Morocco
AMCI set to resurrect Mohammed VI's abandoned African projects

Morocco, Niger
Niger's ambassador pulls out all the stops with Moroccan businesses

Following Morocco's proposal of an economic partnership with the Sahel countries, Niamey is jumping on the opportunity to revive projects ex-President Mohamed Bazoum had started.

Guinea, Morocco
Rabat ramps up religious presence in Conakry

Morocco is calling all the shots on the management of a new Mohammed VI religious centre in the Guinean capital, funded by a royal foundation, and will dictate everything from its leadership to its imams.

Morocco
Health minister Aït Taleb loosens purse strings for Oriental region

The Oriental region, one of the hardest hit by rising unemployment in Morocco, is currently the focus of attention of government ministers and Health Minister Aït Taleb is stepping up his initiatives in the region.

Nigeria
Aliko Dangote struggles to recruit personnel for his new refinery

Mohan Kumar of India, who has been head of HR at Dangote Industries since 2013, is experiencing major difficulties in recruiting future expatriate managers for Africa's largest refinery (650,000 b/d).

Algeria, Morocco, Tanzania, Western Sahara
Western Sahara question looms large over Morocco-Tanzania relations

Having long backed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Tanzania has in recent months been courted on multiple fronts by Morocco. Algeria, meanwhile, is not sitting on its hands.

Morocco
Cannabis regulatory body keeps legal hemp sector waiting

A tender for the elaboration of a strategy for the development of legal cannabis in Morocco has been cancelled. The kingdom's cannabis regulatory body blamed procedural issues but gave no further details on the U-turn.

Morocco
OCP poised to deliver fertilisers to Burundi

Bujumbura has turned to Morocco's OCP, which has been expanding rapidly on the continent of late. If it goes ahead, the deal will consolidate Rabat's 'phosphate diplomacy'.

Morocco, West Africa
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.

Algeria
General Hallouz comes out of retirement to take lead on international cooperation

Essentially inactive since its creation, Algeria's international cooperation agency now has a new director in retired general Abed Halouze and a billion-dollar budget.

Morocco
Cash-strapped power & water utility renews vehicle fleet

The Office national de l'électricité et de l'eau potable (ONEE) has just selected the offers of Chaabi LLD and Wafa LLD for its long-term vehicle leasing contract, the subject of a call for tenders that was awarded on 4 April 2023.

Nigeria
Africa Nature Investors secures national parks

At the end of this month, Africa Nature Investors will start ensuring security in parts of Edo state's Okomu National Park. It is the only Nigerian NGO working to conserve natural heritage locally, and it believes in profitability.

The New Guard
Congo, Algeria, Namibia and Nigeria

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

Congo Baptism of fire for country's youngest MP, Antoine Obam'Ondon

Algeria Yacine Oualid, the face of 'new Algeria' 

Namibia Sharonice Busch tackles youth unemployment

Nigeria Chinny Ogunro, The Africa Center's well-connected new COO

Morocco
Rabat's heavyweight Davos delegation

Africa's fifth largest economy, which aims to decarbonise its economy by 2050, will turn up in force this month at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting.

Morocco
Diplomatic malaise sets in between Rabat and Tunis

Ahead of the 18-20 November Francophonie summit in Djerba, Tunisia, Rabat is questioning its level of representation. Its relationship with Tunis remains dire.

Algeria, Mauritania, Western Sahara
UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura expected in Algiers and Nouakchott

The UN envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, is due to visit Algeria and Mauritania between September and October.

Algeria, United States
US firm GHSN to pioneer foreign hospital management alongside Groupe Souakri

Groupe Souakri, the Algerian partner of the LafargeHolcim cement firm and Renault Trucks, has asked Global Health Services Network to design its future private hospital and paramedical training centre in Meftah. The American group will also manage the new complex, at least during the early years.

Africa, France
Francophonie secretary of state Zacharopoulou appoints chief of staff

The French secretary of state for development, francophonie and international partnerships, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou has appointed diplomat Antoine Michon as head of her chief of staff.

Algeria
New 'Mr Africa' for Algeria's Foreign Affairs Ministry

The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has had a new Africa director since May.

Morocco, Senegal
Mohammed VI's new Dakar envoy Hassan Naciri hopes to get major projects back on track

The Moroccan ambassador in Dakar is expected to resurrect several outstanding projects, which have been put on hold despite the warm relations between the two countries. He will also have to strengthen the historical link between the kingdom and the powerful Tidjane brotherhood.

Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco
Gas shortages put brakes on OCP's fertiliser plans

When presented in 2016 it was to drive OCP's expansion across the continent, but the project to build fertiliser plants in several African nations has snagged on the Moroccan sector giant's own strategy in Ethiopia and Ghana: rely on local gas supplies.

Morocco
Boucetta to check on Mohammed VI's African projects

Mounia Boucetta, secretary of state at the foreign affairs ministry, [...]