Spotlight | Africa
After years of tricky talks, EU and ACP finally to sign new pact

The Post-Cotonou Partnership Agreement that defines relations between the European Union and 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, which was negotiated between 2018 and 2020, will be signed on 15 November. Euro MPs from Hungary and Poland had long blocked the deal.

Inner circles | Africa
Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed's crack Africa team

The gas-rich nation has made itself a first port of call for African leaders in search of financial aid, investment or political mediation. African matters are dealt with in Doha by a very select group of experienced diplomats.

Inner circles | Ethiopia
Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamiru: an Abiy protégée with devoted underlings

Spotlight | Madagascar
General Richard Ravalomanana's army crackdown

Several high-ranking military officers and activists have been arrested on the orders of the Madagascar government, in a highly inflammatory political context.

Inner circles | Africa, Angola
Lisbon's Africa networks flourish under Rebelo de Sousa

Since coming to power in 2016, the Portuguese president has been instrumental in developing Portugal's influence in Africa. The friendships and personal contacts he has forged there give him real weight on the chessboard of Luso-African relations.

Inner circles | Ivory Coast
New PM Beugré Mambé's extensive foreign and domestic networks

Spotlight | Burkina Faso
EU seeks path forward as Ouagadougou builds ties with Moscow

While Ibrahim Traoré's junta continues to strengthen its relations with Russia, the possibility of providing military support to the Burkinabe authorities is once again on the agenda in Brussels. But opinions in the bloc are strongly divided on this highly sensitive issue.

Inner circles | Gabon
Gabon coup: Gen Oligui Nguema brings back the old guard

Spotlight | DRC
FARDC and its foreign and domestic allies fail to coalesce in battle against M23

Despite the support of nearly 1,000 foreign instructors, the mobilisation of armed groups and the imminent deployment of Chinese drones, Kinshasa has so far proved incapable of coordinating operations against the M23 rebels in eastern DRC.

Spotlight | Libya
Central bank governor Al Kabir battles for control of Libya's petrodollars

Al Seddik Omar Al Kabir is waging an underground war against Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dabaiba, who is protecting his ally, the National Oil Corp boss Farhat Omar Bengdara. At stake is control of the country's oil revenues.

Inner circles | Libya
Dabaiba turns to his inner circle to hold onto power

Initially supposed to oversee the transition towards future elections, the head of the Tripoli government is clinging onto his post and relying on the support of his family clan and certain key ministers.

Spotlight | Morocco
Mohammed VI and Emmanuel Macron speed up thaw in Franco-Moroccan relations

After a year of icy relations, France and Morocco are showing signs of wanting to open up to each other again. Following a low-profile trip by French foreign ministry officials to Rabat in early November, a delegation from Paris's interior ministry is due to visit the Moroccan capital shortly.