Inner circles | Djibouti
Foreign minister Youssouf works his African networks in bid for AU Commission chair

Spotlight | DRC
Ailing Gécamines ordered to open its books

Judith Suminwa Tuluka's government is putting pressure on the state-owned mining company, whose profits have decreased. Its management is being closely scrutinised by the portfolio minister, who recently warned of 'serious misconduct' on the part of its financial director.

Inner circles | DRC
Major General Christian Ndaywel, the spymaster assisting the war effort in Kivu

The military intelligence chief has put together a team of senior officials to hold talks with Rwanda mediated by Angola. Despite limited resources, he has demonstrated an ability to negotiate firmly.

Spotlight | Senegal
Dakar orders audit of €120m Sall-era gendarmerie contract

The president and prime minister have commissioned a review of the contract for gendarmerie facilities under Macky Sall. It comes amid a wider push from the current government to call out unfair contracts.

Inner circles | Togo
Gnassingbé tightens grip on power with selective security sector reshuffle

Employing his knack for surprise promotions and sidelining senior officers, the Togolese president is focused on ensuring stability in an army tasked with countering jihadist threats on the northern border. Meanwhile, internal security remains under the steady hand of regime loyalists.

Inner circles | Sudan
The Bashir old guard in Hemeti's ranks

Key figures in the ousted regime of Omar al-Bashir now gravitate around the RSF paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, despite his claim of battling the regular army in part to rid Sudan of the former president's stalwarts.

Spotlight | Tanzania, Uganda
Delays, finance woes and reshuffles signal TotalEnergies' Tilenga troubles

The French major is well behind schedule in its plans to bring the Tilenga oil field on stream, while financing for the EACOP export pipeline is far from complete. Irked, group CEO Patrick Pouyanné has reshuffled key executives in a bid to speed things up.

Inner circles | Madagascar
Rajoelina's National Assembly lieutenants

Spotlight | Mozambique
FRELIMO presidential candidate cosies up to Kagame

Daniel Chapo, the frontrunner in next month's presidential election in Mozambique, paid an unpublicised visit to Kigali in June where he met Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who has become the key patron of security in the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado.

Inner circles | Morocco
Fouzi Lekjâa, a skilful player in football and state finance

Spotlight | Algeria, Nigeria
Equinor initiates drastic downsizing in Africa

In the coming months, the continent looks set to take a back seat in the portfolio of the Norwegian major amid plans to significantly curtail operations in Algeria and Nigeria.