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Sierra Leone

Macron ponders French military presence in Africa

A gathering of France's top defence officials to discuss pressing issues about Africa that was original scheduled for 14 November will now take place on 12 December.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 07.12.2023

Macron reschedules defence council meeting focused on Africa

A meeting of the Élysée Palace's defence council, devoted specifically to Africa and initially planned for 14 November, is set to be rescheduled to another date before 28 November.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 20.11.2023

French President Emmanuel Macron with France's Chief of the Defence Staff Thierry Burkhard, in Villepinte, north of Paris, on 13 June 2022. © Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP

French military bases: Closed door discussions in the Élysée

The French President is due to chair a Defence Council meeting on 14 November devoted exclusively to Africa. The future of France's military presence on the continent will be at the heart of the talks, at a time when the coup d'état in Niger has prompted the Élysée to review its initial plans.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy Running story - The Sahel security crisis 14.11.2023

Spanish civil guards and Ghanaian military personnel train on the Volta river, Ghana, 11 March 2023. © Francis Kokoroko/Reuters

EU presses accelerator on Gulf of Guinea anti-piracy programme

The contract to provide 30 vessels as part of the European Union-funded Support to the West African Integrated Maritime Strategy has sparked interest from several fast rescue boat manufacturers.

Subscribers only Defence 06.11.2023

Vivendi seeks new business from Lagos to Kampala

Having established a foothold in French-speaking and central Africa, the French company's African branch, which is a specialist internet service provider, is looking to break into new markets in English-speaking countries.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 02.11.2023

President Bio fears US entry ban

Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio fears that he will be banned from entering the United States. This would seriously compromise his chances for furthering cooperation with Washington.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 13.10.2023

The heads of state who are set to attend the UN General Assembly

Several heads of state from ECOWAS are preparing to travel to New York at the end of the month to attend the next United Nations General Assembly.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 12.09.2023

New head of Sahel Coalition set to be announced

Former Chadian agriculture minister Djimet Adoum, who has been at the helm of the Coalition for the Sahel since 2021, is preparing to hand over to former Mauritanian foreign minister Hamadi Ould Meimou.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 31.08.2023

Spotlight
Washington lobbying contract reveals President Bio's grand security plans

Since his re-election in June, Sierra Leone's head of state is pursuing a far-reaching domestic and international security agenda. To achieve this, he has enlisted the services of an expert in the sector, former US Green Beret Jerry Torres.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 29.08.2023

Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio in Freetown, 20 June 2023.

Spotlight
New chair Tinubu formulates plan to revitalise ECOWAS leadership

As the new chair of the Economic Community of West African States, the Nigerian president wants to inject fresh energy into the organisation's leadership as it struggles more than ever with military juntas and Islamist militant threats across the region.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 26.07.2023

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu in Gigiri, Nairobi, on 16 July 2023.

Lomé to host Gulf of Guinea's maritime security jamboree

The 7th symposium of Gulf of Guinea navy commanders is scheduled to take place in Lomé on 18 and 19 October.

Subscribers only Defence 13.07.2023

Brussels sceptical of Bola Ahmed Tinubu backing free trade agreement

Nigeria's position on the free trade Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and West African states is 'unlikely to change', according to the EU ambassador to Abuja Samuela Isopi.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 10.07.2023

Spotlight
Brussels and London face Accra Initiative headache

The future of the Accra Initiative, a West African security cooperation structure aimed at stemming the spread of rampant Islamist insurgency from the Sahel, remains uncertain. The United Kingdom and the EU, as key partners in the project, are encouraging member states to clarify their positions before unlocking any significant financial support.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 04.07.2023

British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey (L) speaks next to European Council President Charles Michel (R), during the Accra Initiative summit on West Africa counter-terrorism cooperation which gathered heads of state and government in Accra on November 22, 2022.

Nigerian President Tinubu favourite for ECOWAS chair

Bola Tinubu, Nigeria's new head of state, has emerged as favourite to take the chair of the West African regional organisation as negotiations continue before a decision due on 9 July.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 04.07.2023

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu arrives for the closing session of the New Global Financial Pact Summit, on June 23, 2023 in Paris.

Paris presents military restructuring plan to African presidencies

The Elysée and the defence ministry have been holding discreet consultations with a handful of African "partners" to present the reorganisation of France's military presence on the continent.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 27.06.2023

In Focus
Battle over the future chair of ECOWAS

The Guinea-Bissau president's hopes of a second term at the ECOWAS helm could well be dashed. The West African regional group, weakened by a series of coups in its member states and by a spat over whether national presidents should be allowed to serve a third term, is looking at several other potential candidates.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 26.06.2023

The battle to find the next president of ECOWAS has begun.

Gide, Mazars and Titane compete for fibre optics feasibility study

French firms Gide Loyrette Nouel, Mazars and Titane are currently bidding for a feasibility study contract for an extension of Mauritania's backbone, a major project aiming to equip the country with fibre optics.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 07.06.2023

African Parks picks Benin's Akpona as new West Africa boss

African Parks has appointed Benin's Hugues Akpona as its new West Africa regional director. He takes over from Erik Mararv, who moves on to oversee the parks administered by the NGO in Chad.

Subscribers only Defence 30.05.2023

UN struggles to replace resident coordinator

The Burkianbe junta has once again rejected the United Nations' request for certification for a replacement of the organisation's resident coordinator Barbara Manzi.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 29.05.2023

OCP plans more fertiliser plants in West Africa

After opening its first fertiliser plant in Nigeria last October, phosphate giant OCP, 95% owned by the Moroccan state, is keen to repeat that success elsewhere in West Africa. It is prospecting in Togo and Senegal.

Subscribers only Business 19.05.2023

President Traore pampers miner Iamgold

Despite needing money to buy weapons to fight armed groups in the north of Burkina Faso, the junta has decided to turn a blind eye to the Canadian firm's infringement of customs regulations. IamGold is the last mining firm operating in this region beset by terrorist violence.

Subscribers only Mining 16.05.2023

Spotlight
Paris mulls drastic reduction of French troops in Africa

The "re-articulation" of France's military presence in Africa, announced by President Macron in February, is taking shape. Plans to drastically reduce numbers at the country's permanent bases in West Africa are already well advanced.

Subscribers only Defence 09.05.2023

French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to Port-Bouët camp, Ivory Coast, December 2019.

Mozambican ex-foreign minister tipped for top UNOWAS job

At UN headquarters in New York, the name Leonardo Santos Simão, Mozambique's former foreign minister under Joaquim Chissano, is doing the rounds as the potential next head of UNOWAS.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 20.04.2023

Yacoub Sidya, Russian group Nordgold's invisible partner

Companies linked to Mauritanian businessman Yacoub Sidya are omnipresent around the African operations of Russian miner Nordgold, which was hit by sanctions after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The gold mining firm, however, takes great care to remain in the background.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 17.04.2023

Washington provides $1m to help West African states transition back to democracy

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is about to launch a new programme, financed by the State Department, to encourage the return to civilian rule in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Chad.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 12.04.2023

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Sierra Leone

Macron ponders French military presence in Africa

Macron reschedules defence council meeting focused on Africa

French military bases: Closed door discussions in the Élysée

EU presses accelerator on Gulf of Guinea anti-piracy programme

Vivendi seeks new business from Lagos to Kampala

President Bio fears US entry ban

The heads of state who are set to attend the UN General Assembly

New head of Sahel Coalition set to be announced

Spotlight
Washington lobbying contract reveals President Bio's grand security plans

Spotlight
New chair Tinubu formulates plan to revitalise ECOWAS leadership

Lomé to host Gulf of Guinea's maritime security jamboree

Brussels sceptical of Bola Ahmed Tinubu backing free trade agreement

Spotlight
Brussels and London face Accra Initiative headache

Nigerian President Tinubu favourite for ECOWAS chair

Paris presents military restructuring plan to African presidencies

In Focus
Battle over the future chair of ECOWAS

Gide, Mazars and Titane compete for fibre optics feasibility study

African Parks picks Benin's Akpona as new West Africa boss

UN struggles to replace resident coordinator

OCP plans more fertiliser plants in West Africa

President Traore pampers miner Iamgold

Spotlight
Paris mulls drastic reduction of French troops in Africa

Mozambican ex-foreign minister tipped for top UNOWAS job

Yacoub Sidya, Russian group Nordgold's invisible partner

Washington provides $1m to help West African states transition back to democracy

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About Africa Intelligence

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Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

Faure Gnassingbe

Orano

Michaël Randrianirina

China National Petroleum Corp

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

Sierra Leone

Macron ponders French military presence in Africa

Macron reschedules defence council meeting focused on Africa

French military bases: Closed door discussions in the Élysée

EU presses accelerator on Gulf of Guinea anti-piracy programme

Vivendi seeks new business from Lagos to Kampala

President Bio fears US entry ban

The heads of state who are set to attend the UN General Assembly

New head of Sahel Coalition set to be announced

Spotlight Washington lobbying contract reveals President Bio's grand security plans

Spotlight New chair Tinubu formulates plan to revitalise ECOWAS leadership

Lomé to host Gulf of Guinea's maritime security jamboree

Brussels sceptical of Bola Ahmed Tinubu backing free trade agreement

Spotlight Brussels and London face Accra Initiative headache

Nigerian President Tinubu favourite for ECOWAS chair

Paris presents military restructuring plan to African presidencies

In Focus Battle over the future chair of ECOWAS

Gide, Mazars and Titane compete for fibre optics feasibility study

African Parks picks Benin's Akpona as new West Africa boss

UN struggles to replace resident coordinator

OCP plans more fertiliser plants in West Africa

President Traore pampers miner Iamgold

Spotlight Paris mulls drastic reduction of French troops in Africa

Mozambican ex-foreign minister tipped for top UNOWAS job

Yacoub Sidya, Russian group Nordgold's invisible partner

Washington provides $1m to help West African states transition back to democracy

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Spotlight
Washington lobbying contract reveals President Bio's grand security plans

Spotlight
New chair Tinubu formulates plan to revitalise ECOWAS leadership

Spotlight
Brussels and London face Accra Initiative headache

In Focus
Battle over the future chair of ECOWAS

Spotlight
Paris mulls drastic reduction of French troops in Africa