The president's backing of his arch-rival's bid to helm the African Union Commission is a game-changer for Kenyan politics. The big loser is the deputy president, who is trying to rally his troops and bolster his flagging support in his native central region.
In the run-up to the legislative elections, President Andry Rajoelina has sacked several civil servants close to Christine Razanamahasoa, who opposed him during last year's presidential campaign.
Libreville has been designated as the new capital of the French-speaking community of "regular" Masonic lodges, which has just been set up under the aegis of the Grande Loge de France. The move strengthens the position of Gabon's Grand Master Jacques-Denis Tsanga.
Whether a new unified executive in Libya, as supported by France, Morocco and Egypt, comes into being largely depends on the position taken by Mohamed Takala, the head of the country's advisory High Council of State.