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Congo

Swiss trader Mercuria struggles with Marine XI licence

The energy and commodity group continues to lend substantial sums to the state-owned oil company in exchange for the marketing of crude oil. Meanwhile, activity on its own block remains minimal.

Subscribers only Energy 10.07.2026

In Focus
Françoise Joly, the enigmatic French adviser to heads of state who became Moscow's conduit

© Illustrated by Ezinne Osueke | Photo by J. Mattia/ Nur Photo Via AFP; A.Savorani Neri/Nur Photo Via AFP; X.Bouzas/Hans Lucas via AFP; A.Nemenov/AFP; G.Sysoyev/Pool AFP; Françoise Joly's website

Subscribers only Diplomacy 06.07.2026

French courts set to take 'presidential' Falcon off Commisimpex and its financiers

Six years after successfully seizing Denis Sassou-Nguesso's Falcon jet, the Lebanese businessman Mohsen Hojeij – who is claiming €2.2bn in unpaid debts from the Congo – is on the verge of losing this prized asset.

Subscribers only Energy 03.07.2026

Intelligence boss Okemba weakened within Congo's freemasonry

Secretary General of the National Security Council Jean-Dominique Okemba in Moscow, Russia, on 26 May 2026.© Mikhail Sinitsyn/Zuma/MaxPPP

Subscribers only Politics 25.06.2026

Debt dispute lands Commisimpex boss Mohsen Hojeij in Lebanon courts

Beirut's chief magistrate has summoned the Lebanese businessman, who is seeking €1.8bn in arrears from Congo, to appear for a hearing in September after Brazzaville's lawyers filed a complaint accusing him of forgery and fraud.

Subscribers only Business 25.06.2026

Former ENI executive appointed to presidency post

In the government reshuffle, Denis Sassou-Nguesso has appointed Fabrice Davy Okassa as his adviser on hydrocarbons. The move underlines the Italian major's growing influence in the Congolese oil sector.

Subscribers only Energy, Politics 17.06.2026

Perenco raided in France amid widening corruption probe

According to Africa Intelligence, the Paris headquarters of the Franco-British oil company, along with the homes of several of its senior executives and managers, was recently searched by French police. The raids are part of an investigation opened in 2023 by the national financial prosecutor's office.

Subscribers only Energy 16.06.2026

Perenco's chairman, François Perrodo, in Le Mans, France, on 5 June 2026.

Congo River road-rail bridge project prepares to enter new phase

On the sidelines of the AfDB annual meetings, Brazzaville and Kinshasa are preparing to launch a call for proposals for the construction of a civil engineering structure financed with support from Africa50. The project is whetting the appetite of Chinese firms.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 25.05.2026

António Guterres appoints UN representative for Central Africa

The United Nations regional office, still reeling from the internal investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation against its former head, is finally set to have a new leader.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.05.2026

United Nations' Secretary-General António Guterres in Addis Ababa on 13 May 2026.

Four heads of state due in Brazzaville for the AfDB's annual meetings

The president of the institution, the Mauritanian Sidi Ould Tah, will continue to present his overhaul of the African financing system, of which he gave a first outline during the Africa Forward summit on 11 and 12 May.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.05.2026

Brazzaville names former foreign minister to revive Washington ties

A loyal presidential ally has been appointed Congo’s ambassador to the US. He will be tasked with keeping the transatlantic relationship on track at a time when Congo is experiencing a relative lack of interest from the Trump administration.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 15.05.2026

Arabian Construction Co lands deal for future governmental city

ACC is set to sign a contract with the government for the construction of a modern complex to house ministries and the president's offices. The Lebanese conglomerate has just completed a similar project in Cotonou.

Subscribers only Politics 05.05.2026

New oil chief Stev Simplice Onanga inherits a boom

Appointed on 24 April to head the hydrocarbons portfolio, the new minister takes over at a moment of unusual strength for Congo's oil industry, with fresh investment flowing into the fossil fuels sector.

Subscribers only Energy 29.04.2026

Sassou tweaks his cabinet

The president has kept Anatole Collinet Makosso on as his prime minister – at least until next year's parliamentary elections – in a new government line-up that retains the usual equilibrium and which deliberately gives no significant advantage to key players in the head of state's inner circle.

Subscribers only Politics 28.04.2026

Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso in Brazzaville on 16 April 2026.

ECAir plots return as rival Brazza Airlines gets off the ground

The country's flag carrier is looking for an explanation from the national civil aviation agency regarding the operating licences granted to the newcomer to the Congolese skies, which has just operated its maiden flight.

Subscribers only Business 24.04.2026

Bank of Central African States ends talks on restoration funds

After six years of negotiations, the BEAC and foreign operators have been unable to reach an agreement on the terms for repatriating funds for the rehabilitation of mining and oil sites in the CFA franc zone.

Subscribers only Energy, Mining 23.04.2026

Behind the scenes of Sassou's rocky inauguration

The president's swearing-in ceremony was marked not only by technical glitches but also a resurgence of tension with Gabon and within the head of state's own clan.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 22.04.2026

Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso in Brazzaville on 17 April 2026.

World Bank injects $395m into Congo Basin forests

The funding for the first phase of the Sustainable Congo Basin Forest Economies Program, running until 2034, has just been approved.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 08.04.2026

Spotlight
The alarming IMF report on CEMAC countries

A few days before its spring meetings, the International Monetary Fund conducted a harsh assessment of the health of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa states. The Bretton Woods institution, which is about to conclude support programmes with them, is asking for guarantees.

Subscribers only Finance 02.04.2026

Abebe Aemro Selassie at the IMF and World Bank annual meeting in Washington, 16 October 2025.

Ex-minister Lee White offers services in Brazzaville

Ali Bongo's former minister of water and forests, who was ousted by Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's coup, has been offering his expertise to Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso for several months now.

Subscribers only Politics 02.04.2026

Post election victory, Sassou-Nguesso takes a time out to reflect in Oyo

The Congolese president, just re-elected for a fifth term, is set to withdraw to his stronghold, surrounded by loyalists from his family and political clan. Rest, reflection on the future government and strategic issues will be on the agenda.

Subscribers only Politics 20.03.2026

Congo President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, in Brazzaville on 13 March 2026.

CEMAC countries meet in Paris amid IMF negotiations

On 17 March 2026, Paris will host the traditional annual tripartite meeting between officials from the French Treasury, the economy and finance ministers of the franc zone countries, representatives of CEMAC and monetary institutions.

Subscribers only Finance 10.03.2026

BEAC changes tactics with mining and oil operators

With foreign exchange reserves dwindling, member states, in the midst of negotiations with the IMF, asked the central bank for progress on the issue of repatriating funds for the rehabilitation of mining and oil sites

Subscribers only Finance, Energy 09.03.2026

Sassou-Nguesso faces threat of record abstention

The head of state, who has been in power for four decades and is running for another term in the 15 March election, has reorganised his campaign team. With no rivals at the polls and a population increasingly disinterested in politics, Denis Sassou-Nguesso and his strategists fear a high abstention rate.

Subscribers only Politics 03.03.2026

Denis Sassou-Nguesso, then running for a third term, voting in Brazzaville on 20 March 2016.

Presidential election: Denis Sassou-Nguesso's defence programme

The head of state, who hopes to win an eighth term in office later this month, has made defence and security one of the pillars of his programme, with plans for compulsory conscription for young people and broader military partnerships with African armies at its core.

Subscribers only Defence, Politics 27.02.2026

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Congo

Swiss trader Mercuria struggles with Marine XI licence

In Focus
Françoise Joly, the enigmatic French adviser to heads of state who became Moscow's conduit

French courts set to take 'presidential' Falcon off Commisimpex and its financiers

Intelligence boss Okemba weakened within Congo's freemasonry

Debt dispute lands Commisimpex boss Mohsen Hojeij in Lebanon courts

Former ENI executive appointed to presidency post

Perenco raided in France amid widening corruption probe

Congo River road-rail bridge project prepares to enter new phase

António Guterres appoints UN representative for Central Africa

Four heads of state due in Brazzaville for the AfDB's annual meetings

Brazzaville names former foreign minister to revive Washington ties

Arabian Construction Co lands deal for future governmental city

New oil chief Stev Simplice Onanga inherits a boom

Sassou tweaks his cabinet

ECAir plots return as rival Brazza Airlines gets off the ground

Bank of Central African States ends talks on restoration funds

Behind the scenes of Sassou's rocky inauguration

World Bank injects $395m into Congo Basin forests

Spotlight
The alarming IMF report on CEMAC countries

Ex-minister Lee White offers services in Brazzaville

Post election victory, Sassou-Nguesso takes a time out to reflect in Oyo

CEMAC countries meet in Paris amid IMF negotiations

BEAC changes tactics with mining and oil operators

Sassou-Nguesso faces threat of record abstention

Presidential election: Denis Sassou-Nguesso's defence programme

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Ibrahim Traoré

Virtus Minerals

Paul Kagame

Savannah Energy

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Congo

Swiss trader Mercuria struggles with Marine XI licence

In Focus Françoise Joly, the enigmatic French adviser to heads of state who became Moscow's conduit

French courts set to take 'presidential' Falcon off Commisimpex and its financiers

Intelligence boss Okemba weakened within Congo's freemasonry

Debt dispute lands Commisimpex boss Mohsen Hojeij in Lebanon courts

Former ENI executive appointed to presidency post

Perenco raided in France amid widening corruption probe

Congo River road-rail bridge project prepares to enter new phase

António Guterres appoints UN representative for Central Africa

Four heads of state due in Brazzaville for the AfDB's annual meetings

Brazzaville names former foreign minister to revive Washington ties

Arabian Construction Co lands deal for future governmental city

New oil chief Stev Simplice Onanga inherits a boom

Sassou tweaks his cabinet

ECAir plots return as rival Brazza Airlines gets off the ground

Bank of Central African States ends talks on restoration funds

Behind the scenes of Sassou's rocky inauguration

World Bank injects $395m into Congo Basin forests

Spotlight The alarming IMF report on CEMAC countries

Ex-minister Lee White offers services in Brazzaville

Post election victory, Sassou-Nguesso takes a time out to reflect in Oyo

CEMAC countries meet in Paris amid IMF negotiations

BEAC changes tactics with mining and oil operators

Sassou-Nguesso faces threat of record abstention

Presidential election: Denis Sassou-Nguesso's defence programme

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

In Focus
Françoise Joly, the enigmatic French adviser to heads of state who became Moscow's conduit

Spotlight
The alarming IMF report on CEMAC countries