Russia's presence further widens wedge in Paris-Bangui axis

Funding shortfall could scupper local elections 

After numerous postponements, Central African Republic is to hold its first elections in 40 years this July. But the financing is far from secure, and international backers are proving reluctant to fork out for the process.

After Gabon dead-end, French armoured vehicles now bound for Kyiv 

France plans to send Ukrainian forces 6-12 Caesar canons and 20 Bastion armoured personnel carriers. Of these, 15 were initially intended to equip the Gabonese troops deployed in MINUSCA. Negotiations are still stalling over the financing of the operation, which should be backed by a new €100m fund announced by President Emmanuel Macron.

Opposition lobbies Antonio Guterres over constitutional reform 

A coalition of opposition parties, the BRDC, is hoping to spur UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres into action following the ousting of judge Daniele Darlan from the country's constitutional court, which she also presided.

Moscow looms large in North African agenda of AFRICOM's new head 

When US General Michael Langley visited Tunisia and Morocco recently amid the raging war in Ukraine, top of his agenda was strengthening ties with its traditional allies in the region.

• MOROCCO - Mohammed VI's Parisian residence keeps its Alberto Pinto décor. 

• CAR - First lady Brigitte Touadéra pays Moscow a low-key visit.

• LIBERIA - Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, persona non grata in Washington. 

The battle of Touadéra's true and false bitcoin advisers 

The CAR's bitcoin policy is drawing attention, as proved by several businessmen in recent weeks.

Touadéra sets ambitious goals to revamp university sector 

The Central African Republic president, an academic himself, has secured Saudi funding to renovate the University of Bangui and has formed a partnership with a Turkish university. This is all part of plans to build a new and improved tertiary education sector in the country.

Wagner's phantom reinforcements 

It was supposed to have been one of the outcomes of the United Nations (UN) Security Council's easing of its arms embargo on the Central African Republic (CAR) on 30 July.

• FRANCE/NIGER - Macron's discreet dinner with Bazoum

• LIBERIA/USA - Weah seeks face-to-face with Harris

• FRANCE/DRC - Hollande on billionaire-sponsored PR trip to see Mukwege

• TOGO - DSK home from home in Lomé

• IVORY COAST - Cesareo, Houphouët-Boigny-era master builder, passes away 

CAR Constitutional Court faces increasing pressure 

The Constitutional Court, headed by Daniele Darlan, is due to rule by the end of the month on the legality of the drafting committee for a new constitution, set up on 26 August by Faustin-Archange Touadéra.

• DRC - Tshisekedi seeks new chief of staff

• CAR - Wagner gatecrashes EU party

• TUNISIA - Mustapha Ferjani, President Kais Saied's own doctor
  

• FRANCE/MALI - Bamako mayor Adama Sangaré still waiting for Paris visa

Hindered by Russian influence, France closes its last army base in Bangui 

After pulling French troops out of Mali, President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce the closure ofa logistics base at Bangui airport next week. The departure of the last 130 French troops is scheduled for the end of the year.

Canada aid cut riles Burkinabe government but indirect funding continues 

Some officials in Burkina Faso have expressed dismay at Ottawa's suspension of its direct budgetary support in the wake of the coup d'état. But Canada, the country's leading foreign investor through its mining companies, is maintaining the bulk of its aid.

World Bank names new country managers 

Han Fraeters, the World Bank's representative in Central African Republic, is leaving his current role for a new posting in Niamey in Niger. He will replace Joelle Dehasse there, who left for Panama in March.

Constitutional reform bill on course to let Touadera seek third term 

The Central African head of state wants a constitutional reform bill to go through parliament in July. Despite misgivings, national assembly speaker Simplice Mathieu Sarandji cannot oppose the text that should open the way to a third mandate for Touadera.

Private sector hopes for OHADA membership for sunnier business climate 

As a World Bank report published on 1 June expresses concerns about the business climate in Madagascar, the country's private sector is still hopeful Madagascar will join OHADA, an organisation of 17 Africa states bound by a system of business laws.

EU considers resumption of financial aid to Bangui 

The European Union has not ruled out resuming financial support for Central African Republic. An EU delegation was in Bangui last week to discuss how it might resume the payment of budgetary support, estimated at €30m.

Central African consul in Belgium benefits from Bangui's anti-Covid fight 

At the end of December the CAR Finance Ministry published a list of the various contracts that Bangui has signed as a result of the fight against Covid-19. The main beneficiary in 2021 was the company Facility+, owned by Dimitri Mozer, who is also Honorary Consul General of CAR in Liege, Belgium.

Security Council's tense talks on renewing MINUSCA mandate 

The UN Security Council is renewing MINSUCA's mandate on Friday. The discussions began in October and have been strained, as Moscow has sought to ease the arms embargo on the Central African Republic. Relations between Bangui and the UN mission remain tense.

Madrid continues to equip Malian gendarmes despite tensions over Wagner 

Although EU relations with Mali have been strained by the junta's decision to cosy up to Moscow, Madrid is going ahead with its programme to equip gendarmes in Mali and elsewhere in the Sahel.

Army receives C-Astral Slovenian drones as war escalates in Anglophone regions 

Amid escalating tensions in the Anglophone regions, the Cameroonian army has quietly received its first batch of Bramor observation drones from Slovenian manufacturer C-Astral to boost its ISR capacities.

Paris takes stock of EU military training mission 

France has taken advantage of its turn to command the European Union Training Mission to order a wide-ranging audit of its performance. This is expected to result in the mission being completely reorganised or perhaps even being called off altogether.

Internal war at Croisement SA, MINUSCA's guardian angel 

Frenchman Christian Perrière, dismissed from his position as managing director for the private security company Croisement SA, has been reinstated after a decision by the Central African courts. Arouna Nikiema and a host of figures hostile to MINUSCA were behind the attempted removal.

Paris makes life uncomfortable for CAR officials 

Since September, France has refused to grant visas to a dozen Central African Republic officials in a sign of the tense relations between the two countries. The situation is unlikely to improve with several investigations on the horizon.

Dar es-Salaam rail freight project still waiting for rolling stock 

The planned start this year of a block train service between Dar-es-Salaam and Isaka 970 km to the west, where there is a dry port serving neighbouring countries, looks likely to be delayed.

The five themes of the Africa-France summit 

The New Africa-France Summit will be held on 8 October at the Sud de France Arena in Pérols, near the southern French city of Montpellier, in the presence of Emmanuel Macron

MEDEF to finally visit Djibouti next year 

Attending a meeting in Paris of Francophone entrepreneurs, Djibouti Chamber of Commerce president Youssouf Moussa Dawaleh won an assurance from the head of French employers' group MEDEF about a visit to Djibouti before the end of the first quarter of 2022

Cape Verde gets World Bank help to privatise its electricity company 

The World Bank is to assist the government of Cape Verde to privatise national electricity company Electra by footing a $2m bill for consultancy services.

RA International bags contract to upgrade Bangui airport for MINUSCA 

RA International, which specialises in conflict zone logistics, is boosting its presence in the Central African Republic.

Weapons embargo sparks tension within UN Security Council 

The UN Security Council intends to extend the weapons embargo against the CAR at the end of this month. While France, the UK,and the US are in favour of extending, Russia is threatening to use its veto power.

Macron puts finishing touches on Mediterranean summit 

In November, the French city of Marseille will host the next edition of the Sommet des deux rives summit, which brings together ten states from the southern and northern shores of the Mediterranean.

As Russian influence grows, EU mulls aid suspension, following Paris's lead 

As Russian paramilitary group Wagner continues to extend its influence in the Central African Republic, the European Union is considering suspending payment of an upcoming €30m tranche of budget aid to the government.

New PM Dondra squeezed between donors and Russia 

Appointed prime minister on 11 June, Henri-Marie Dondra has the difficult task of reassuring the cash-strapped country's financial backers while dealing with heightened tensions over the December elections and growing Russian influence. The appointment of his cabinet will be a baptism of fire.

How many Russians does it take to back up an army? 

Officially, there are around 800 Russian officers and troops in the Central African Republic. That doesn't include "civilians" under contract to Russia's defence ministry or operators of the command systems imported from Moscow.

Islamic finance set to lose its monopoly 

As part of its economic reform programme, Sudan is putting in place a two-track system where Islamic and conventional finance will operate side by side.

Russian ambassador to Bangui to return to Moscow this summer 

Breaking news published on 14/05/21, 1:50 p.m., updated on 16/05/21 - As tensions between Paris and Moscow over their battle for influence reach new highs, Russia's CAR ambassador Vladimir Titorenko, who has held this post since January 2019, will head home this summer.

Dyck Advisory Group bids for UN mine clearance contract 

The private South African operator Dyck Advisory Group (DAG) is angling for a piece of a UN mine clearance contract now that its military operations have been suspended in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.

Under IMF's watchful eye, Conakry cracks down on money-laundering 

At the end of April, Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana had to give the International Monetary Fund proof of progress in the fight against financial crime. The National Assembly passed a law on the subject the same month.

Transparency may shed harsh light on Burkina Faso's politicians 

Ouagadougou is determined to disclose the identities of minor shareholders in Burkina Faso's mining companies, much to the dismay of the political class.

Comigem state counter still desperately awaiting privatisation 

In March 2020, a decision was made to privatise the Central African Republic public gem buying office Comigem declared bankrupt years ago. A buyer was found but since then everything has gone quiet.

Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death 

Under Idriss Déby, Chad became a major influence in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR), where it has close links with rebel groups. President Touadéra, who is concerned about the connections of new Chadian strongman "Kaka" in his country, is closely monitoring Déby's son and would-be heir.

Wagner sets up air bridge as armed groups threaten Touadéra ahead of poll 

Russian private security firm Wagner has stepped up equipment deliveries to CAR's armed forces over recent days, using a range of large cargo plane brokers. The logistics escalation comes as rebels threaten the 27 December presidential poll.