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The Continent
Central Africa
West Africa
Eastern Africa and the Horn
Southern Africa and islands
North Africa

Spotlight | Ghana
US pressure led to Akufo-Addo's green light for Oxy-Kosmos deal

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo at the White House on 23 September 2021. © Yuri Gripas/AbacaPress/Reuters

The US firms, whose deal had been blocked for months by the Ghanaian authorities, had to turn to US diplomats to get it over the line.

Subscribers only Energy

The Continent

In Focus | Africa
Newcomers flourishing on African market worry biometrics leaders

DRC's biometric passport manufactured by Semlex. © Reuters

Biometric identification is booming across African countries where governments have issued licences for identification document and electoral card production. For the moment this high-growth market is dominated by French, German and Belgian firms - Thales, Idemia, Veridos, Zetes and Semlex - but dynamic outsiders, such as Augentic, are beginning to nudge their way in.

Subscribers only Business

Central Africa

Central African Republic, Chad
IMF splashes out for some CEMAC states but leaves N'Djamena and Bangui hanging

Since the beginning of the year, the International Monetary Fund has signed support programmes with four of the six countries in the oil-dependent and Covid-weakened Central African monetary zone. But its talks with Chad and the Central African Republic have stalled.

Subscribers only Finance, Politics

DRC
Kinshasa continues to turn deaf ear to Taiwan's requests to repay its debt

Despite a number of informal meetings, the issue of the debt that Marshal Mobutu Sese Seko's regime ran up with Taiwan in 1991 continues to haunt the presidency of Félix Tshisekedi.

Subscribers only Business

West Africa

Burkina Faso
Ouagadougou assesses mining assets and contracts

The government of Burkina Faso has begun an audit of the country's mining assets to determine whether some mining contracts need renegotiated and if others are preventing exploitation of resources.

Subscribers only Mining

Eastern Africa and the Horn

Djibouti, France
French PM Castex to spend Christmas in the Horn

French Prime Minister Jean Castex spent New Year's Eve on January 31, 2020, in N'Djamena, Chad, with Barkhane soldiers. © Alexandra Lebon/Matignon

The French prime minister Jean Castex, who was in Chad last Christmas, will spend this year's celebration in Djibouti with France's 1500 troops based there.

Subscribers only Politics

Uganda
Forced cooperation between police and army following attacks

Following the 16 November bombings in Kampala that left six people dead and 33 injured Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is forcing his defence and interior ministers to work together and share information, even though there is animosity between the two bodies.

Subscribers only Politics

Southern Africa and islands

Angola
Rosoboronexport and Paramount compete for helicopter contract

Almost a third of Angola's combat helicopters are currently out of action. The Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport and South African group Paramount are jockeying for the contract to repair or replace them.

Subscribers only Defence, Business

Zimbabwe
Scout Aerial to supply tax authorities with surveillance drones to fight gold smuggling

Australian company Scout Aerial Media and Surveying was awarded a contract worth nearly $3m by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) on 5 November to provide an anti-smuggling surveillance drone system.

Subscribers only Mining

North Africa

Libya
Uncertain future for UNSMIL boss Jan Kubis

Jan Kubis, UN Special Envoy for Libya. © Kay Nietfeld/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom/MaxPPP

The mandate of the current UN special envoy to Libya expires in February and may not be renewed.

Subscribers only Diplomacy

Algeria
Algiers-Nouakchott maritime route sinks offshore Southern France

Launched with the support of Algiers, the sole Algeria-Mauritania maritime link has been suspended following a dispute between its owners, Global Maritime Algeria (GMA) and Anisfer Line.

Subscribers only Business

Tunisia
Ministers squabble over negotiations with the IMF and donors

The resumption of negotiations between Tunisia and the IMF saw the Secretary of State in charge of international cooperation, Aida Hamdi, sidelined in favour of the Minister of Economy, Samir Saied, who has now taken over this project.

Subscribers only Finance, Diplomacy

France, Morocco
Morocco loses seat on UNESCO's executive council, despite DG Audrey Azoulay's backing

Breaking news published on 19/11/21 at 14:30 - Morocco's UNESCO representative Samir Addahre has unexpectedly not been re-elected to the organisation's executive arm. The news is a blow to the diplomatic efforts of Mohammed VI, who is on excellent terms with director general Audrey Azoulay.

Subscribers only Diplomacy

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