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West Africa

Mali
Gradual thaw in Paris-Bamako relations

France looks set to resume issuing visas to Malian nationals, stalled for several months. It is a potential first step towards normalising relations.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 17.05.2024

Ivory Coast
Conseil Café-Cacao declares war on cocoa operators with Lebanese ties

Yves Brahima Koné, head of the Conseil Café-Cacao, in Abidjan on 2 April 2024. © Issouf Sanogo/AFP

Free access Commodity Traders Running Story - Cocoa cartel v traders 17.05.2024

Africa
Paris gears up for African ambassadorial reshuffle

The Elysée is currently putting the finishing touches to a vast shake-up of French embassies in Africa. Posts in Kinshasa, Cotonou, Addis Ababa, Abuja and Conakry are among those affected by the changes.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 16.05.2024

Benin, Niger
Beijing dispatches delegation to Cotonou in bid to reach deal over CNPC oil

The president of Benin, Patrice Talon, in Cotonou on 7 March 2024. © Ute Grabowsky/Imago Images/Reuters

Subscribers only Energy 15.05.2024

Senegal
Finance minister set to sack chief of staff

Senegal's new government is preparing to announce a series of appointments to the finance and budget ministry. Among those about to be sacked to make way for the newcomers is Pape Oumar Diallo, a long-time associate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.

Subscribers only Politics 15.05.2024

Guinea
Conakry chooses Oryx as fuel supplier

The fire at Conakry's main fuel depot on 18 December 2023. © Stringer/AFP

Subscribers only Energy, Commodity Traders 15.05.2024

Ivory Coast
Ouattara pulls out of building international airport in Kong

Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara has backed out of plans to construct an international airport in his hometown of Kong, in the far north of the country.

Subscribers only Business 15.05.2024

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia
Mining magnate Robert Friedland's fall from favour in Guinea and Liberia

The North American tycoon no longer has privileged access to presidential palaces in West Africa, and his ambitious projects have been sidelined. Guinea junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya and President Joseph Boakai of Liberia no longer believe in his plans.

Subscribers only Mining 14.05.2024

Robert Friedland during the CRU's World Copper Conference in Santiago, Chile, 9 April 2019.

Ivory Coast
France's DCI to manage €15m European military aid fund

The European Union has appointed the French operator Défense Conseil International to lead a military assistance mission to strengthen the air and ground capabilities of the Ivorian army on the country's northern border.

Subscribers only Defence 14.05.2024

Senegal
Sonko and Faye court juntas and ECOWAS in bid for regional influence

Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko is to visit Conakry, Bamako, Ouagadougou and Niamey in late May; a series of trips that illustrate how he and President Faye are keen to have a hand in regional affairs.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 14.05.2024

Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara during a press conference at the presidential palace in Abidjan on 7 May 2024.

Spotlight | Nigeria
Abuja sets sights on new national museum for Benin Bronzes

Nigeria's culture ministry has sought UNESCO's advice on creating a major new facility in the capital to house hundreds of artworks that are set to be returned to the country.

Subscribers only Politics 13.05.2024

Nigerian artist Enotie Paul Ogbebor next to a Benin bronze at the Grassi Museum, Leipzig, Germany.

Ivory Coast
Conseil Café-Cacao to compensate exporters for unfulfilled contracts

The regulatory body has given in to traders' demands for compensation for cocoa purchasing contracts that were not executed during the season ending 31 March because of the poor harvest.

Subscribers only Commodity Traders 13.05.2024

Ivorian minister of agriculture Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani (left) and Yves Brahima Koné, director general of the Conseil Café-Cacao, in Abidjan, 2 April 2024.

Nigeria, Rwanda
TotalEnergies CEO Pouyanné heads off on African mission

After a stop in Qatar, where he will try to increase the French oil and gas group's share of the North Field gas output, Patrick Pouyanné is to speak at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali before heading to Abuja.

Subscribers only West Africa 13.05.2024

Patrick Pouyanné (left) and Paul Kagame in Monte Carlo, Monaco, May 2022.

Nigeria
Paris and Abuja create working group on irregular migration

Abuja and Paris have just signed an agreement over the creation of a working group on irregular migration that will meet twice a month.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 13.05.2024

Benin, Niger
Talon uses CNPC oil as bargaining chip in stand-off with Nigerien junta

The decision on 6 May to ban Chinese tankers from anchoring in the Beninese port of Sèmè is a sign of the failure of the negotiations that have been taking place between Niamey and Cotonou over the last few months.

Subscribers only Energy 10.05.2024

Patrice Talon, at the Marina Palace in Cotonou, in July 2022.

Guinea-Bissau, Senegal
Old Africa hand to be next US ambassador in Dakar

The Senate must now approve Joe Biden's choice.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 10.05.2024

Guinea-Bissau, Senegal
Diomaye Faye in balancing act with Guinea-Bissau

Senegal's new president recently paid a visit to his Guinea-Bissau counterpart, Umaro Sissoco Embaló. But his entourage also maintains close relations with the country's opposition in the person of ex-PM Domingos Simões Pereira.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 09.05.2024

The president of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye in Dakar on 10 April 2024.

Spotlight | Niger
Junta calls bluff of foreign uranium miners

Despite issuing a series of ultimatums to the uranium mining companies, the Nigerien authorities are struggling to find real alternatives. The problem is illustrated by the Imouraren project of the French group Orano.

Subscribers only Mining 09.05.2024

Orano CEO Nicolas Maes (left) and the Nigerien prime minister, Ali Lamine Zeine.

West Africa
French generals set sights on the continent's embassy posts

With France's diplomats increasingly less interested in becoming ambassadors in Africa, French army generals look ready to step into their shoes.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 08.05.2024

Senegal
Sonko probes sale of state buildings during Macky Sall reign

Senegal's new prime minister has told officials to provide him with information on the sale of state-owned buildings to private companies and individuals during the lengthy rule of president Macky Sall.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Politics 08.05.2024

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, on 2 April, 2024

Nigeria
Grammys academy to kick off Africa tour in Abuja

Nigeria initially snubbed the prestigious music awards' organising body but has finally joined its future African branch. The official launch is due to take place in the Nigerian capital in June.

Subscribers only Business 07.05.2024

Nigeria
Macron invites four Nigerian billionaires to Choose France summit

President Emmanuel Macron has invited four Nigerian billionaires to next week’s annual Choose France summit aimed at boosting international investment in the country.

Subscribers only Business 07.05.2024

Senegal
Ousmane Sonko's discreet business connections

Senegal's new prime minister has forged links with two influential entrepreneurs over the past few years. One of them is an established businessman in Senegal, while the other is a rising star in the local construction and public works sector.

Subscribers only Business 06.05.2024

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko in Dakar on 5 April 2024.

Ivory Coast
Ivorian transport minister in Paris to discuss Abidjan metro

Ivorian Transport Minister Amadou Koné spent several days in Paris in late April. The focus of his visit was the progress of construction work on Abidjan's metro system.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 06.05.2024

Ivory Coast
Alassane Ouattara ponders government reshuffle

The head of state has been mulling over whether to reshuffle his government for some days now. Current Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé is expected to be reappointed, but a number of other departures are likely.

Subscribers only Politics 03.05.2024

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara (right) and his PM Robert Beugré Mambé in Abidjan, 13 February 2024.

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West Africa

Mali
Gradual thaw in Paris-Bamako relations

Ivory Coast
Conseil Café-Cacao declares war on cocoa operators with Lebanese ties

Africa
Paris gears up for African ambassadorial reshuffle

Benin, Niger
Beijing dispatches delegation to Cotonou in bid to reach deal over CNPC oil

Senegal
Finance minister set to sack chief of staff

Guinea
Conakry chooses Oryx as fuel supplier

Ivory Coast
Ouattara pulls out of building international airport in Kong

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia
Mining magnate Robert Friedland's fall from favour in Guinea and Liberia

Ivory Coast
France's DCI to manage €15m European military aid fund

Senegal
Sonko and Faye court juntas and ECOWAS in bid for regional influence

Spotlight | Nigeria
Abuja sets sights on new national museum for Benin Bronzes

Ivory Coast
Conseil Café-Cacao to compensate exporters for unfulfilled contracts

Nigeria, Rwanda
TotalEnergies CEO Pouyanné heads off on African mission

Nigeria
Paris and Abuja create working group on irregular migration

Benin, Niger
Talon uses CNPC oil as bargaining chip in stand-off with Nigerien junta

Guinea-Bissau, Senegal
Old Africa hand to be next US ambassador in Dakar

Guinea-Bissau, Senegal
Diomaye Faye in balancing act with Guinea-Bissau

Spotlight | Niger
Junta calls bluff of foreign uranium miners

West Africa
French generals set sights on the continent's embassy posts

Senegal
Sonko probes sale of state buildings during Macky Sall reign

Nigeria
Grammys academy to kick off Africa tour in Abuja

Nigeria
Macron invites four Nigerian billionaires to Choose France summit

Senegal
Ousmane Sonko's discreet business connections

Ivory Coast
Ivorian transport minister in Paris to discuss Abidjan metro

Ivory Coast
Alassane Ouattara ponders government reshuffle

The weekly summary

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

Ibrahim Traoré

Virtus Minerals

Paul Kagame

Savannah Energy

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

West Africa

Mali Gradual thaw in Paris-Bamako relations

Ivory Coast Conseil Café-Cacao declares war on cocoa operators with Lebanese ties

Africa Paris gears up for African ambassadorial reshuffle

Benin, Niger Beijing dispatches delegation to Cotonou in bid to reach deal over CNPC oil

Senegal Finance minister set to sack chief of staff

Guinea Conakry chooses Oryx as fuel supplier

Ivory Coast Ouattara pulls out of building international airport in Kong

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia Mining magnate Robert Friedland's fall from favour in Guinea and Liberia

Ivory Coast France's DCI to manage €15m European military aid fund

Senegal Sonko and Faye court juntas and ECOWAS in bid for regional influence

Spotlight | Nigeria Abuja sets sights on new national museum for Benin Bronzes

Ivory Coast Conseil Café-Cacao to compensate exporters for unfulfilled contracts

Nigeria, Rwanda TotalEnergies CEO Pouyanné heads off on African mission

Nigeria Paris and Abuja create working group on irregular migration

Benin, Niger Talon uses CNPC oil as bargaining chip in stand-off with Nigerien junta

Guinea-Bissau, Senegal Old Africa hand to be next US ambassador in Dakar

Guinea-Bissau, Senegal Diomaye Faye in balancing act with Guinea-Bissau

Spotlight | Niger Junta calls bluff of foreign uranium miners

West Africa French generals set sights on the continent's embassy posts

Senegal Sonko probes sale of state buildings during Macky Sall reign

Nigeria Grammys academy to kick off Africa tour in Abuja

Nigeria Macron invites four Nigerian billionaires to Choose France summit

Senegal Ousmane Sonko's discreet business connections

Ivory Coast Ivorian transport minister in Paris to discuss Abidjan metro

Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara ponders government reshuffle

The weekly summary

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Mali
Gradual thaw in Paris-Bamako relations

Ivory Coast
Conseil Café-Cacao declares war on cocoa operators with Lebanese ties

Africa
Paris gears up for African ambassadorial reshuffle

Benin, Niger
Beijing dispatches delegation to Cotonou in bid to reach deal over CNPC oil

Senegal
Finance minister set to sack chief of staff

Guinea
Conakry chooses Oryx as fuel supplier

Ivory Coast
Ouattara pulls out of building international airport in Kong

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia
Mining magnate Robert Friedland's fall from favour in Guinea and Liberia

Ivory Coast
France's DCI to manage €15m European military aid fund

Senegal
Sonko and Faye court juntas and ECOWAS in bid for regional influence

Spotlight | Nigeria
Abuja sets sights on new national museum for Benin Bronzes

Ivory Coast
Conseil Café-Cacao to compensate exporters for unfulfilled contracts

Nigeria, Rwanda
TotalEnergies CEO Pouyanné heads off on African mission

Nigeria
Paris and Abuja create working group on irregular migration

Benin, Niger
Talon uses CNPC oil as bargaining chip in stand-off with Nigerien junta

Guinea-Bissau, Senegal
Old Africa hand to be next US ambassador in Dakar

Guinea-Bissau, Senegal
Diomaye Faye in balancing act with Guinea-Bissau

Spotlight | Niger
Junta calls bluff of foreign uranium miners

West Africa
French generals set sights on the continent's embassy posts

Senegal
Sonko probes sale of state buildings during Macky Sall reign

Nigeria
Grammys academy to kick off Africa tour in Abuja

Nigeria
Macron invites four Nigerian billionaires to Choose France summit

Senegal
Ousmane Sonko's discreet business connections

Ivory Coast
Ivorian transport minister in Paris to discuss Abidjan metro

Ivory Coast
Alassane Ouattara ponders government reshuffle