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DRC

Alberto Petrangeli was previously posted in Albania. © @ItalyinALB/Twitter

New Italian ambassador set to take over from slain predecessor

There has been no Italian ambassador to the DR Congo since the assassination of Luca Attanasio a year ago. Alberto Petrangeli is due to fill the post in the coming days.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 29.03.2022

Glencore CEO, the South African Gary Nagle. © Glencore

Spotlight
Behind-the-scenes of Glencore's battle to resolve its disputes with Kinshasa

Led by Gary Nagle since last July, the Swiss group, which reported a $5bn net income for 2021, is now practising a policy of amicable settlement to iron out disputes with local and US authorities over its activities in the DR Congo. The group says it is ready to invest locally, rediscuss its royalties and hand over its Tilwezembe mining concession to Gécamines.

Subscribers only Mining 29.03.2022

UN assigning consultants to establish battery precursor factory in Katanga

DR Congo has plans to make the most of its resources in cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese by building battery cathode precursor factories in the Haut-Katanga Special Economic Zone. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa will lend a hand.

Subscribers only Mining 28.03.2022

Tshisekedi caught between Dan Gertler and Washington

On the one hand, the mining magnate Dan Gertler is plying pressure on Kinshasa to enact the compromise he signed last month as fast as possible, while on the other, the US wants Felix Tshisekedi's government to re-evaluate the terms of the agreement it deems very unfavourable.

Subscribers only Mining, Business 25.03.2022

Clouds still hanging on Congo Airways's horizon

Only two aircraft in the national airline's fleet are in flying condition, and due to lack of funds, the acquisition projects launched by the former management have been abandoned.

Subscribers only Business 25.03.2022

Huayou Cobalt tries to salvage its Congolese supply

The Chinese group has taken advantage of Gécamines' reluctance to pursue artisanal mining at the Kasulo mine, which Kinshasa wanted to suspend. But if it wants to keep its access to Congolese cobalt, this provider of large battery manufacturers in China will have to invest more in the sector's modernisation.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 25.03.2022

Kinshasa hiring US lobbyists left and right

Already a Washington favourite, Félix Tshisekedi wants to cement ties with the Biden administration but also with Republicans in Congress. His Minister of Communication has signed on two lobbying firms, one on each side of the poitical divide.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 24.03.2022

US Treasury unlikely to let Alain Goetz's Aldabra off hook over gold trafficking allegations

Although it has not been put on the sanctions list drawn up by the US Treasury, Alain Goetz's UAE company Aldabra is unlikely to escape punitive action by the US. The US sanctions have also put Uganda, where his African Gold Refinery is based, in a difficult position.

Subscribers only Mining 23.03.2022

DR Congo's UN mission red-faced after bank accounts frozen

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has proclaimed his ambition for a new and more effective diplomacy for his country. But his government is embarrassed about its United Nations diplomatic representation, whose bank accounts have been frozen for months.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.03.2022

Even without Magufuli, Museveni maintains military alliance with Tanzania in Kivu

One year on from the death of the Tanzanian head of state, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni is pushing forward with security cooperation in the DRC's Kivu region alongside John Magufuli's successor, Samia Suluhu.

Free access Defence, Politics 18.03.2022

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Ugandan Head of State Yoweri Museveni.

Tenke Fungurume: US proceedings disrupted by tensions with Gécamines

The Congolese court's decision to appoint an administrator for the copper and cobalt producer Tenke Fungurume Mining has had an impact on a lawsuit filed in the US by a service provider to the site, Katanga Contracting Services.

Subscribers only Mining 17.03.2022

Banana port deal makes waves inside president's office

Aspects of the renegotiated concession agreement with DP World are coming under fire at the highest levels of government.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Business 17.03.2022

The strange handling by Minister Olivier Mwenze of the Nzilo II dam tender

With a tender call reissued in secret and the arrest of a senior civil servant opposed to a decision taken by the hydraulic resources and electricity minister, the Nzilo II hydroelectric power station project is causing disorder in Kinshasa.

Subscribers only Energy 16.03.2022

Glencore strives to reach compromise with US Justice Department

The trading giant, which last month said it had set aside $1.5bn to settle US and UK investigations into its activities, is trying to negotiate a compromise with the US Department of Justice, in particular on the Congolese part of Washington's probes.

Subscribers only Mining 15.03.2022

Swiss trading company Octagon expands its copper interests in Africa

After signing a first contract with Chinese group CNMC, the Swiss minerals trading group signed another with Zijin Mining's DRC subsidiary COMMUS. It is also looking for supplies elsewhere in Africa.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 09.03.2022

Dan Gertler struggles to implement settlement signed with government

Having negotiated and signed a settlement with the government of the DRC in less than a month, businessman Dan Gertler is being prevented from honouring it by financial, legal and political obstacles.

Subscribers only Mining, Business 09.03.2022

Dan Gertler (left) at the signing of the agreement with the Congolese government on 24 February 2022.

Why Trafigura has positioned itself on the Lobito-Kolwezi corridor

Swiss trader Trafigura, which is increasing its supply agreements in the DRC and Zambia, is keen to trump its competitors by having a copper transport route to Angola. Together with Mota-Engil and Vecturis, it has responded to the call for tenders to manage the rail corridor between Kolwezi and Lobito.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 09.03.2022

CEMAC struggles to draw up its 2022 spending programme

The institution headed by former Gabonese prime minister Daniel Ona Ondo has set its 2022 spending programme at 94bn CFA francs. This looks like an increase on the previous year but, in fact, the failure of member states to pay their contributions will lead to a drastic reduction in its operating costs.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 08.03.2022

The extraordinary meeting was called by CEMAC chairman, former Gabonese prime minister Daniel Ona Ondo.

Businessman Eric Monga serves his partner PowerChina notice on Sombwe dam

Kipay Investments' boss Eric Monga has chastised his partner Chinese construction giant PowerChina, with whom he is associated for construction of the 150 MW hydroelectric power station in Upper Katanga, for not respecting the project's timeline.

Subscribers only Energy, Business 08.03.2022

The pervasive influence of First Lady Tshisekedi

Congolese First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, whose political clout has grown in recent years, is pursuing her plan to create a national reparation fund for victims of sexual violence.

Subscribers only Politics 07.03.2022

DRC First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi.

Nicolae Buzaianu pitches bitcoin venture in CAR

Swiss-Romanian businessman Nicolae Bogdan Buzaianu, who is energetically courting officials in the Central African Republic, is looking beyond timber into generating cryptocurrency and setting up bitcoin mining centres in the country.

Subscribers only Commodity traders, Business 03.03.2022

Trafigura execs in Lubumbashi to try to save Gécamines cobalt partnership

Representatives of the Swiss trading giant have travelled to Lubumbashi to talk to Gécamines' new management, where they hope to persuade the state-owned mining firm to continue its artisanal cobalt partnership with them.

Free access Mining, Commodity traders 02.03.2022

Cobalt, gold and carbon credits: the company run by Yves Kabongo changes name to fit with latest strategy

First named Bankers Cobalt to ride the cobalt wave, then Central African Gold as gold prices rose, the company led in the DRC by Yves Kabongo has now morphed again into African Energy Metals.

Subscribers only Energy, Mining 01.03.2022

Two more foreigners detained secretly by the ANR

Africa Intelligence revealed at the start of last week that a Lebanese businessman had been held for more than month by the Congolese intelligence services. It now turns out that two other people, who were with him, are also being held.

Subscribers only Politics 28.02.2022

Enaex and Sasol move to dominate mining explosives supply in Walvis Bay

A partnership between Sasol and the Chilean firm Enaex, one of South America's leading mining explosive firms, is planning to build a huge warehouse to stock ammonium nitrate - the substance behind the catastrophe in the port of Beirut but widely used in the mining industry.

Subscribers only Mining 25.02.2022

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DRC

New Italian ambassador set to take over from slain predecessor

Spotlight
Behind-the-scenes of Glencore's battle to resolve its disputes with Kinshasa

UN assigning consultants to establish battery precursor factory in Katanga

Tshisekedi caught between Dan Gertler and Washington

Clouds still hanging on Congo Airways's horizon

Huayou Cobalt tries to salvage its Congolese supply

Kinshasa hiring US lobbyists left and right

US Treasury unlikely to let Alain Goetz's Aldabra off hook over gold trafficking allegations

DR Congo's UN mission red-faced after bank accounts frozen

Even without Magufuli, Museveni maintains military alliance with Tanzania in Kivu

Tenke Fungurume: US proceedings disrupted by tensions with Gécamines

Banana port deal makes waves inside president's office

The strange handling by Minister Olivier Mwenze of the Nzilo II dam tender

Glencore strives to reach compromise with US Justice Department

Swiss trading company Octagon expands its copper interests in Africa

Dan Gertler struggles to implement settlement signed with government

Why Trafigura has positioned itself on the Lobito-Kolwezi corridor

CEMAC struggles to draw up its 2022 spending programme

Businessman Eric Monga serves his partner PowerChina notice on Sombwe dam

The pervasive influence of First Lady Tshisekedi

Nicolae Buzaianu pitches bitcoin venture in CAR

Trafigura execs in Lubumbashi to try to save Gécamines cobalt partnership

Cobalt, gold and carbon credits: the company run by Yves Kabongo changes name to fit with latest strategy

Two more foreigners detained secretly by the ANR

Enaex and Sasol move to dominate mining explosives supply in Walvis Bay

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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

Patrice Talon

TotalEnergies

Yoweri Museveni

Xi Jinping

Michaël Randrianirina

DRC

New Italian ambassador set to take over from slain predecessor

Spotlight Behind-the-scenes of Glencore's battle to resolve its disputes with Kinshasa

UN assigning consultants to establish battery precursor factory in Katanga

Tshisekedi caught between Dan Gertler and Washington

Clouds still hanging on Congo Airways's horizon

Huayou Cobalt tries to salvage its Congolese supply

Kinshasa hiring US lobbyists left and right

US Treasury unlikely to let Alain Goetz's Aldabra off hook over gold trafficking allegations

DR Congo's UN mission red-faced after bank accounts frozen

Even without Magufuli, Museveni maintains military alliance with Tanzania in Kivu

Tenke Fungurume: US proceedings disrupted by tensions with Gécamines

Banana port deal makes waves inside president's office

The strange handling by Minister Olivier Mwenze of the Nzilo II dam tender

Glencore strives to reach compromise with US Justice Department

Swiss trading company Octagon expands its copper interests in Africa

Dan Gertler struggles to implement settlement signed with government

Why Trafigura has positioned itself on the Lobito-Kolwezi corridor

CEMAC struggles to draw up its 2022 spending programme

Businessman Eric Monga serves his partner PowerChina notice on Sombwe dam

The pervasive influence of First Lady Tshisekedi

Nicolae Buzaianu pitches bitcoin venture in CAR

Trafigura execs in Lubumbashi to try to save Gécamines cobalt partnership

Cobalt, gold and carbon credits: the company run by Yves Kabongo changes name to fit with latest strategy

Two more foreigners detained secretly by the ANR

Enaex and Sasol move to dominate mining explosives supply in Walvis Bay

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Spotlight
Behind-the-scenes of Glencore's battle to resolve its disputes with Kinshasa