Spotlight | DRC
Rebel capture of Goma puts Tshisekedi's back against the wall

Great lakes
Belgian foreign minister tours Great Lakes region

Maxime Prévot will be visiting Uganda, Burundi and the DRC, but not Rwanda.

DRC
The discreet activism of Nande leaders in Kampala

The M23's territorial expansion in North Kivu is causing a stir among the Nande community, who are looking to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's government for support.

DRC
Dan Gertler's lawyer arrested by the National Cyber Defence Council

The National Cyber Defence Council, attached to Félix Tshisekedi's presidency and led by Jean-Claude Bukasa, has arrested lawyer Médard Palankoy Lakwas, longterm adviser of Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler.

DRC
Kinshasa hopes US congressman visit will make up for missed Washington meeting

Despite a missed meeting that was due to take place in early March in Washington, the DR Congo is hoping to convince the United States to support it in its battle with M23 rebels. It will make its case during a special visit from a US congressman later this month.

DRC
Despite the ongoing M23 war, Tshisekedi ousts key Katanga figure

The Congolese president's main link to the Greater Katanga region, Ambassador-at-Large Dany Banza, has just been removed from the cabinet. This follows several months of tense relations between the two men.

DRC
Vital Kamerhe embarks on low-key tour from Johannesburg to Tel-Aviv

Challenged by President Félix Tshisekedi's entourage, who suspect him of harbouring a hidden agenda, the President of the Congolese National Assembly has embarked on a diplomatic tour to try to influence the course of the war against the M23 rebels.

DRC
Doha speeds up opening of embassy in Kinshasa

A diplomatic scouting team is due to leave Qatar to set up representation in the Congolese capital. The Emirate is still trying to play the role of mediator in the M23 crisis.

Palace Intrigues
Paul Biya, Lucy Tamlyn, Laurent Esso, Jean-Louis Billon

Intrigues big and small... Every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

DRCUS ambassador Lucy Tamlyn's luxury refuge

CameroonLaurent Esso's absence quells reshuffle rumours

Ivory CoastBillon clan to stage classy Miami wedding

DRC
Europeans not in union on how to respond to the M23 and Rwanda situation

The EU's member states are struggling to come up with a common diplomatic strategy to put pressure on Paul Kagame's Rwanda.

DRC
Church leaders on a mission to Brussels to open talks with opposition

Representatives of the DRC's Catholic and Protestant churches, who are hoping to establish a national dialogue to resolve the crisis in the east of the country, will travel to Belgium to have discussions with opposing political leaders.

Morocco
Bourita pushing to the end to win AU deputy chair for kingdom

The foreign minister is increasing his meetings to push the kingdom's candidate for the AU Commission's deputy chair and was in Rwanda at the start of February to try to gain President Paul Kagame's support.

South Sudan
East African delegation expected in Juba for peace agreements

Elected representatives from the East African Community are preparing to meet South Sudanese officials to assess the implementation of the 2018 agreements, the roadmap for which is experiencing numerous delays.

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, Nicolas Sarkozy, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Cyril Ramaphosa

Intrigues big and small – every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

Ivory CoastOuattara boosts Sarkozy's morale

GabonOligui Nguema, admirer of General de Gaulle

South Africa / RwandaRamaphosa's lexical blunder upsets Kagame

DRC
Kinshasa promises to audit exceptional security spending

In view of a $2.87bn deal signed with the IMF, the Congolese government has pledged to audit the massive sums poured into the war effort in the east of the country.

Inner circles | DRC
SADC regional force chief Monwabisi Dyakopu walks tightrope against M23

After almost four months in charge of a regional intervention force deployed to restore peace to eastern DRC, the South African is frustrated by a shortage of men and resources. And a chronically strained relationship with MONUSCO isn't helping.