Spotlight | DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa
Pretoria's thwarted plans for the DRC

South Africa
Lusaka and Pretoria at loggerheads within SADC

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, whom Zambia irked with its candidate for the AfDB presidency and its stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has issued veiled critiques of his counterpart Hakainde Hichilema behind his calls for cohesion within the regional bloc.

DRC
EU prepares electoral observer mission

In preparation for the presidential and legislative elections this December, the European Union is planning to send an electoral observer mission to the DRC.

DRC
Hush-hush talks to plan NIA boss's transfer abroad for medical treatment

Health concerns have recently forced the head of the DRC's intelligence services, Jean-Hervé Mbelu Biosha, to temporarily hand over the reins to his deputy. A medical transfer abroad is being considered.

Kenya
Kenya Commercial Bank targets US diaspora

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), the country's second largest lender with assets estimated at $9bn, has hired a lobbyist in the United States.

East Africa
East African Community struggles to fulfill its potential

The East African Community is currently considering Somalia's application to join the regional bloc, even though it has yet to finalise DR Congo and South Sudan's membership. The regional mechanisms already in place are showing the limits of their effectiveness.

DRC
Infuriated by "judical harrassment", banks set to appeal to Tshisekedi

The Association congolaise des banques, which assembles all the country's banks is preparing to call on DRC President Félix Tshisekedi regarding the administrative and above all judicial harassment of which its members feel they are victims.

The New Guard
The New Guard: Angola, Morocco, Madagascar and Kenya

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

AngolaWalter Pacheco, the rising star of Angolan finance

MoroccoMeryem Rami Yahyaoui, the trade minister's international asset

MadagascarMarie-Christina Kolo, eco-feminist and climate activist in chief

KenyaAngel Mbuthia, Madame President

Central Africa
Ali Bongo keen to mediate between Kinshasa and Kigali while head of ECCAS

Gabonese head of state Ali Bongo, who will shortly take over ECCAS's rotating presidency, is keen to be involved in resolving the DRC-Rwanda crisis.

Kenya
Russia steps on soft power pedal in Nairobi

Moscow is launching an increasing number of cultural and educational programmes in Kenya and is also planning to supply the country with free fertilisers in the hope of getting Kenya on its side over the war in Ukraine.

DRC, South Africa
Pretoria launches airlift to supply its peacekeepers in DRC

The South African army is operating a cargo plane chartered by Sapsan Airline that leaves Pretoria on an almost daily basis to supply its peacekeepers in eastern DR Congo. In a context of high tension between Kinshasa and M23 rebels, the South African military wants to be prepared for any eventuality.

The New Guard
DRC, Mali, Egypt, Kenya

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights the next generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

DRC Patrick Nkanga, the quiet mainstay of Kabila's political bureau

Egypt Osama Elgohary, Prime Minister Madbouli's spin-doctor

Kenya Catherine Muraga, driving Microsoft's new tech development

Mali Adam Dicko plants her networks in rural Mali

African Union, Comoros islands, Rwanda
M23: Vincent Biruta lobbies Azali Assoumani

Officially, Vincent Biruta visited Moroni on 16 January to sign partnerships that had been planned for several years between Rwanda and the Comoros. In reality, it was to talk about the DRC.

Africa
Wiliam Ruto and Azali Assoumani play cat and mouse over AU 2023 chairmanship

The presidents of Kenya and the Comoros both want to propel their country to the head of the African Union for 2023, but they have been avoiding each other and their advisors have not been able to reach any agreement.

DRC
Gulf Catering wins $63m MONUSCO contract

UAE-based Gulf Catering Co. (GCC Services) is about to begin servicing the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo for $63m.

The New Guard
Kenya, Tunisia, Mali, DRC

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence reveals the next generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

KenyaBack to the UA for Kenyatta influencer Pauline Njoroge.

TunisiaMalek Zahi, the other strongman of the Saied system.

MaliAmadou Bathily, business intelligence pioneer in Bamako.

DRCFrançois Kakese, the presidency's éminence grise.

East Africa
Azali, Ruto set to seal Sharm el-Sheikh pact on 2023 AU chairmanship

The presidents of Kenya and the Comoros, the two candidate countries for the vice-chairmanship of the AU bureau, a position whose occupant automatically takes over the chairmanship of the organisation the following year, were quick to mention the vacancy at the bureau's virtual summit on 2 November.

DRC
MONUSCO still hunting for helicopters and heavy artillery

The UN force in the DRC needs more and better firepower to counter M23 rebels. After having turned unsuccessfully to South Africa, MONUSCO is now trying its luck with Jordan and Egypt.

United States
US anti-Russia bill on hold

It is unlikely the halted bill aimed at sanctioning African states deemed too close to Russia will be reintroduced to Congress after the midterms in November. The Senate sees the text as counterproductive and poorly presented.

Tanzania
Insecurity prompts Zanzibar to review its lucrative island leasing

The Tanzanian central government is planning to boost its security presence in the Zanzibar archipelago and in recent months has struck security cooperation deals with India and Mozambique.

DRC, Rwanda
Rwanda standoff divides Tshisekedi's inner circle

The DRC president's confrontational stance towards Rwanda in his address to the UN General Assembly was in line with that of several of his government colleagues. Other advisers are trying to soften his tone in the hope of conciliation.

Central Africa, DRC
EAC still looking for funding for regional force in eastern DR Congo

East African Community (EAC) member countries are looking for new contributors to a special fund set up to finance a regional force intended to pacify eastern DR Congo. The amounts raised so far have been relatively small.

DRC
Fortunat Biselele and Theophas Mahuku, the men behind miner Sud South's dizzying rise

The success of Sud South, which last year signed a lucrative contract with the mining province of Lualaba, is down to its discreet ties with Theophas Mahuku a friend of the Kabila family, and with President Felix Tshisekedi's close adviser, Fortunat Biseleleand.

DRC, East Africa
East African Community sets out battle plan for regional force in eastern DRC

While the head of Congolese diplomacy travelled to Arusha to finalise membership of the East African Community, the regional organisation's military leaders are preparing to send troops. The Congolese army chief of staff signed a confidential document with his counterparts detailing it.

South Africa
ANC concerned at South Africa's declining influence on continent

In a document prepared for the party's policy conference in July, the ANC recognises that South Africa currently has a low level of involvement in the management of African affairs and criticises Morocco, Israel and France in this respect.

In Focus | DRC
The unseen hands at play in US ruling against DRC in Dig Oil award

Following a US court ruling, the DRC may see up to $619m of its US assets seized by oil junior Dig Oil. Africa Intelligence has had access to documents that reveal the determining behind-the-scenes role played by several Congolese ministers in this legal fiasco.

DRC
Regional electricity markets unmoved by Grand Inga promises

In contrast to President Félix Tshisekedi's pan-African vision for his Grand Inga hydropower project, the continent's sub-regional energy pools are being more cautious about becoming future buyers of electricity from Kinshasa.