Africa

Nigeria
Low-key Lebanese businessman seeks to become face of Turkish arms makers

Osman Chennar is trying to establish himself as the leading representative of Turkish arms manufacturers in Nigeria. To win contracts and develop local military production, he is relying on a team of retired Nigerian army generals.

Morocco
Mohammed VI's niece establishes brand on luxury jewellery market

Princess Lalla Hasna's daughter has been building up the profile of her jewellery brand since 2022, thanks in particular to partnerships with international stars.

Morocco
OCP Group hires Baker McKenzie to navigate European green ammonia rules

The Moroccan phosphate giant has, over the past few months, hired the US law firm to assist it in interpreting European regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.

DRC
Kinshasa's curious $205m debt to Abu Dhabi

Félix Tshisekedi's government owes over $200m to the United Arab Emirates, with which it has developed close ties. The government has chosen not to include this debt in its public accounts, and it may be linked to the purchase of military equipment.

Algeria
Stellantis and Renault's contrasting fortunes in Oran

The automotive multinational, with a portfolio including Peugeot and Citroën, is currently eating up market share of the French brand in Algeria, where the latter has long been the dominant player.

Congo
French courts set to take 'presidential' Falcon off Commisimpex and its financiers

Six years after successfully seizing Denis Sassou-Nguesso's Falcon jet, the Lebanese businessman Mohsen Hojeij – who is claiming €2.2bn in unpaid debts from the Congo – is on the verge of losing this prized asset.

Somalia
NISA intel agency and aviation authority in power struggle at Mogadishu airport

Several staff members of the control tower at Mogadishu's airport were denied access by intelligence officers on 2 July, without explanation.

Ghana
France's Ocea close to signing deal to supply Navy

The French shipbuilder is working with Accra to hone the details of the sale of two offshore patrol vessels to the Ghana Navy, a deal that would require Parliament's approval.

Morocco
Mohammed VI launches two new hospitality ventures

Onapar-Ametys, the property developer controlled by associates of King Mohammed VI, has recently established two new subsidiaries: Casahong, based in Casablanca, and Green Littoral Holding, which was incorporated several months earlier.

Somalia, Somaliland
Irro administration makes new bid to enlist US lobbyists

Khadar Hussein Abdi, the presidential affairs minister, has engaged former Donald Trump campaign strategists in hopes of breathing new life into Somaliland's bid for international recognition.

Libya
Saddam Haftar pushes for control of cross-border smuggling routes

Libya's National Army is intensifying operations in the Fezzan region in an effort to tighten its grip on the borders with Chad and Niger, while seeking to win over local Toubou communities.

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, William Ruto, Mamadi Doumbouya

Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

Ivory CoastAlassane Ouattara's personal trip to France

KenyaWilliam Ruto's warning to leaders of his political stronghold

Equatorial GuineaMMA champion Francis Ngannou misses encounter with Mamadi Doumbouya in Conakry

Sudan
Riyadh wires millions of dollars for two RSF defectors

Saudi Arabia is offering financial and diplomatic support to Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in hopes that the commander will work to release the grip of Islamist networks on the Sudanese Armed Forces.