Arquus

Palace Intrigues
Mahamat Idriss Déby, William Ruto, Alassane Ouattara

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

ChadMahamat Idriss Déby hesitates over trip to Paris business forum

KenyaWilliam Ruto urges churches to switch to his preferred bank

Ivory CoastAlassane Ouattara, keen viewer of the LCI news channel

Africa
Russian defence team heads on Africa tour to explore fresh military opportunities

Four African countries are being targeted by Moscow, which wants to strengthen its military partnerships and explore new openings for Africa Corps. Chad, Congo, Madagascar and Tanzania are on the itinerary of a delegation led by the deputy minister of defence.

Chad
Mahamat Idriss Déby pushes for local production of arms

The president has set up a new state-owned company to meet the needs of Chad's armed forces. It is tasked with assembling military equipment in the country. Talks have begun between suppliers and the former chief of staff to the president, who has been appointed to head the new entity.

Chad
Defence firm Arquus secures deal as military ties with Paris improve

The French defence firm has just won a contract worth more than €50m to renew the Chadian army's logistics vehicles. This commercial success reflects the revival of a security cooperation between the two countries.

Nigeria
Armoured-vehicle maker Arquus does brisk business in Abuja

The company, headed by Emmanuel Levacher, has just delivered several dozen light vehicles to the Nigerian Army to bolster its counter‑insurgency capabilities. This contract was won despite strong competition from Chinese and Emirati rivals.

Southern Africa
Business France organises a defence and cybersecurity forum in Gaborone

After showcasing French military industry companies in Pretoria in 2025, Business France is continuing its efforts with a second event in March, geared towards southern Africa.

The New Guard
Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Central African Republic

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

Ivory CoastLionel Kili, key figure in France's Ivorian diaspora

TanzaniaSalma Iddy, environmentalist championing women entrepreneurs

CARMarius Aristide Hoja Nzessioué, Touadéra's man at the UN

Chad, Mauritania
EU to supply drones to N'Djamena and Nouakchott

Expertise France has launched a tender call to supply two surveillance drone systems to Chad and another to Mauritania.

DRC
Senior DRC military prepare to meet French defence providers in Paris

The delegation will be led by deputy prime minister Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita.

Ivory Coast
Bpifrance champions French defence savoir-faire in Abidjan

Around 15 French businesses are expected in the Ivorian economic capital in late April to attend the third defence security forum run by Bpifrance to promote exports to Africa.

Ivory Coast
French arms specialist Sofema begins new sales drive

The French reconditioned defence equipment specialist plans to send a team to Abidjan in early October to try to regain market share in Ivory Coast. The armoured vehicles market, where it faces competition from China's Norinco and Turkey's Otokar, is its main target

Senegal
Chinese defence giant Norinco opens regional office in Dakar

The company has opened a new office in Senegal to give it a stronger presence in West Africa as it expands its operations there.

Palace Intrigues
William Ruto, Denis Sassou Nguesso, Kaïs Saïed, Ben Moctar Maouloud

Intrigues big and small... Every Tuesday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

KenyaState House employees find First Lady's fasting hard to swallow

CongoDenis Sassou Nguesso honours his oilmen

TunisiaKaïs Saïed blocks football boss from attending FIFA congress

Ivory CoastBen Moctar Maouloud courts French arms companies at Bpifrance salon

Gabon, Ukraine
After Gabon dead-end, French armoured vehicles now bound for Kyiv

France plans to send Ukrainian forces 6-12 Caesar canons and 20 Bastion armoured personnel carriers. Of these, 15 were initially intended to equip the Gabonese troops deployed in MINUSCA. Negotiations are still stalling over the financing of the operation, which should be backed by a new €100m fund announced by President Emmanuel Macron.

Gabon
Libreville finally stumps up for Sofema armoured vehicles

On hold for the last two years pending payment by Libreville, the delivery of a consignment of AML90 reconnaissance vehicles from the French defence company should go ahead before the end of this year.

France, Sahel
Technamm takes the lead in contest to equip Sahel's armed forces

Expertise France, an operator for France's development agency AFD, is expected to award a tender by August for the distribution of around one hundred new military pick-ups/ AVs? for the armed forces of Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad.

France, Nigeria
French defence industry arrives in force in Abuja

Representatives of some 20 French companies have booked a string of speed dates with the Nigerian armed forces and police in Abuja next week. The government agency Business France and the French military procurement service DGA will be overseeing this promotional drill.