Zhao Baomei has established herself as a key figure in the Central African Republic's mining sector. The mysterious and formidable Chinese businesswoman owes her success to her networks and her sharp business practices.
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Mining 
The decision by Handling Partner Gabon's board to dismiss its French CEO, Olivier Berni, on 4 May, gives the Gabonese Fund for Strategic Investments greater control of the airfreight company. His departure edges out Monaco Resources Group, which had appointed Berni in 2020.
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Finance 
China's state-run oil major Sinopec has set it sights on the western African country, where it is poised to become the second largest Chinese firm operating there behind China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), an old hand in Niger.
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Energy Before standing down, the VP had hoped to announce a record investment for Nigeria's energy transition and tried to convince Germany to back him until his very last days in office. But delays in a current $2bn project with Siemens put a damper on his plans.
Senegal's top security officials are busy putting the finishing touches to an operational manual on how to fight Islamist terrorism destined for the country's army and internal security forces.
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Defence 
The president is avoiding confrontation with his eldest son, who hopes to succeed his father in 2026. But he is working to assert his authority over the army and win back the regions most defiant of his power.
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Politics Frosty relations between Addis Ababa and Cairo as a result of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project are likely to stall processes in the African Union. The Egyptian head of the budget subcommittee still refuses to agree to a budget increase which would allow staff on temporary contracts, many of whom are Ethiopian, to be given a permanent status.
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Politics The Russian embassy in Addis Ababa is shortly due to welcome new trade representative Yaroslav Tarasyuk, who was appointed by decree by prime minister Mikhail Mishustin in mid-May.
Eunice Mpoloka has just received approval from the Competition and Consumer Authority in Gaborone to acquire 51% of Hoisting Solutions, one of Botswana's main drilling and construction rental companies.
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Mining 
Candidates can now apply as early as October, allowing the current administration to move the next presidential election up a few months. In the meantime, intelligence services are looking for a potential candidate to run against al-Sisi.
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Politics Under the watchful eye of TotalEnergies' compliance department, security companies are squabbling over the award of a protection contract by the oil group to a small service provider, Basalt SAS, which is causing much resentment.
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Business 
