Your account has been succesfully created.
Africa Intelligence
Subscribe now
African Union: the battle of the giants

African Union: the battle of the giants
Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare

Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare
The ANC's fierce leadership contest

The ANC's fierce leadership contest
See all Running stories

IN FOCUS

The Focus pieces are the result of the Africa Intelligence editorial team's long-term investigations and aim to provide an in-depth analysis of the networks of political leaders and key players across the African continent.

ANGOLA BOTSWANA SIERRA LEONE ZIMBABWE Mining 23/05/2022

Sanctions-hit Alrosa's woes impact on continent's diamond producers 

The West's sanctions on the Russian mining colossus Alrosa, the world's largest diamond producer, are taking a huge toll on Angola, its main partner. That has left the field open for the world's second largest diamond producer, Botswana, to charge ahead. [...]
Angolan President Joao Lourenco (C) watches as Endiama CEO Jose Manuel Augusto Ganga Junior (L) shakes hands with Alrosa CEO Sergei Ivanov (R), in the Kremlin in Moscow, 4 April 2019.
Angolan President Joao Lourenco (C) watches as Endiama CEO Jose Manuel Augusto Ganga Junior (L) shakes hands with Alrosa CEO Sergei Ivanov (R), in the Kremlin in Moscow, 4 April 2019. © Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool
AFRICA ONU 16/05/2022

Chad, Togo and Ivory Coast vie for blue helmet contracts 

Amid Europe's gradual military withdrawal from Mali and as peacekeeping needs grow in the Central African Republic, three states are jostling for lucrative troop contribution contracts. But the UN's strict rules on equipment and training place tall hurdles in the way of their ambitions. [...]
A Chadian MINUSMA soldier parades during a visit by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous to Tessalit, Mali, in March 2013.
A Chadian MINUSMA soldier parades during a visit by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous to Tessalit, Mali, in March 2013. © UN Photo/Marco Dormino
SOUTH AFRICA ANGOLA Business 25/04/2022

Bekker, Penny, Dos Santos... Russia's African partners kept at bay by war in Ukraine 

Since Moscow began its military offensive in Ukraine, numerous southern African entrepreneurs have had to freeze their investment projects in Russia or leave their positions as directors of companies under sanctions. Being separated from these wealthy Africans has entrenched the dichotomy of Russia's presence on the continent: [...]
Naspers' boss Koos Bekker, former CEO of De Beers Gareth Penny and Isabel Dos Santos, daughter of Angola's former President.
Naspers' boss Koos Bekker, former CEO of De Beers Gareth Penny and Isabel Dos Santos, daughter of Angola's former President. © Naspers/Ninety One/Toby Melville/Reuters
DRC Politics 18/04/2022

How a 40-tonne seizure of cobalt has led to Lualaba's leaders tearing each other apart 

Between accusations of conspiracy, fictitious expert reports and squabbles between departments, Lualaba's leaders have not stopped pulling each other apart after the seizure last year of a 40-tonne shipment of cobalt. At stake is the question of who will succeed Fifi Masuka Saini as head of the rich mining province after Governor Richard Muyej was ousted. [...]
The new governor of Lualaba province, Fifi Masuka Saini, and her predecessor, Richard Muyej.
The new governor of Lualaba province, Fifi Masuka Saini, and her predecessor, Richard Muyej. © Lualaba.gouv.cd
GUINEA Mining 04/04/2022

State agencies hungry for new public real estate assets 

The current leaders in Conakry are throwing themselves into a race to regain control of illegally acquired public assets, targeting political opponents, businesses and multinationals alike. State agencies are pushing each other out of the way to get ahold of the seized assets. [...]
Ownership of the Fria Base building in Conakry (located on the map) is claimed by the Agence nationale d'aménagement des infrastructures minières (Anaim).
Ownership of the Fria Base building in Conakry (located on the map) is claimed by the Agence nationale d'aménagement des infrastructures minières (Anaim). © Google Maps
AFRICA PALESTINE Diplomacy 28/03/2022

Palestine quietly rebuilds African networks to counter overwhelming Israeli activism 

From its heyday in the 1980s, Palestine's diplomatic presence in Africa - a 24-embassy strong network - has lost its lustre while Israel continues to gain ground. Wanting to counter Tel Aviv's push across the continent, Ramallah has taken steps to overhaul its strategy and build new networks. [...]
Tunisia's President Kais Saied and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas inaugurating the new Palestinian embassy headquarters in Tunis on December 8, 2021.
Tunisia's President Kais Saied and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas inaugurating the new Palestinian embassy headquarters in Tunis on December 8, 2021. © AFP Photo/HO/PPO
AFRICA MOROCCO Business 14/03/2022

Banking magnate Othman Benjelloun settles his succession in Casablanca and Luxembourg 

Othman Benjelloun, chairman and CEO of BMCE Bank of Africa, has completed the reorganisation of his holding company O Capital, with its twin head offices in Morocco and Luxembourg. The handover of his fortune to his heirs has been settled but the future of his bank, the group's flagship, remains uncertain. [...]
BMCE Bank of Africa boss Othman Benjelloun.
BMCE Bank of Africa boss Othman Benjelloun. © David Rodrigues/Story&Brands
EQUATORIAL GUINEA Politics 28/02/2022

Political games for Obiang's approval at play in Malabo 

In a country with almost no political opposition, elections provide nonetheless a chance to shuffle power and influence within the ruling Partido Democrático de Guinea Ecuatorial (PDGE) party. Regional party heads are holding no bars to win votes in their home turf with rewards of influential postings and favours in mind. [...]
Supporters of the Partido Democrático de Guinea Ecuatorial (PDGE) during the campaign for the November 2017 legislative elections in Malabo.
Supporters of the Partido Democrático de Guinea Ecuatorial (PDGE) during the campaign for the November 2017 legislative elections in Malabo. © Mario Cruz/EFE/Newscom/MaxPPP
SOUTH AFRICA RWANDA Mining 14/02/2022

Serial entrepreneur Brian Menell bets double on rare earth mining sovereignty 

The mining and defence specialist and heir to the dynasty that co-founded AngloVaal has been investing heavily in "technology metals" with help from the US, worried about being left behind by China. As he had done in the 1990s with British and South African army veterans, who found the first private military companies to help his activities, Menell now has a retired US admiral and a former British army officer on board. [...]
South African Brian Menell.
South African Brian Menell. © Facebook/africaminingforum
WEST AFRICA Diplomacy 07/02/2022

Brussels, Washington and London battle for maritime ascendancy with anti-piracy programmes 

Under pressure from its shipowners, Brussels is set to launch its SWAIMS anti-piracy programme for countries in the Gulf of Guinea that lack the resources to respond effectively to the problem on their own account. [...]
An armed Somali pirate along the coast, 7 January 2010. In the background, the Greek cargo ship MV Filitsa is anchored off the town of Hobyo in northeast Somalia, where it is being held by pirates.
An armed Somali pirate along the coast, 7 January 2010. In the background, the Greek cargo ship MV Filitsa is anchored off the town of Hobyo in northeast Somalia, where it is being held by pirates. © Mohamed Dahir/AFP
MOROCCO Business 31/01/2022

Elbaz opens up Forafric's capital to Trumpists and Kazakh oligarch Machkevitch via Nasdaq listing 

Financier Yariv Elbaz, who specialises in complex financial operations, particularly for the Gabonese sovereign fund, is putting the final touches to a stock exchange operation that will turn his Forafric milling group into a leading force in the cereals "diplomacy" stakes with powerful financial and political allies. [...]
Yariv Elbaz, president of Forafric, during a meeting with the Autonomous Port of Abidjan on 25 August 2020.
Yariv Elbaz, president of Forafric, during a meeting with the Autonomous Port of Abidjan on 25 August 2020. © Story & Brands via PAA
TUNISIA Diplomacy 24/01/2022

Youssef Chahed set to clear obstacles for Saied in the United States 

In an attempt to break a seemingly intractable economic deadlock amid mounting international criticism, the Tunisian president has sent his former prime minister Youssef Chahed to Washington to try and reassure his US backers. Meanwhile, a handful of Tunisian opposition organisations are in search of US support of their own to denounce what they believe was a coup d'état. [...]
Former Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed has been sent as an emissary to the US by President Kaïs Saïed.
Former Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed has been sent as an emissary to the US by President Kaïs Saïed. © William Maclean/CK/FW1/Reuters
SUDAN Politics 17/01/2022

Burhan and Hemeti keep a tight hold on power in Khartoum 

Now in total control, General Burhan and his deputy "Hemeti" form a duo that is holding together the regime currently in charge of Sudan. On paper, they have nothing in common. Burhan is a career soldier, while Hemeti is a militiaman turned politician. [...]
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo aka Hemeti (left), with the chairman of the Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo aka Hemeti (left), with the chairman of the Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. © Mahmoud Hjaj/Anadolu Agency via AFP

Refine your search

New: Sign up for real-time alerts and be notified of new editions!  

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!