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The then Prime Minister of the Central African Republic, Firmin Ngrebada (centre), salutes his troops as a Russian-made support helicopter flies overhead on the road between Boali and Bangui on 10 January 2021.
The then Prime Minister of the Central African Republic, Firmin Ngrebada (centre), salutes his troops as a Russian-made support helicopter flies overhead on the road between Boali and Bangui on 10 January 2021. © Florent Vergnes/AFP
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Business 26/07/2021

Bolloré, TotalEnergies and Air France held hostage in Franco-Russian power struggle 

As France downgrades its relations with the Central African Republic (CAR), which it sees as too much under Russian influence, the authorities there are exerting pressure on French companies still active in the country. [...]

The director general of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Michael Spindelegger.
The director general of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Michael Spindelegger. © Hans Punz/EPA/MaxPPP
NORTH AFRICA Diplomacy 19/07/2021

How ICMPD, a champion of migrant 'assisted return', became an EU project manager 

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is involved in all stages of European migration policy, from conducting studies to lobbying and tendering for the provision of border surveillance and protection equipment for local border guards. [...]
South African businessman Terry Rosenberg, president of Multiply Group.
South African businessman Terry Rosenberg, president of Multiply Group. © Multiply Group
SOUTH AFRICA Business 12/07/2021

Real estate, oil, finance: a dive into the heart of Durban's property kings, the Rosenbergs 

Property tycoon Terry Rosenberg's real estate empire is as strong as ever in South Africa's third largest city, Durban. Helped by his son Marc Rosenberg, he has expanded the family office Oakbrook Investments and investment arm Multiply as far as Swizterland, Mauritius, Dubai and the UK. [...]
Democratic Republic of Congo military personnel (FARDC) patrol against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU) rebels near Beni in North-Kivu province, December 31, 2013.
Democratic Republic of Congo military personnel (FARDC) patrol against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU) rebels near Beni in North-Kivu province, December 31, 2013. © Kenny Katombe/Reuters
DRC UNITED STATES Diplomacy 05/07/2021

Texas investment firm Bridgeway plays humanitarian privateer for the State Department in DRC 

Texan financier and committed Christian John Montgomery devotes part of his investment company Bridgeway's profits to hunting down and forcing surrender on members of the Allied Democratic Forces, an armed group active on the border between the DRC and Uganda aligned to the Islamic State. [...]
The new Angolan ambassador to Saudi Arabia Frederico Manuel dos Santos e Silva Cardoso (left) met with the Saudi Minister of Protocol Affairs Mashari bin Ali bin Naheet on 25 May 2021.
The new Angolan ambassador to Saudi Arabia Frederico Manuel dos Santos e Silva Cardoso (left) met with the Saudi Minister of Protocol Affairs Mashari bin Ali bin Naheet on 25 May 2021. © Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/Twitter
AFRICA Diplomacy 28/06/2021

Lourenço, Buhari, Sall and co. handpick their envoys to the House of Saud 

Nurturing relations with the leading Gulf power is an absolute necessity for all African presidents seeking financial and political support in the Arab world. To develop their lines of communications with the Wahhabi monarchy, African heads of state choose personalities of the first order. [...]
Mahamat Idriss Deby delivering a message at the presidential palace in N'Djamena on 27 April 2021.
Mahamat Idriss Deby delivering a message at the presidential palace in N'Djamena on 27 April 2021. © Brahim Adji/Tchad Presidential Palace/AFP
CHAD Politics 14/06/2021

The unauthorised life story of "Kaka", N'Djamena's new strongman 

A halo of mystery surrounds Mahamat Idriss Déby, alias "Kaka", son of Idriss Déby and, since his father's death on 18 April, Chad's new head of state. An official biography has been widely distributed since he came to power but needs to be treated with caution with regard to his age, his education and training and his feats on the battlefield. [...]
Fouad Ali El Himma, during the reception offered to King Mohammed VI by Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali, October 19, 2016.
Fouad Ali El Himma, during the reception offered to King Mohammed VI by Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali, October 19, 2016. © Story & Brands
MOROCCO Politics 07/06/2021

From Western Sahara to broadcasting, royal adviser El Himma in sole charge at the Palace 

Mohammed VI's political adviser Fouad Ali El Himma beat the king's foreign affairs advisers to the punch when he initiated the confrontational approach currently being taken by Morocco on Western Sahara. He is also set to outflank his great rival, the king's private secretary Mounir El Majidi, on reforming the TV broadcasting sector. [...]
Attorney Pascal Agboyibor founded Asafo & Co shortly after being ousted from the US firm Orrick in 2019.
Attorney Pascal Agboyibor founded Asafo & Co shortly after being ousted from the US firm Orrick in 2019. © Asafo & Co
DRC Business 31/05/2021

How Orrick's former star Africa lawyer dodged sexual abuse allegations and rebuilt his practice 

Star attorney Pascal Agboyibor was abruptly fired by US law firm Orrick in 2019 amid allegations of rape and sexual harassment which are still being investigated by the Paris bar association. The Togolose lawyer, who denies the accusations, has quickly bounced back in DRC, where his own new firm has won lucrative government contracts. [...]
Gabonese President Ali Bongo getting off his plane during a visit to Beijing, 2018.
Gabonese President Ali Bongo getting off his plane during a visit to Beijing, 2018. © Jin Liwang/Xinhua News Agency/Newscom/MaxPPP
GABON Politics 24/05/2021

Private jets, offshore fields, football, magazines: the presidential palace's untraceable holdings 

A string of offshore companies with no identified owner have been linked to transactions within the presidential couple's entourage. All were incorpoated by the same financiers who also happen to be associates of Gabon's sovereign wealth fund. [...]
A miner holding coltan in a mine in Rukunda, Masisi territory, North Kivu province, DRC.
A miner holding coltan in a mine in Rukunda, Masisi territory, North Kivu province, DRC. © Goran Tomasevic/Reuters
RWANDA DRC GREAT LAKES Mining 17/05/2021

DRC wants back in driver's seat on coltan 

Tired of seeing coltan from its Kivu and Tanganyika mines processed and re-exported by its neighbours, Kinshasa plans to create facilities and smelters to process the ore on site. The initiative comes amid a warming of relations between the DRC and Rwanda, the country through which most of its coltan passes. [...]
EGYPT Business 26/04/2021

Naval Group navigates its way through Egypt's military procurement labyrinth 

After being prevented from competing for Egyptian arms contracts along with other French companies for the last two years, France's Naval Group is trying to get back into the Egyptian market. It is negotiating to sell Egypt a number of mine countermeasures vessels via a contract which will certainly involve offsets, which are the key to success on the Egyptian military equipment market. [...]
Gims in concert in 2019.
Gims in concert in 2019. © Stéphanie Para/La Montagne/PhotoPQR/MaxPPP
AFRICA Politics 22/03/2021

Bongo, M6, Bakayoko and Bolloré: how rap stars hobnob at highest levels of African power 

A number of leading rap stars, among them Akon, Booba and Gims, have established close links with the occupants of Africa's presidential palaces. And, because they serve as links between France and Africa, their services are actively sought by the French government, which is looking for ways to communicate with young people in Africa. [...]
Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. © Carsten Koall/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom/MaxPPP
DRC Oil & gas 15/03/2021

Tshisekedi's advisers split over response to $617m arbitration award 

The arbitration ruling won by Dig Oil against the DRC has put the head of state's advisers at loggerheads. Felix Tshisekedi's inner circle are pressing him to seek a settlement with the South African oil company, while one of the country's legal advisers is pleading for an energetic legal counter-attack. [...]

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