The US State Department's new assistant secretary for Africa has to navigate a host of administrative and political dilemmas, all while dealing with officials who have tightened their grip on policy towards the continent since Donald Trump's return to power.
More than a year and a half after signing an agreement to open a Paris branch, Nigerian bank UBA is expected to receive authorisation from French officials in the coming weeks.
Regularly ranked among Africa's leading business hubs, CFC has launched an active prospecting operation in Africa, Asia and now the Middle East.
Held on the tarmac at M'Poko airport with an arms shipment bound for Chad, an Airbus A321 freighter was eventually authorised to leave for Cairo before continuing on to N'Djamena. The episode highlights a cooling in relations between the Central African Republic and its northern neighbour.
Babikir Faisal, head of external relations within the Somoud coalition, was questioned at the Cairo airport in early July. The incident is fuelling speculation about the former prime minister's regional connections.
The significant back-up forces sent to the DR Congo province since early June have failed to reverse the military momentum. As the rebels consolidate their positions, the government now fears that US commitment is waning.
A discreet career politician and former MEP is the moving force behind all the public affairs agencies hired by the Moroccan employers’ organisation to promote the kingdom’s agricultural interests within the EU.
Political parties were due to meet in the Ethiopian capital at the end of July for a second round of individual discussions led by the Quintet. With no significant progress made, the mediation group has now opted for virtual meetings.
The ex-livestock minister has lost none of his influence with his transfer to the urban development portfolio in the reshuffle. Asked to help secure the recapture of Am Dafock, this figure with close ties to Russia continues to put his networks within armed groups at the service of the regime.
Whilst President John Dramani Mahama’s brother is showcasing his success in the gold sector in Accra, the reality appears to be more complicated given the legal disputes involving his company, E&P, and South African firm Gold Fields, as well as Australian fund Ibaera Capital.
For the past month, the conditions for granting visas to Somali nationals in EU countries have been tightened. This decision, justified by Mogadishu’s lack of cooperation, also follows the fallout from a secret agreement with Stockholm, the revelations of which are rocking the Swedish political establishment in the run-up to the elections.
The order requiring the state to pay $616m to the Australian company Sundance Resources and its local subsidiary highlights divisions within the Cameroonian government. It also reveals the arbitrators’ disagreement over the calculation of damages.
Although Mamadi Doumbouya has announced an export ban on raw gold, the rollout of this measure faces questions regarding how the Nimba Gold Refinery will come on stream. Furthermore, it is facing criticism from mining companies operating in the country.
Ethiopia could be part of the pan-African bank's East Africa expansion strategy. However, a number of restrictions around opening the country's banking sector to foreign competition are holding back investment projects.
France's leading mass catering company is pulling out all the stops in a bid to secure the biggest market share of the African catering sector in coming years.
Although the country had gradually phased out its diesel imports from Moscow in 2025, the port of La Skhira is once again open to vessels from the Russian shadow fleet.
The influential Lebanese businessman has helped introduce the head of military brokerage firm AD Con to Gabon’s security establishment. The company is now working to finalise a major contract to equip the armed forces.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s new demands on diplomatic visits to the capital are running up against the German diplomat’s security requirements. The deadlock adds to the sharp tensions between Port Sudan and the EU over the role played by the United Arab Emirates in the conflict.
The European Commission has just outright dismissed the complaints made against the new bilateral association agreement between Morocco and the EU. This is likely to fuel further unrest among farmers in Europe, above all in France and Spain.
London's dialogue process with Sudanese civil society is turning into a political headache amid a climate of deep mistrust. A rumoured invitation to the Quartet, which in fact was not included in the July meeting, has stirred tensions.
For nearly a year, several Kenyan and foreign companies have been vying for exploration licences in the centre of the country. The political establishment, right up to the highest levels of government, is keen to get involved in these potentially highly lucrative projects, despite the risk of causing or exacerbating land disputes.
Whilst the president remains in Switzerland, manoeuvring for the post-Paul Biya era is gathering pace. On the one hand, Chantal Biya’s supporters are at loggerheads amid a flurry of mutual accusations; on the other, the presidential clan is rallying around Franck Biya.
The rebel movement, which controls a large part of the DRC, wrote to the UN sanctions committee at the end of July to complain about measures targeting several of its leaders. These include the movement’s head, Corneille Nangaa.
The kingdom has spent the last twenty years developing an automotive sector that generates plenty of jobs. A proposed European regulation could undermine this painstakingly built structure.
Recruited in 2024 and again in 2025 for three summer campaigns, Aaxod has been operating three small aircraft in Algeria’s forested mountain ranges since the end of May. In Argentina, the company has been at the centre of a major investigation for the past two years.
The president’s entourage is seeking to forge closer ties with the Presbyterian Church, which is very popular in central Kenya. In recent months, the head of state has lost support in this region while continuing to win over the western part of the country, including through religious circles.
Due to the failure of Colonel Michael Randrianirina’s junta to apply a mechanism recommended by the International Monetary Fund, the institution has postponed a disbursement totalling $189m.
Fearful of destabilising elements infiltrating both the country and the ruling party, the executive has engaged in a months-long wave of arrests. No one is spared, not even the entourage of figures close to power.
Seeking a second term, the incumbent president is working on a series of measures designed to boost his campaign ahead of the elections scheduled for 12 September.
The crown prince is playing an increasingly important role in managing the kingdom's affairs. Nevertheless, the background to his rise remains shrouded in a mystery that is carefully maintained by King Mohammed VI, who is overseeing every stage of his apprenticeship. What with low-key stays in Paris, preparing a thesis and choosing a future inner circle, the young man destined to be king continues his initiation.
The Ivorian president sharply reprimanded Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé during the cabinet meeting on 29 April, following the consideration of two proposals to increase the minimum wage in an economic climate deemed fragile by the government.
With backing from the presidency and influential diaspora networks, Algeria is investing in music, sport and culture to recast the country's image, attract foreign investment and position itself as a more appealing tourist destination.
Up against the current secretary general of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, Rwanda’s Louise Mushikiwabo, who is seeking a third term, the DRC's candidate is putting together her campaign while attempting to make do with the government’s communications initiatives.
The FLA Tuareg rebels have woven a network spanning southern Libya and into Niger in order to guarantee the logistics of their conflict with the Malian army and the Russian paramilitaries Africa Corps.
The Guinean authorities have not finalised payment to defence supplier OTT Technologies, which, in turn, has not delivered a single vehicle to the army. This is despite the regime having already disbursed several million dollars in 2023.
The tone is hardening between the junta and the French embassy. Despite fraying bilateral relations, Paris is striving to maintain a delicate diplomatic balance with the country in order to counter Russia’s ever-growing influence.
A delegation from the Anglo-Australian mining major, which has not visited the continent since 2015, will travel to Zambia, South Africa, Namibia and Angola at the end of April. The aim is to forge links with the authorities and junior exploration companies, particularly in the copper sector.
A partnership between two Chinese state-owned groups has won a contract worth almost $21m for the first phase of the Ngoma water supply system in the south-east of the country.
The French national of Rwandan origin has spent the past two years working to establish Africa Corps in Congo and Togo. Africa Intelligence reveals the secret path of a woman who operates at the heart of power in Brazzaville and Lomé, tracing her route from Paris to Moscow via Kigali.
From Paris to Kinshasa via Abidjan and Cotonou, the arrest of the Congolese star has caused a stir and raised concerns in political circles.
The shareholder family of Castel, in open conflict with CEO Gregory Clerc, is planning to oppose the sale of the Cameroonian sugar company, which it judges contrary to the will of founder Pierre Castel.
The approval of this $4bn deal by the Canadian authorities marks a new chapter in diplomatic and economic relations with Beijing. In Ethiopia, where Allied Gold Corp is developing the Kurmuk mine, the matter is being closely monitored by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office.
Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.
The CEO of the world's third-largest shipping giant is in the Algerian capital to advance the firm's megaprojects in the country. Preparations for the journey, which the French-Lebanese businessman has long desired, previously suffered from tensions between France and Algeria.
The head of state is caught between his Somali counterpart and ally Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Galmudug leader Qoor Qoor, to whom his son-in-law is particularly close. For now, he has chosen to err on the side of caution.
The head of state hopes to persuade some of his counterparts to lend him a hand in securing the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado, where the prolonged presence of Rwandan forces is raising questions.
After the 25 April offensive that struck at the heart of Mali's power structure, the war has entered a new phase. Goïta is clinging to the option of military action with increased support from Moscow, while the JNIM and FLA are preparing the next phase of their campaign and launching an intense regional diplomatic offensive.
The president is balancing the influence of army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who remains restricted to several strategic areas, with that of the National Resistance Movement old guard.
Following the CENI president’s mission to Moscow, a small group from the Malagasy electoral body is now in Russia to participate in a course organised by the country’s electoral authorities.
As long as the Polisario Front has not clearly expressed its expectations regarding autonomy, Rabat continues to drive forward its proposal, which has yet to lead to an agreement between the parties. The hope for a swift resolution to the conflict as promised by Washington is starting to fade.
The United Nations regional office, still reeling from the internal investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation against its former head, is finally set to have a new leader.
The Mauritanian president's state visit to Paris in April helped cement a series of existing projects while also highlighting fresh opportunities in maritime security, energy and mining. These are attracting growing interest from French companies.
The president's swearing-in ceremony was marked not only by technical glitches but also a resurgence of tension with Gabon and within the head of state's own clan.
The Senegalese president has made no secret of differences with his prime minister and former mentor and has been working to break free from his influence for several weeks. While reshaping the state apparatus to suit his own purposes, he has also shown no hesitation in consulting with figures linked to the opposition.
The return of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius is being undermined by delays in the UK over ratification of the treaty. At the heart of tensions is the strategic atoll housing a US military base, whose importance has been highlighted since the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East.
The American-Belarusian businessman has been active in Africa for a decade and, working closely with the DRC and Zimbabwe, is now steering his firm towards new markets in French-speaking nations. The man is proving his worth in highly sensitive matters bordering on diplomacy, business and intelligence in close connection with the Kremlin.
Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.
Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, has had his decision to recall several regional directors to Addis Ababa overturned by the chairperson of the African Union Commission. The three doctors concerned have taken their case to the organisation's administrative tribunal.
The RSF commander is a regular visitor to Juba, where security issues, as well as the sharing of oil and the revenue it generates, are at the heart of frequent low-key meetings. The Sudanese conflict continues to spill over into South Sudan's territory.
The capital is set to host the grandiose nuptials of Omar-Denis Junior Bongo and Julia Otto Mbongo, which will be attended by a large number of the regional elite and leading figures from French-speaking Africa.
A meeting between senior Moroccan military officials and the US Defense Secretary focused on the deployment of military forces in Gaza and the response that Washington wishes to organise alongside its Gulf allies.
The construction portfolio has been removed from Amadou Koné's remit and instead been handed to the infrastructure minister, Yacouba Hien Sié. This move has triggered strong reactions within the government.
Commissioned by the Congolese government, a US firm found the French-British oil company to be responsible for ground and water contamination and biodiversity devastation in Muanda region. The study estimates cleanup costs of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Up-and-coming Moroccan manufacturer Aerodrive Engineering Services has just secured a contract to supply 500 loitering munitions to the army. The kingdom is keen to develop this sector in partnership with local and international players.
The gold trade in the Central African Republic has morphed into a hybrid system in which official channels and parallel networks intertwine. In this grey area, a company with majority Emirati ownership has established itself as a key player, channelling part of the trade without altering its underlying dynamics.
As jihadist pressure mounts around Lake Chad, US troops will once again be deployed in the region. This should help Washington expand its intelligence capabilities in the Sahel, and will enable Yaoundé to consolidate a regime weakened by a post-election crisis.
Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.
Tasked with overseeing the country’s investment attractiveness policies, the RDB has engaged a French agency to bolster its efforts.
In addition to facing difficulties due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade, which has disrupted its sulphur supplies, the company led by Mostafa Terrab has also recently experienced a major technical incident on its production line.
Already CEO, Moussa Diao is seeking to take control of the hydrocarbon giant in Africa, founded by billionaire Jean-Claude Gandur. This major acquisition is taking place in the context of rising fuel prices resulting from the conflict in the Middle East, a situation the continent is struggling to cope with.
The Kenyan parliament has just approved a series of security partnerships that could place the country at the heart of new struggles for influence between rival powers, such as Washington and Beijing.
More than 20 Malagasy and foreign companies are vying to build and operate the country’s first gold-refining plant. Africa Intelligence reveals the main contenders for this strategic project.
No sooner had he been appointed than Ousmane Sonko’s successor found himself having to deal with an extremely strained financial situation, exacerbated by rising oil prices. These are obstacles he will have to overcome by offering assurances to backers, foremost among them the International Monetary Fund.
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