Cameroon
Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh brings economy and finance ministries under his thumb

Cameroon, Congo
Alexandre Mbiam will struggle to keep his promises on Mbalam-Nabeba iron ore project

The Cameroonian businessman, who has good links with the authorities in Yaounde and Brazzaville, is trying to give the impression that his legal battle with Sundance, which was deprived of the project in late 2021, will affect neither the Chinese financing he hopes to get for it or its production date.

Cameroon
South Africa's MTN turns to Paul Biya in case against billionaire Baba Danpullo

Since September 2022, South African telephone company MTN has been in conflict with Baba Danpullo. In retaliation for the seizure of his assets in South Africa, the billionaire is trying to seize MTN's accounts in Cameroon and MTN hopes the president will put an end to the legal battle.

Cameroon
Biya turns to shadowy Israeli networks to cast light on Belinga affair

In parallel with the official inquiry, military intelligence agents have since late January been secretly investigating the murder of the journalist Martinez Zogo with Israeli help. Their findings have implicated Cameroon's counter-espionage services.

Palace Intrigues
Mamadi Doumbouya, Paul Biya, Mohamed Benchaaboun and Zinedine Zidane

Intrigues big and small... Every Tuesday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond. This week: Mamadi Doumbouya's luxury watch collection, Paul Biya's NY wishes cull, Mohammed VI snubs ex-ambassador Mohamed Benchaaboun and French VIPs celebrate NYE in Marrakech.

Guinea Colonel Doumbouya's €400,000 wristwatch

Cameroon Everyone wants their New Year's photo with Biya

Morocco Glacial reception for Mohamed Benchaaboun in Rabat

France-Morocco Zidane among French VIPs in Marrakech for NYE

Central African Republic
CAR communications minister on whirlwind charm offensive in Paris

Le ministre centrafricain de la communication Serge Djorie termine ce vendredi une visite de cinq jours sur les bords de la Seine, pendant laquelle il a rencontré Jean-Marie Bockel.

Cameroon
Ailing Biya visited by his French doctor

Worried about the series of ailments suffered by 90-year-old Paul Biya in April, the presidential entourage called on his personal physician.

Cameroon
Ngoh Ngoh broadens his offensive on economy and finance ministries

The secretary general of the presidency of the republic (SGPR) Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh is tightening his grip on state coffers by ordering an audit of expenses incurred between 2010 and 2021.

Cameroon
Israeli securocrat Eran Moas behind Augentic-IN Group's push for ID cards

To win the next contract for Cameroon's biometric identity cards, fledgling German company Augentic, in partnership with French firm IN Groupe, is relying on the intense lobbying of Israeli securocrat Eran Moas, an adviser to President Paul Biya's praetorian guard.

Cameroon
Biya's right-hand man, General Ivo Desancio Yenwo, selected to protect the British embassy

The British Foreign Office has just put its trust in the private security provider Essoka Security, founded by one of Cameroon President Paul Biya's top security experts.

Central Africa, France
Cameroonian oligarch Amougou Belinga strives to resurrect Télésud

Active in banking and private education, the Cameroonian Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga is trying to raise funds for a pan-African television channel that would be the successor to Télésud, which has been in liquidation since 2019.