backing Scatec's green hydrogen project

Norwegian energy group Scatec has been trying for several months to obtain European Union financing for the development of its hydrogen and ammonia production projects in Egypt. The European Commission's refusal to grant financing makes their realisation uncertain.

News In Brief

MOROCCO 31/05/2023

Mohammed VI's start-up fund swings into action

MOROCCO 29/05/2023

Cannabis regulatory body keeps legal hemp sector waiting

ALGERIA 26/05/2023

Cevital execs jailed for sugar trading

TUNISIA Politics 31/05/2023

Former ministers targeted in new anti-terrorism investigation

Former Tunisian PM Youssef Chahed. © Mohamed Messara/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

MOROCCO Business Diplomacy 30/05/2023

How Morocco joined Spain and Portugal for 2030 World Cup bid

President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation Fouzi Lekjaa receives the president of the International Football Federation (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe, upon their arrival at the Sale airport, ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup draw, on 13 January 2023. © Fadel Senna/AFP

ALGERIA Business 30/05/2023

Lafarge deal propels state cement producer GICA to top slot

After buying a majority stake in Lafarge Algeria, the state-owned cement firm GICA has become the country's leading cement producer.

All North Africa articles

Read also

The New Guard AFRICA Finance Politics 31/05/2023

IVORY COAST - Régis Bamba, the e-banking whizzkid with big plans
TANZANIA - Bravious Kahyoza, outspoken rising economist star
EGYPT - Ahmed Tantawi's bold but implausible presidential bid
NIGERIA - Rabiu Olowo, finance guru

Palace Intrigues AFRICA Politics Diplomacy 30/05/2023

MADAGASCAR - Macron and Rajoelina in Parisian tête-à-tête
DRC - Former adviser 'JCK' invites himself along on Tshisekedi's Oyo trip
CHAD - Abakar Manany, a minister far from N'Djamena
CAMEROON - Senate president Marcel Niat Njifenji holidays in Geneva

IVORY COAST Defence 29/05/2023

Israeli AD Con delivers French Raidco boats to Ivorian navy

Gaby Peretz's Israeli brokerage firm AD Con has delivered two 15m Raidco Marine boats to the Ivorian navy to help it fight illegal fishing. Abidjan is still waiting for a second Israel Shipyards patrol boat as part of the same contract.

WEST AFRICA Diplomacy 29/05/2023

UN struggles to replace resident coordinator

The Burkianbe junta has once again rejected the United Nations' request for certification for a replacement of the organisation's resident coordinator Barbara Manzi.

SpotlightBENIN Defence 26/05/2023

Romuald Wadagni, the economy minister with a military brief

Patrice Talon has tasked his economy minster with procuring military helicopters to combat armed groups along Benin's northern border. International cooperation was recently added to Wadagni's duties too, and with the sacking of foreign minister Agbénonci, it looks like his prerogatives will be extended even further.

Benin's economy minister Romuald Wadagni in Paris in October 2018.

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Lomé's delicate bid for military and diplomatic balance between Moscow and the West

On the trail of Papa Fofana, Mamadi Doumbouya's enigmatic adviser

William Ruto's new order

Sudan: the generals waging war from Khartoum to Darfur

Erdogan sets out to conquer Africa

Friday, June 2 2023

Oklahoma cobalt refiner eyes DRC's natural resources

Oleg Maximov, Nordgold's discreet junta go-between

Pretoria to extradite ex-Mozambican finance minister Chang to US

Mamo Mihretu embarks on central bank reforms

Candidates from west jockey to replace Dabaiba Free

Interior minister thwarts justice reforms

Turkish defence consortium to secure dangerous Abuja-Kaduna road

Agétip Energies faces two-year exclusion from public contracts

Touadéra pays visit to Gupta brothers' Indian base

Somalia's partners to meet in Doha next week

In Focus

Lomé's delicate bid for military and diplomatic balance between Moscow and the West

On the trail of Papa Fofana, Mamadi Doumbouya's enigmatic adviser

Mr Eazi's risky gambles with betting business betPawa

Lomé's delicate bid for military and diplomatic balance between Moscow and the West

On the trail of Papa Fofana, Mamadi Doumbouya's enigmatic adviser

Mr Eazi's risky gambles with betting business betPawa

The Continent

Modi's diplomatic drive in Africa

AU seeks to placate Addis after audit finds Ethiopian officials not up to scratch

Free Articles

An Israeli delegation is due in Morocco in mid-June to play golf and do business

The members-in-waiting of Bola Tinubu's kitchen cabinet

African Union set to decide on who should secure Khartoum airport

An Israeli delegation is due in Morocco in mid-June to play golf and do business

The members-in-waiting of Bola Tinubu's kitchen cabinet

African Union set to decide on who should secure Khartoum airport

Eastern Africa and the Horn

Safaricom determined to capitalise on its headstart in Ethiopia

World Food Programme's distribution woes

Forex shortage prompts banks to restrict withdrawals

World Bank's plan to boost connectivity in the Horn

Oromia: new violence undercuts dialogue between OLA and Abiy

AU sets out plan to take the reins on Sudan de-escalation

Western Sahara question looms large over Morocco-Tanzania relations

Deputy President Gachagua's regional ambitions still frustrated by Kenyatta

Southern Africa and islands

Frelimo gets ready for 2024 elections

Pretoria defends top South African UNESCO official demoted for harassment

Bolloré Angola set to take lead in Congolese Copperbelt exports

Parliament prepares for final vote on mining code reform

State firm PetroSA's 'gas bridge' with Mozambique still on the books

Rajoelina puts his people in new vanilla body to take control of the sector

Roeland van de Geer seeks to kick-start Cabo Delgado mediation Free

Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook al-Maktoum gives army veterans turned farmers a helping hand

West Africa

PM and parliament speaker lock horns yet again as local elections loom

Touareg and rebel groups meet to decide response to constitutional referendum

Kano bigwig Rabiu Kwankwaso vies for seat in Tinubu government

African Parks picks Benin's Akpona as new West Africa boss

Ibrahim Traore's trusted spin doctors

State's move on DP World Dakar sparks tension Free

Panic spreads at Ghana's GNPC over Saltpond field decommissioning

Central Africa

Kinshasa procures four new attack helicopters

Tshisekedi plans tour of regions in run-up to presidential election

Military judge rejects Maxime Eko Eko's request for bail

Brazzaville manages to keep Trump Tower condo out of Commisimpex's clutches

Jean Ping allowed to travel again after years of house arrest

Tshisekedi forced to reshuffle intelligence chiefs after ANR boss taken ill

Business leaders divided over plan to merge employers' bodies

Tshisekedi appoints Eric Kalala as new head of EGC

North Africa

Cairo's telecoms minister to meet French business leaders in Paris

Brussels baulks at backing Scatec's green hydrogen project

Mohammed VI's start-up fund swings into action

Cannabis regulatory body keeps legal hemp sector waiting

Cevital execs jailed for sugar trading

Former ministers targeted in new anti-terrorism investigation

How Morocco joined Spain and Portugal for 2030 World Cup bid

Lafarge deal propels state cement producer GICA to top slot

Read also

IVORY COAST - Régis Bamba, the e-banking whizzkid with big plansTANZANIA - Bravious Kahyoza, outspoken rising economist star EGYPT - Ahmed Tantawi's bold but implausible presidential bid NIGERIA - Rabiu Olowo, finance guru

IVORY COAST - Régis Bamba, the e-banking whizzkid with big plans

IVORY COAST - Régis Bamba, the e-banking whizzkid with big plans
TANZANIA - Bravious Kahyoza, outspoken rising economist star
EGYPT - Ahmed Tantawi's bold but implausible presidential bid
NIGERIA - Rabiu Olowo, finance guru

MADAGASCAR - Macron and Rajoelina in Parisian tête-à-tête
DRC - Former adviser 'JCK' invites himself along on Tshisekedi's Oyo trip
CHAD - Abakar Manany, a minister far from N'Djamena
CAMEROON - Senate president Marcel Niat Njifenji holidays in Geneva