Spotlight | Africa
Behind the scenes of Tullow Oil CEO Rahul Dhir's exit

Spotlight | DRC
The intriguing recipients of Congo's debt repayments

Some 2,900 transactions worth a tidy $1.2bn: Africa Intelligence has been able to consult an internal Central Bank of Congo document which reveals the beneficiaries of country's debt repayments.

Inner circles | Nigeria
Borno governor Babagana Zulum's crack team

The powerful governor of the north-eastern state of Borno, which is plagued by security issues, has surrounded himself with a dynamic team to help him in his dealings with financial backers. It's a team that could serve him well in his bid for national office.

Spotlight | Kenya
Julius Mwale's medical castle in the air stretches from California to Butere

He presented himself as a genius inventor, a self-made man and a philanthropic investor. Storm clouds have however been gathering over Mwale, the US-Kenyan businessman who vowed to revolutionise healthcare in Africa but whose pharaonic scheme has swallowed up tens of millions of dollars with few tangible results.

Inner circles | Ethiopia
Who's who in the entourage of Takele Uma, Abiy's new Ethio-Djibouti Railway boss

The Ethiopian PM has appointed the former Addis Ababa mayor and minister of mines, whom he dismissed last year, to revitalize the struggling railway. An early supporter of Abiy, Takele has surrounded himself with loyalists, which risks raising some hackles.

Spotlight | Somalia
Jubaland keen to de-escalate with Mogadishu after Ras Kamboni battle

Jubaland gained the upper hand over national forces in a short bout of fighting two weeks ago. It hopes to capitalise on its strong position to engage in dialogue with the federal government. The easing of tensions with Ethiopia thanks to Turkish mediation may also prove helpful in local negotiations.

Spotlight | South Africa
Ramaphosa faces a 2025 laden with perils

Between tensions over key legislation and internal power struggles within the ANC, the stability of South Africa's government of national unity will be put to the test in the coming months.

Inner circles | Madagascar
Ex-president's network boosted son's bid for Antananarivo mayoralty

Former president Marc Ravalomanana and his wife have both served as mayor of Madagascar's capital. Now their son Tojo is going for the job. He made good use of his famous surname and his parents' political connections while on the campaign trail.

Spotlight | Mozambique
Paris fumbles its way through Mozambique's post-election crisis

The French embassy in Maputo is maintaining an air of near-normality in the face of unrest it struggles to fully comprehend. Some French companies have begun recalling their staff.

Spotlight | Tunisia
Businessmen Youssef Zarrouk and Mohamed Idriss Ghodbane in the court's firing line

Investigators are probing whether the sale of a luxury villa in the chic Tunisian seaside town of Sidi Bou Said was used to finance a smear campaign against Kaïs Saïed. The inquiry was sparked by allegations of money-laundering involving Youssef Zarrouk and Quantum Investment Bank boss Mohamed Idriss Ghodbane.

Inner circles | Algeria
Army chief Saïd Chengriha asserts himself in relation to Tebboune

The chief of staff has tightened his grip on the Algerian army in recent years, partly through various appointments. But he still has to deal with the choices made by the president's office and with senior army figures who do not owe their positions to him.