The future of the Accra Initiative, a West African security cooperation structure aimed at stemming the spread of rampant Islamist insurgency from the Sahel, remains uncertain. The United Kingdom and the EU, as key partners in the project, are encouraging member states to clarify their positions before unlocking any significant financial support.
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Diplomacy 
Continuing to strengthen its diplomatic network in the Sahel, Rome has agreed to open an embassy in N'Djamena. The official opening is scheduled for 2024.
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Diplomacy Chinese construction giant CREC-8 has won the contract to restore DR Congo's strategic Kwango bridge. The company submitted a $5.3m bid, which was lower that its two Chinese competitors.
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Infrastructure 
Angry Ivorian companies believe the government has ignored their complaints about the tender to design a traceability system that they say favours international players such as the Swiss firm SICPA at the expense of local firms.
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Commodity traders Bola Tinubu, Nigeria's new head of state, has emerged as favourite to take the chair of the West African regional organisation as negotiations continue before a decision due on 9 July.
The Kenyan government is treading carefully in dealing with the excesses of some of the country's religious institutions. The security agencies are scrutinising the country's most suspect pastors, but have had orders from on high to spare those close to the government.
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Politics On 19 June, the European Union invited service providers to bid for a contract to support the East African Community (EAC) in its ballistics investigations.
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Diplomacy 
The oil-and-gas tycoon's enthusiasm for a platinum mine development project in Maflox Claims has dampened since his arrival in Zimbabwe in 2019, a few months before Emmerson Mnangagwa's election. His local company Bravura has not stuck to the regulatory requirements nor its promises to the authorities to invest.
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Mining 
Disagreements emerged between Abdelhamid Dabaiba and the National Oil Corporation (NOC) boss at a recent meeting to discuss the company's budget allocation. Bengdara has been accused of a lack of transparency in his management of government funding.
Scheduled for October, the next Italy-Africa conference could see the unprecedented participation of African heads of state. Previously the event has been limited to representation at ministerial level.
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Diplomacy 
