Defence

The New Guard
Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Egypt

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

Ivory CoastAmadou Diawara, putting cyber security at the service of states

Guinea-BissauFatumata Jau, number one partner of international donors

EgyptMostafa Talaat, a gold prospector with big dreams

Ivory Coast
Alassane Ouattara's security apparatus undergoing reorganisation

From the Ministry of Defence to the general staffs of the army and the gendarmerie, discussions are underway to appoint the key figures in the president's security apparatus.

Senegal
Drone attack ruled out in Mersin explosion

Initial findings from the Senegalese authorities' investigation into the sabotage of the Russian-linked oil tanker suggest the ship was not hit by drones. However, this conclusion does not dismiss the possibility of a clandestine Ukrainian operation.

DRC, Uganda
Museveni clan extends its tight rein on trade routes

Several members of the presidential family are determined to play an important role in the flow of resources, mainly from neighbouring DRC. The Ugandan army plays a decisive role in securing trade routes to Kampala.

Guinea
Low-profile broker seeks to offload Chinese drones

The Netherlands-based intermediary approached the military leadership in early November, aiming to sell defence equipment produced by Chinese companies to General Mamadi Doumbouya's armed forces.

Chad, Mauritania
French firm Milton supplies drones from Nouakchott to N'Djamena with EU funding

With support from European cooperation programmes, the French drone manufacturer began its activities on the continent by equipping the armies of Mauritania and Chad, two countries facing the jihadist threat on their borders.

Morocco
Army loses patience on delivery schedule and pricing for F-16 fighters

The kingdom is still in the dark as to when the F-16 fighter planes ordered from the United States will be delivered. This uncertainty, alongside a price revision, is the subject of intense discussions between the general staff and the US manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Uganda
French firm Delair equips army with surveillance drones

Following negotiations, the drone manufacturer headed by Bastien Mancini has obtained a contract to deliver UX11 drones to the Uganda Peoples' Defence Force.

Cameroon
Cornered businessman Hervé Parfait Mbapou seeks presidential protection

In the affair pitting him against presidential special adviser Joseph Fouda, Hervé Parfait Mbapou claims to have received death threats and is requesting Paul Biya's protection.