Inner circles | Africa, Portugal
Portugal pulls out the stops to safeguard its influence in lusophone Africa

Algeria
EIB negotiates with Algiers to kick-start stalled Medusa submarine cable project

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is in talks with the Algerian authorities to get the Medusa project back on track. The submarine fibre optic cable system, due to come into service in 2024, will be the longest in the Mediterranean.

Djibouti
EU's $40m overspend on Doraleh desalination plant

The Djiboutian government is in favour of an over-the-counter arrangement for the second phase of the Doraleh desalination plant, but the European Investment Bank and the EU are both pressing for a tender process.

Africa, Portugal
Portugal reinforces its diplomatic presence in Africa

At a time when many former colonial powers are reducing the number of diplomats they have in Africa, Portugal is increasing its representation on the continent with the aim of reaping economic reward.

Africa
Food security top of agenda at ACP-EU assembly

The 42nd ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, held in Maputo, was largely devoted to the supply of agricultural inputs and cereals to those African countries most affected by the consequences of the war in Ukraine.

The New Guard
Uganda, Angola, Zimbabwe, Congo

Uganda
Proscovia Nabbanja, the prominent national oil company boss.

Angola
Manuel Gomes da Conceicao Homem, governor of Lourenço's Luanda aspirations.

Zimbabwe
Chief Koti, Harare's tourism strategist.

Congo
Michrist Kaba-Mboko, Congolese youth's new champion.

Mozambique, Portugal, Southern Africa
Bertolino Miranda Ferreira to take up military attaché duty in Maputo

After three years coordinating Portugal's contribution to combating the insurrection in Cabo Delgado, the navy commander Paulo Gonçalves da Silva is preparing to make way for the air force officer Bertolino Miranda Ferreira at Portugal's embassy in Mozambique.

The New Guard
Angola, Mozambique, Egypt, Senegal

Egypt
Youssef Salem, the unflappable unicorn creator.

Angola
Territory administration Minister Dionisio Manuel da Fonseca, João Lourenço's new straight-talking champion.

Mozambique
Emilia Chambal speaks for the Frelimo youth.

Senegal
Thierno Seydou Ly, the engineer with a career on the fast track.

Portugal, Southern Africa
Portugal overhauls its Africa policy team

The Portuguese foreign ministry has decided to overhaul its entire Africa department just months after its first change of boss since 2015.

Eritrea, European Union
Italian diplomat to become EU ambassador to Asmara

Currently a European External Action Service (EEAS) official, where he works in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) department, Italian diplomat Gianluca Grippa is soon to be appointed as the EU ambassador to Eritrea.

Guinea
New EU ambassador for Conaky

Sa nomination intervient alors que le gouvernement de transition guinéen, dirigé par le colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, cherche à mobiliser le soutien des bailleurs internationaux.

Angola
Will Angolan diamonds of Russia's Alrosa soon be scrutinised by the Kimberley Process?

The risk of seeing diamonds produced by Russian group Alrosa, including in Angola, being used to finance Russia's war on Ukraine has brought a reaction from the civil society coalition monitoring implementation of the Kimberley Process.

Portugal, Southern Africa
Portuguese diplomacy's renewal in Africa continues with Luis Brito Câmara

Since 27 December, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Lusophone and Southern Africa Division has had a new boss: Luis Brito Câmara

Tunisia
Spanish consortium relaunches Kairouan-Kasserine rail renovation

The project to reopen the rail link between Sousse and Kasserine, which has been closed since 1982, is chugging forward slowly.

Cape Verde, Portugal
Lisbon gives Praia another break over debt to maintain influence

In September, Lisbon froze the servicing of Cape Verde's debt to the Portuguese state. Now, at its own expense, it has extended its repayment guarantee over Praia's loans from Portuguese banks.

Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal
Sulking Lisbon shuns CPLP business summit in Malabo

Portugal has yet to get over Equatorial Guinea's accession to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, which it opposed: it sent no government representatives to one of the highlights of the bloc's calendar, the Malabo business summit.

Angola
Joao Lourenco continues to woo Lisbon

Joao Lourenco's arrival in power in Angola has re-energised relations [...]