DRC, Rwanda
Kagame-Tshisekedi meeting in Paris called off at last minute

France, aided by Qatar, sought to bring the Rwandan president and his DR Congo counterpart together for a meeting in Paris on 9 February to try to resolve the crisis in eastern DRC. But the encounter was cancelled after Tshisekedi changed his mind.

DRC, Rwanda
France seeks to build multi-state mediation group to resolve DRC crisis

Faced with diplomatic paralysis, a joint EAC and SADC summit is being held in Tanzania this week. Since the M23 took control of Goma, French diplomats have been trying to set up a group of mediators to resolve the emergency in DR Congo.

Ghana
Behind Randy Abbey's appointment as new Cocobod boss

The media personality and executive, with close links to both football and the president's brother, has been appointed CEO of the cocoa industry's local watchdog, with support from the new agriculture minister.

Nigeria
Dicon Gray Insignia plans to assemble rifles for Nigerian Army

The Nigerian firm Gray Insignia has formed a joint venture with state-owned arms conglomerate Dicon to supply the army with assault rifles that will be produced in the United States and assembled in Nigeria.

East Africa
AU Commissioner Bankole Adeoye faces re-election challenge

Burundi
Ndayishimiye prepares for potential M23 advance in South Kivu

The possibility of an M23 offensive on Bukavu is a huge concern for Burundi, which depends on foreign currency and resources from the DRC. The Burundian army fears a confrontation with the Rwandan-backed rebel movement, as well as with armed groups opposed to Ndayishimiye.

Kenya, Uganda
Museveni and Ruto smooth trade tensions with quiet diplomacy

The Ugandan and Kenyan presidents are working to ease trade disputes between their countries and are maintaining contact on political and infrastructure issues.

South Africa
Transnet seeks financing from Rio Tinto and Anglo American

South Africa's state-owned logistics group, in the absence of fresh public funding, is seeking help from its major mining customers exporting from Richards Bay and Saldanha. It wants them to finance the upgrading of its railways and port terminals in exchange for slashing their bills.

South Africa
Unlikely ANC-DA united front forms after Trump threat over land expropriation law

The Democratic Alliance party was fiercely opposed to the African National Congress's land expropriation act. But its rhetoric changed radically after President Donald Trump threatened to suspend US aid to South Africa over the new law.

Botswana
Botswana Democratic Party takes government to task over new De Beers deal

The diamond giant, which has signed a partnership agreement with the new Botswanan government, has been accused by the former ruling party of dodging its tax obligations.

Angola
Luanda seeks suppliers to boost arms industry

Angolan securocrats have relaunched negotiations with defence firms to try to progress several military industrialisation projects stalled due to a chronic lack of funding.

Morocco
Rabat rattled by French far-right hostility to farm trade deal

The appointment of far-right MP Hélène Laporte to lead the France-Morocco friendship group in the French National Assembly has troubled the kingdom. Her opposition to an EU-Morocco agricultural trade deal may spell trouble for Rabat's newfound entente with Paris.