In a bid to increase his influence, Babagana Zulum is imposing numerous conditions on a humanitarian aid programme in his home state. The European Union is now looking to provide support elsewhere in the country.
French electronics giant CS Group hopes it will finally clinch a €150m contract to secure Senegal's territorial waters now that Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been elected as president. The Israeli broker Gaby Peretz, whose interests may be damaged by Faye's arrival in power, has made a competing bid.
Increasingly sidelined in recent years, Rigathi Gachagua is determined to shore up his political standing. After several false starts, he has now set his sights on a new target: supporters of Musalia Mudavadi, the prime minister and a key rival.
Ethiopia, the birthplace of many a world-class athlete, wants to review the terms of its deal with Adidas, which has suffered a setback in its native Germany and is competing with Nike to sign up East Africa's best athletes.