Inner circles | Senegal, Somalia
Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan builds ambitious Africa team in Ankara

Inner circles | Central African Republic
The nebulous web of ‘diplomats' around President Touadéra

Spotlight | West Africa
WAEMU in midst of Abidjan-Ouagadougou tug of war

Serious tensions between Alassane Ouattara and Ibrahim Traoré are paralysing the West African Economic and Monetary Union. The Ivorian president is steadfastly against Burkina Faso taking the head of the organisation's council of ministers, which is expected to meet on 11 July.

Inner circles | Nigeria
The world around Africa Finance Corp boss Samaila Zubairu

Since the Nigerian took charge of the pan-African bank the number of its member states has almost doubled, thanks in large part to his ties to billionaire Aliko Dangote and his fellow development bankers.

Spotlight | Niger
Nationalised SOMAIR uranium firm has back against the wall

With uranium extraction reduced to a bare minimum, the sale of yellowcake impossible and wage arrears mounting, Niger will struggle to revive the Société des Mines de l'Aïr on its own. But arbitration proceedings launched by former French shareholder Orano are likely to deter potential buyers.

Inner circles | Ethiopia
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's young Tigrayan guard

Ethiopia's Tigray region returned to TPLF control in March, but the prime minister is seeking to challenge the party's hegemony there with the help of a group of opposition figures.

Spotlight | Somalia, Sudan
Behind Bosaso Airport, the UAE's key hub for supplying arms to Sudan

Embroiled in the Sudanese civil war, Abu Dhabi has established an airlift to supply the RSF with weapons and paramilitaries. Bosaso, in the northwest of Puntland, is a central link in this logistics operation.

Inner circles | Madagascar
All-powerful Senate boss General Ravalomanana and his army of loyalists

Spotlight | Angola, DRC, Zimbabwe
Gemcorp Capital sets sights beyond Angola

Atanas Bostandjiev's private equity firm wants to expand its operations outside its Angolan stronghold by raising funds in the United States and the Emirates. It is targeting mining, oil, agriculture and renewable energy projects in southern and eastern Africa.

Inner circles | North Africa
Italian PM Meloni spins a business web from Rabat to Cairo

Spotlight | Morocco
Embraer and Lockheed Martin in dogfight for Moroccan air force deal

Brazil's Embraer had appeared favourite to bag an over $600m deal to supply military transport planes to the Moroccan air force. But the US giant Lockheed Martin is still very much in the running, and is even trying to get the State Department to help it clinch the deal.

Spotlight | Libya
Dabaiba turns to Azerbaijan in search of attack drones

In Misrata, Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dabaiba's joint force has established contact with the Azerbaijan Defence Ministry to acquire offensive aircraft. The head of the Government of National Unity may be preparing an operation against hostile militias in Tripoli.