Palace Intrigues

Mohammed VI, Michael Randrianirina, William Ruto, Félix Tshisekedi

Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

• Morocco Chinese ambassador receives a royal snub
• Madagascar The Parisian pro-"Michael" support group holds its first bash
• Kenya William Ruto steers his advisers clear of infighting
• DRC Behind the dismissal of subcontracting regulatory authority boss

Morocco

Behind the scenes of military leaders’ visit to Washington

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.

Ivory Coast

Tensions spike between transport and infrastructure ministers

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.

Palace Intrigues

Faure Gnassingbé, Andry Rajoelina, Abdelmadjid Tebboune

Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

• West Africa The 50th anniversary summit of ECOWAS in limbo
• Madagascar Andry Rajoelina's Paris trip fails to go unnoticed
• Algeria DJ Snake shakes things up with impromptu concert in Algiers

Rwanda

Rwanda Development Board amps up international communication

Tasked with overseeing the country’s investment attractiveness policies, the RDB has engaged a French agency to bolster its efforts.

Africa

Swiss trader Oryx Energies on the verge of changing hands

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.

Kenya

Nairobi lines up defence agreements with Italy, France, China and Germany

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.

Madagascar

Future gold refinery project sparks rival ambitions

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.

Palace Intrigues

Mamadi Doumbouya, Alassane Ouattara, Faustin-Archange Touadéra

Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

• Guinea Robert Bourgi and Mamadi Doumbouya’s discreet one-on-one
• Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara makes a stop in Paris
• Central African Republic Ivorian businessman Tommy Tayoro Nyckos gives Touadéra a lift

Burundi

Évariste Ndayishimiye refines his election strategy for 2027

Electoral officials have recently doubled the amount presidential candidates must pay to run for office, discouraging opposition figures from joining the race. While the incumbent is expected to glide easily to reelection, he is keen to ensure at least a handful of challengers take part.

Burkina Faso

Ibrahim Traoré nurtures ties with Israel

The junta leader, who maintains a staunchly anti-Western stance and flaunts his closer ties with Tehran, simultaneously maintains discreet links with Tel Aviv and its ambassador to the region, whose credentials he has just approved.

Tunisia

Passport issue worries exiled opposition

While many political class members have found refuge abroad, several former senior officials faced hurdles when attempting to renew their Tunisian passports in recent months.

Chad

French army makes a quiet return to N'Djamena

A handful of French officers returned to N’Djamena in mid-April to revive cooperation with the Chadian army, at a time when the partnership with Turkey is faltering.

Sudan

Arab League splinters over Sudan

Port Sudan’s diplomatic offensive against Addis Ababa, during an extraordinary session of the Council of the League of Arab States, failed in the face of UAE steamrollering, leading to the temporary suspension of discussions and the shattering of the fragile regional balance regarding the Sudanese conflict.

Morocco

Abdelwali Ali el-Himma, son of royal adviser, sets up string of surprising investments

From avocado farming to the distribution of lifts, the young financier has recently positioned himself in a variety of businesses through the British investment fund 54 Capital. Among his associates is a brother of the businessman Yariv Elbaz.

Kenya, Ghana

Kenya Airways eyes investment in Ghana’s national airline

To invest in West Africa and tap into new markets, the Kenyan carrier is counting on the revival, scheduled for 2027, of a Ghanaian airline. The project remains uncertain due to the group’s financial difficulties and its struggles to attract a buyer.

Mozambique

ExxonMobil selects the trio to build Rovuma LNG

One of the world’s largest such projects will soon be awarded to one of the two remaining consortia still in the running, following years of competition.

Gabon

Behind the scenes of Oligui Nguema’s $3bn Trafigura deal

Niger

Tchiani’s balancing act in face of mounting security crisis

Weakened by the advance of jihadist groups, the president is struggling to restore order within his armed forces while quietly opening a channel of communication with insurgents in a bid to ease pressure on the capital, Niamey.

Botswana

Orano gears up in Gaborone

The French nuclear fuel specialist is expanding its African mining footprint as it navigates setbacks in Niger and revival in Namibia. It has just registered a subsidiary in Botswana, where uranium mining is underdeveloped.

Somalia

Mohamud plots a year in power over a fractured nation

The president seems content to accept limited control over a few federated states. He is counting on Turkey and Qatar's support and the fact that the international community is otherwise engaged – with the Iranian issue – to extend his term.

Palace Intrigues

Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Nadia Fettah Alaoui

• Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso gives ground on daughter's marriage
• Senegal Tafsir Diattara, Bassirou Diomaye Faye's informal visitor
• Morocco Two ministers to attend French economic forum

Morocco

Rabat and Cairo’s military support for Gulf states in face of Iran bombs

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi turned to their North African partners to help counter the threat posed by Iranian drones and missiles. A cooperation focused on defence and intelligence.

Algeria

Washington consults former US ambassador on Western Sahara

Rwanda

Controversy surrounds Kagame's US travel plans

The Rwandan president had planned a visit to the United States but was ultimately unable to travel to Washington. The cancelled trip can be directly attributed to tensions between Kigali and Washington.

Namibia

TotalEnergies and Windhoek's optimism belies myriad obstacles

Palace Intrigues

William Ruto, Emmanuel Macron, Aya Nakamura

• Africa Forward The very diplomatic seating plan for heads of state dinner
• Kenya Raila Odinga Junior on a fact-finding mission at the Africa-France summit
• Mali Singer Aya Nakamura finalises her own documentary ahead of her three Paris shows

Ivory Coast

President Ouattara plagued by electricity and cocoa crises

Back in Abidjan after a personal trip to France, the head of state is holding a series of emergency meetings in an attempt to contain tensions linked to power cuts and the turmoil in the cocoa bean industry, two highly sensitive issues for the executive.

West Africa

After Nairobi, Macron prepares final major African tour

As the French president closes the Africa-France summit in Kenya, he and his team are already working on his next major trip to the continent – a journey that may well be the last of his two terms in office.

Congo

Sassou tweaks his cabinet

The president has kept Anatole Collinet Makosso on as his prime minister – at least until next year's parliamentary elections – in a new government line-up that retains the usual equilibrium and which deliberately gives no significant advantage to key players in the head of state's inner circle.

Madagascar

Diego-Suarez port upgrade nears funding breakthrough

Paris is moving to accelerate the rehabilitation and expansion of the civilian port of Diego-Suarez, in Madagascar’s far north, with the project expected to clear a decisive hurdle this autumn as French financing is unlocked.

Palace Intrigues

Robert Beugré Mambé, Wale Edun, Faustin-Archange Touadéra

• Ivory Coast Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé gets ready to tie the knot
• Nigeria Finance minister tipped to attend Paris anti-terror summit
• Central African Republic Franco-Ivorian banker Ibrahim Magassa invited to Touadéra's inauguration

Morocco, Mali

Rabat mobilises Royal Air Maroc to evacuate foreign nationals from Bamako

Kenya

Anti-Trump alliance takes shape in Nairobi

Iran, Cuba and Venezuela, all under pressure from the US administration, are building ties in Nairobi in an effort to win over sections of Kenyan civil society and parts of the political class.

DRC

Bank records put subcontracting regulator chief under scrutiny

A letter targeting Miguel Kashal, head of the ARSP subcontracting regulatory authority, cites records showing tens of millions of dollars withdrawn in cash. The matter, linked to security needs in the war against M23, is an open secret among top government figures.

DRC

The discreet ex-Kabila unit advising Tshisekedi on national dialogue

The president is relying on a team made up of several former senior figures from his predecessor's party to draw up a roadmap to address political tensions and the security crisis.

Comoros islands

Main carrier SGTM faces legal action over alleged unpaid wages

Dock workers at the Anjouan subsidiary of the French shipping group are preparing to take legal action against the Mayotte-registered operator over unpaid wages and working conditions they denounce as “undignified”, after a deadline to regularise their situation expired without agreement.

Cameroon

The new life of Émile Joël Bamkoui, former head of military intelligence

A year after retiring, Paul Biya’s former security official has disappeared from the public eye. Having moved into the fuel distribution and trading sectors, he has not ruled out a return to public office.

Kenya

AFCON 2027 build-up falters as Ruto turns up the pressure

Major works have been stalled or slowed by the payment arrears the government is accumulating with its contractors in Nairobi. Some within the executive fear that the continental football competition may not be co-hosted by Kenya as planned.

Ivory Coast

Porteo group snaps up PM’s financial adviser

Tunisia

Citroën ordered to pay former distributor €7.2m for hasty withdrawal

Morocco

Royal Air Maroc hook-up with Starlink Wi-Fi to go ahead

Kenya

Pan-African insurer ATIDI strengthens financing capacity to meet project demand

The Nairobi-based group will now be able to reinvest its dividends directly into future credit lines. The move follows major capital injections from international players, including African ones.