Bernard Arnault

Palace Intrigues
Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Hélène Mercier-Arnault, Mohammed VI

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

Central African RepublicEmirati royal family flies Touadéra to Moscow

Ivory CoastHélène Mercier-Arnault cultivates her African connections

MoroccoComedian Gad Elmaleh gives private show for Mohammed VI's mining firm

Palace Intrigues
Paul Biya, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Martin Bouygues

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

CameroonBiya postpones new Switzerland trip to host Albert II of Monaco

Central African RepublicTouadéra stands by French Ambassador Bruno Foucher

Ivory CoastMartin Bouygues, a no-show at the first lady's gala

Gabon
Negotiations stall around the neverending Hôtel Pozzo di Borgo story

While the French courts are due to rule on the future of the luxurious Parisian property owned by the Gabonese state, a host of intermediaries, lawyers and businessmen are busy behind the scenes, operating independently of Libreville's official legal strategy.

Gabon
Libreville set to sign deal with LVMH

In June, Gabon's green economy development agency is slated to sign a memorandum of understanding for the provision of forest products with Bernard Arnault's luxury giant.

Ivory Coast
Luxury giant LVMH makes a courtesy visit to Abidjan

Although not very active on the continent, Bernard Arnault's group is nevertheless attempting to maintain contact with a handful of African capitals. To that end, it sent a delegation to Ivory Coast in early October.

Palace Intrigues
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Bernard Arnault, Félix Tshisekedi, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Laurent Gbagbo

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

Gabon Bernard Arnault abandons bid to buy Paris mansion

DRCTshisekedi renews relations with Moïse Katumbi

Algeria Dominique de Villepin's secret tête-à-tête with Abdelmadjid Tebboune

Ivory Coast Ex-president Laurent Gbagbo visits Paris and Brussels

Gabon
Sale of Pozzo di Borgo mansion in Paris held for ransom by Gabon's creditors

The Gabonese state has seen the sale of its mansion, long the home of late German designer Karl Lagerfeld, grind to a standstill in Paris.

Palace Intrigues
Félix Tshisekedi, Amadou Ba and Nicolas Sarkozy, Teodoro Obiang Nguema

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

DRC Helene Mercier-Arnault, wife of luxury goods magnate Bernard Arnault, pays a cultural visit to Kinshasa

SenegalNicolas Sarkozy phones Amadou Ba

Equatorial GuineaTeodoro Obiang Nguema mourns a death and a murder

Liberia
Details of Liberia's secret deal with ArcelorMittal revealed

Africa Intelligence has gained access to the confidential deal which gives the global steel giant a virtual monopoly on iron ore in Liberia at the expense of Solway Mining.

Africa, France
French luxury industry takes a shine to ethical jewellery

During the annual OECD forum on responsible mineral supply chains, held online from 17 to 18 April, several French luxury industry players spoke of their financial aid to NGOs working to promote ethical jewellery.

Insiders | Madagascar
Business and friendship go together for Hassanein Hiridjee

Hassanein Hiridjee and his brother inherited businesses started by their father. Hassanein, a member of Madagascar's Indo-Pakistani community, has French nationality and is very much the modern businessman. He is a graduate of the prestigious French business school, the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (ESCP), and held a number of posts in the financial sector before returning to Madagascar in 1997.