Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

The Morning Brief
Log in

Password

Keep me logged in

Forgot your password?
Subscribe

Benin

British oil company Energean's West African ambitions

The London-listed company is looking to expand its operations on the continent, particularly in West Africa.

Subscribers only Energy 22.05.2025

Vista Bank abandons plans to acquire Oragroup

Breaking news published on 16/05/25, at 14:30 GMT - On 13 May, the group headed by Simon Tiemtoré informed the pan-African bank Oragroup that it would not be acquiring the shares held by the Emerging Capital Partners fund. This marks the end of two years of thorny negotiations.

Subscribers only Finance 16.05.2025

Majority parties shift strategies ahead of presidential election

Joseph Djogbenou (left), former President of the Beninese Constitutional Court, and President Patrice Talon (far right), in Cotonou, August 2018. © Yanick Folly/AFP

Subscribers only Politics 16.05.2025

Palestinian Authority launches first ever Africa division

For the first time, Palestinian diplomacy has set up a department exclusively dedicated to the continent. However, its meagre resources are likely to limit its scope of influence.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 14.05.2025

Moscow finetunes its diplomatic strategy in the Sahel

Created at the beginning of the year, the Russian foreign ministry's Department for Partnership with Africa aims to strengthen ties with the continent's main regional organisations, notably the Alliance of Sahel States.

Free access Diplomacy 07.05.2025

Volodymyr Zelensky cuts short his African tour

The Ukrainian president left Pretoria prematurely on 24 April, cancelling his tour that was supposed to take him to at least two other countries on the continent.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 06.05.2025

Army poised to procure second reconnaissance aircraft

French company Défense Conseil International delivered a first aircraft to Cotonou within the EU military cooperation framework in March. After the signing of a direct contract, it is to deliver another plane to the Beninese military by August.

Subscribers only Defence 18.04.2025

Spotlight
Theia Trading takes over Russian oil products market in Africa as sanctions hit Demex

Russian trading companies are competing with each other to circumvent international sanctions in order to continue selling their products in Africa.

Subscribers only Energy, Commodity traders 15.04.2025

Aerial view of Russia's Novorossiysk port, August 2023.

ECOWAS plans its contentious 50th anniversary amid existential crisis

West African foreign affairs ministers will gather on 22 April in Accra to kick off the birthday celebrations. Yet the thorny questions surrounding the Alliance of Sahel States and the future presidency of the organisation will also be on the agenda.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 14.04.2025

The ECOWAS summit in Abuja, Nigeria, on 15 December 2024.

New pair of generals at Accra Initiative helm

A duo of Ghanaian generals recently took charge of the West African regional security organisation and have been tasked with revitalising it under the aegis of President Mahama.

Subscribers only Defence 08.04.2025

Spotlight
Patrice Talon weighs up soldiering on with army reforms

As Benin faces intense clashes with armed groups on its northern border, the president is trying to assess the morale of his troops and whether or not to continue with proposed changes.

Subscribers only Defence 01.04.2025

Apix Energy, Lukoil's new vehicle in Africa

Several Litasco employees have joined forces to form a new Dubai-based trading company, Apix Energy, which has set its sights on the African continent. However, management denies any link between the two structures.

Subscribers only Energy, Commodity traders 24.03.2025

Spotlight
Sahelian juntas turn to Qatar to end their international exiles

Nigeria and Mali's leaders were not shy in asking for help to mend diplomatic fences when the Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs came to visit their countries.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 24.03.2025

Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi, in Beirut, on 3 April 2023.

Sanctions-hit Dubai trader Coral Energy reinvents itself again

After an initial name change to 2Rivers, oil trader Coral Energy has transferred its activities to a new entity, Safira Global Trading. Coral Energy was sanctioned in December for selling Russian oil below the floor price.

Subscribers only Energy 18.02.2025

African troubles contributed to CEO Bories' exit from French miner Eramet

Christel Bories had lofty ambitions for Africa when she took the Eramet helm in 2017. Yet she achieved few of them, and the French mining group is being challenged on its Gabonese and Senegalese sites.

Subscribers only Mining 03.02.2025

The CEO of the Eramet Group, Christel Bories, in Argentina, in July 2024.

Tullow Oil may jettison assets to steady the ship

It is shaping up to be a decisive year for the British junior, which is set to sell off various assets to reduce its substantial debts.

Subscribers only Energy 31.01.2025

Inner circles
The dozen minister advisers who will be Talon's eyes and ears

A mix of longstanding allies, fresh converts and efficient bureaucrats, these new appointees will be playing a highly political role as Patrice Talon seeks to keep close tabs on his ministers ahead of the next presidential election.

Subscribers only Politics 31.01.2025

Benin's President Patrice Talon in Cotonou, July 2022.

Patrice Talon appoints new ambassador to Qatar

Bida Nouhoume Youssoufou Abdouramani is likely to have his work cut out for him in Doha.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 23.01.2025

Macron's Africa envoy Jean-Marie Bockel expected in London

He will be presenting France's vision for its future military presence in Africa to the British government.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 23.01.2025

Three years on, local authorities reform fails to take hold

The new set-up designed to help local authorities manage their budgets more effectively isn't working. Much to the dismay of Beninese President Patrice Talon, who has championed devolution within certain strictly defined limits.

Subscribers only Finance, Politics 17.01.2025

Beninese President Patrice Talon in Cotonou, June 2022.

Spotlight
West African leaders meet to address financial turmoil

West African Economic and Monetary Union heads of state are due to meet on 14 December to discuss the financial woes of the French-speaking economic organisation, which is burdened by a dearth of foreign currency, difficulties in borrowing on the markets and major unpaid debts.

Subscribers only Finance, Diplomacy 13.12.2024

The Ivorian leader and current WAEMU president Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on 5 December 2022.

Businessman Claude Dohou's star on rise among French Freemasons

He will be appointed Deputy Grand Master of the GNLF on 14 December in Paris.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 13.12.2024

Macron envoy to present French military cuts in Africa to European partners

Jean-Marie Bockel submitted a report to the French president on 25 November.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 28.11.2024

Spotlight
ECOWAS set to formalise departure of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger

The heads of state of the West African regional organisation will meet next month in Abuja. The main issue at their summit will be the ratification of the withdrawal from ECOWAS of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which are all now run by military juntas.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 27.11.2024

ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray in Abuja, on 24 February 2024.

Popular Chinese ambassador heads back to Beijing

The longest-serving ambassador in the entire Chinese diplomatic network, Peng Jingtao, had been posted to Benin since April 2018.

Subscribers only Energy, Diplomacy 19.11.2024

Create a notification

Benin

Don't miss a single headline. Sign up to receive weekly summaries of our coverage of Benin.

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!

DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Namibia
Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

Benin

British oil company Energean's West African ambitions

Vista Bank abandons plans to acquire Oragroup

Majority parties shift strategies ahead of presidential election

Palestinian Authority launches first ever Africa division

Moscow finetunes its diplomatic strategy in the Sahel

Volodymyr Zelensky cuts short his African tour

Army poised to procure second reconnaissance aircraft

Spotlight
Theia Trading takes over Russian oil products market in Africa as sanctions hit Demex

ECOWAS plans its contentious 50th anniversary amid existential crisis

New pair of generals at Accra Initiative helm

Spotlight
Patrice Talon weighs up soldiering on with army reforms

Apix Energy, Lukoil's new vehicle in Africa

Spotlight
Sahelian juntas turn to Qatar to end their international exiles

Sanctions-hit Dubai trader Coral Energy reinvents itself again

African troubles contributed to CEO Bories' exit from French miner Eramet

Tullow Oil may jettison assets to steady the ship

Inner circles
The dozen minister advisers who will be Talon's eyes and ears

Patrice Talon appoints new ambassador to Qatar

Macron's Africa envoy Jean-Marie Bockel expected in London

Three years on, local authorities reform fails to take hold

Spotlight
West African leaders meet to address financial turmoil

Businessman Claude Dohou's star on rise among French Freemasons

Macron envoy to present French military cuts in Africa to European partners

Spotlight
ECOWAS set to formalise departure of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger

Popular Chinese ambassador heads back to Beijing

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

DRC Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Namibia Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

Erdogan sets out to conquer Africa

Simandou, Nimba and Zogota: the long and difficult road to the start of iron ore production

Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare

Benin

British oil company Energean's West African ambitions

Vista Bank abandons plans to acquire Oragroup

Majority parties shift strategies ahead of presidential election

Palestinian Authority launches first ever Africa division

Moscow finetunes its diplomatic strategy in the Sahel

Volodymyr Zelensky cuts short his African tour

Army poised to procure second reconnaissance aircraft

Spotlight Theia Trading takes over Russian oil products market in Africa as sanctions hit Demex

ECOWAS plans its contentious 50th anniversary amid existential crisis

New pair of generals at Accra Initiative helm

Spotlight Patrice Talon weighs up soldiering on with army reforms

Apix Energy, Lukoil's new vehicle in Africa

Spotlight Sahelian juntas turn to Qatar to end their international exiles

Sanctions-hit Dubai trader Coral Energy reinvents itself again

African troubles contributed to CEO Bories' exit from French miner Eramet

Tullow Oil may jettison assets to steady the ship

Inner circles The dozen minister advisers who will be Talon's eyes and ears

Patrice Talon appoints new ambassador to Qatar

Macron's Africa envoy Jean-Marie Bockel expected in London

Three years on, local authorities reform fails to take hold

Spotlight West African leaders meet to address financial turmoil

Businessman Claude Dohou's star on rise among French Freemasons

Macron envoy to present French military cuts in Africa to European partners

Spotlight ECOWAS set to formalise departure of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger

Popular Chinese ambassador heads back to Beijing

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Namibia
Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

Spotlight
Theia Trading takes over Russian oil products market in Africa as sanctions hit Demex

Spotlight
Patrice Talon weighs up soldiering on with army reforms

Spotlight
Sahelian juntas turn to Qatar to end their international exiles

Inner circles
The dozen minister advisers who will be Talon's eyes and ears

Spotlight
West African leaders meet to address financial turmoil

Spotlight
ECOWAS set to formalise departure of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger