DRC

Palace Intrigues
Félix Tshisekedi, Alassane Ouattara, Emmanuel Macron, Ibrahim Traoré, Yoweri Museveni

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

DRCMaman Marthe in the thick of UDPS crisis

Ivory CoastMacron and Ouattara speak during Eid

Burkina FasoIbrahim Traoré snubs Doha envoy

UgandaTweets by Museveni's son cause uproar within presidential family

Kinshasa seeks to firm up ambitious Plan Nkita 2035

Despite his second term being overshadowed by the conflict in the east, President Tshisekedi and his government are elaborating a plan to transform the country's economy over the next decade. One of the aims is to ensure that the future Kinshasa Mercantile Exchange lives up to its full potential.

Companies up in arms over pause in cobalt exports

In a memo to the authorities, the Congo's business federation has called into question the legality of the four-month suspension of cobalt exports.

Joseph Kabila's curious excursion to Kampala

At Yoweri Museveni's invitation, Kabila made a discreet stopover in Kampala in mid-March. The trip coincided with a visit there by Corneille Nangaa, head of the Congo River Alliance. For several weeks, Kinshasa has been concerned about the links between these two men.

Corneille Nangaa's brother takes refuge in Dubai

The Congolese senator for Haut-Uélé, Christophe Baseane Nangaa, has had to flee to Dubai. He claims to have been threatened because of his family ties with Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the Congo River Alliance.

Central African states scramble for AU trade and education commissioner jobs

Central African nations are jockeying for the African Union's trade and education commissioner posts, which are the region's by right. Burundi, DR Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe and the Central African Republic have all fielded candidates, alongside Equatorial Guinea, Chad.

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.

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.

The advance of M23 frustrates DRC Gold Trading's plans

State-owned DRC Gold Trading, which aims to combat gold smuggling in the east of the country, has been hit hard by the expansion of the area controlled by M23 rebels.

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.

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.

War in the East makes DR Congo banks fret about local branches

Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka has received representatives of the Congolese banking sector, who are worried their branches in conflict-hit eastern DRC might be looted and want them reopened as soon as possible.

Cameroon spat upsets plans for employers' summit in Brazzaville

Plans to hold the Rassemblement des Entrepreneurs Francophones, a forum for business owners from French-speaking African nations, in June in Brazzaville have been upset by a rival event by the Economic Community of Central African States’ (CEEAC) business council.

Kinshasa turns to Trafigura for help with strategy to reboot oil sector

In a bid to enhance the value of its oil assets and reduce pump prices for consumers, DR Congo has turned to Swiss trading giant Trafigura for help.

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.