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Benin

Afreximbank seeks to strengthen its mark on future Africa Energy Bank

Former President of Afreximbank Benedict Oramah in Abidjan on 13 May 2025. © Issouf Sanogo/AFP

Free access Finance, Energy 03.07.2025

ECOWAS presidents debate AU's next chairperson

The AU chair should go back to a West African state next year. The subject was briefly evoked during the ECOWAS summit in Abuja on 22 June, with several capitals dreaming of being ideal candidates.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 01.07.2025

ECOWAS standby force and the issue of funding

Under pressure from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the sub-regional organisation is expected to present a funding project for a military standby force in the coming weeks. However, few are in favour of it seeing the light of day.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 30.06.2025

Transfer of West African Health Organization HQ to Abidjan irritates Talon

Based in Bobo-Dioulasso, the WAHO headquarters are expected to move to Abidjan, following the decision by ECOWAS member states.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 26.06.2025

Appointment of Julius Maada Bio raises concerns within ECOWAS

Involved in various peace and mediation processes in Sierra Leone, the regional organisation has given a cautious welcome to the appointment of the country's president as its chair.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 25.06.2025

Julius Maada Bio's coup to seize ECOWAS presidency

Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio in Nice, France, on 9 June 2025. © Ludovic Marin / AFP

Subscribers only Diplomacy 23.06.2025

Senegal's Faye to take ECOWAS helm

Breaking news published on 21/06/25, at 13:00 GMT Heads of state from the West African regional bloc have agreed to appoint Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye as the next chair of the organisation, whose authority is being sorely tested by the departure of three member states run by military juntas.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 21.06.2025

Spotlight
Sidi Ould Tah fine-tunes his arrival at helm of African Development Bank

The president-elect of the pan-African institution still has two months to go before officially taking office. But amid thank-you tours, managing the transition and assembling his team, the Mauritanian already has a pile of dossiers on his desk.

Subscribers only Finance 18.06.2025

Outgoing President Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina (C) accompanies Sidi Ould Tah (R) during the AfDB annual meeting in Abidjan, 30 May 2025.

ECOWAS heads of state hold summit in Abuja on 22 June

The Economic Community of West African States will discuss its fiftieth anniversary celebrations at its meeting on 22 June, as well as the formalities for the departure of the AES countries.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 12.06.2025

Interpol accelerates police cooperation within ECOWAS

Police forces from Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin and Togo will share the data they collect as part of cooperation within the Economic Community of West African States.

Subscribers only Defence 11.06.2025

Spotlight
AFRICOM fights for survival under Trump

The United States Africa Command continues to fight jihadist groups and seeks to counter China's influence on the continent. But it no longer shows the same resolve to stem Russian influence and may even cooperate more with regimes that seize power in military coups.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 04.06.2025

Gen. Michael Langley during the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2025 opening ceremony, in Nairobi, Kenya, 28 May 2025.

Talon re-opens Cotonou-Doha flight path project

In a gesture to thaw the Benin-Qatar relations that have been frosty since the 2017 blockade, the president travelled to Doha in May for a visit that was carefully choreographed by Beninese diplomacy.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 02.06.2025

Benin's President Patrice Talon in Paris on 4 October 2024.

Spotlight
From Yaoundé to Dakar, Société Générale's troubled divestments

The sale of almost all of the French bank's subsidiaries across Africa was launched two years ago but has proven more difficult than expected. The group must contend with government manoeuvres to have a say in choosing new owners.

Subscribers only Finance 27.05.2025

Société Générale CEO Slawomir Krupa at the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland, 17 January 2024.

Paralysis within energy and mines ministry raises concerns among investors

Various ministers are increasingly wary of taking decisions for fear of making a move that would displease Patrice Talon. The energy, water, and mines sectors are the most incapacitated by this noxious atmosphere.

Subscribers only Energy, Politics 26.05.2025

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.

Subscribers only Finance 16.05.2025

Majority parties shift strategies ahead of presidential election

The two main parties of the government are attempting to weigh in on the appointment of a hypothetical successor to President Patrice Talon in 2026.

Subscribers only Politics 16.05.2025

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

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

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DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Namibia
Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

Benin

Afreximbank seeks to strengthen its mark on future Africa Energy Bank

ECOWAS presidents debate AU's next chairperson

ECOWAS standby force and the issue of funding

Transfer of West African Health Organization HQ to Abidjan irritates Talon

Appointment of Julius Maada Bio raises concerns within ECOWAS

Julius Maada Bio's coup to seize ECOWAS presidency

Senegal's Faye to take ECOWAS helm

Spotlight
Sidi Ould Tah fine-tunes his arrival at helm of African Development Bank

ECOWAS heads of state hold summit in Abuja on 22 June

Interpol accelerates police cooperation within ECOWAS

Spotlight
AFRICOM fights for survival under Trump

Talon re-opens Cotonou-Doha flight path project

Spotlight
From Yaoundé to Dakar, Société Générale's troubled divestments

Paralysis within energy and mines ministry raises concerns among investors

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

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About Africa Intelligence

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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

The Sahel threatened by a jihadist tornado

Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare

West African cocoa cartel battles with the traders

Benin

Afreximbank seeks to strengthen its mark on future Africa Energy Bank

ECOWAS presidents debate AU's next chairperson

ECOWAS standby force and the issue of funding

Transfer of West African Health Organization HQ to Abidjan irritates Talon

Appointment of Julius Maada Bio raises concerns within ECOWAS

Julius Maada Bio's coup to seize ECOWAS presidency

Senegal's Faye to take ECOWAS helm

Spotlight Sidi Ould Tah fine-tunes his arrival at helm of African Development Bank

ECOWAS heads of state hold summit in Abuja on 22 June

Interpol accelerates police cooperation within ECOWAS

Spotlight AFRICOM fights for survival under Trump

Talon re-opens Cotonou-Doha flight path project

Spotlight From Yaoundé to Dakar, Société Générale's troubled divestments

Paralysis within energy and mines ministry raises concerns among investors

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

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
Sidi Ould Tah fine-tunes his arrival at helm of African Development Bank

Spotlight
AFRICOM fights for survival under Trump

Spotlight
From Yaoundé to Dakar, Société Générale's troubled divestments

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