Bolloré

Ethiopia
New tender call to liberalise logistics sector

The Ethiopian Maritime Authority is once again gearing up to review applications from firms wishing to obtain a multimodal licence. This should put an end to the monopoly currently enjoyed by Ethiopian Shipping & Logistics Services Enterprise in the logistics sector.

Central Africa, West Africa
Vivendi seeks new business from Lagos to Kampala

Having established a foothold in French-speaking and central Africa, the French company's African branch, which is a specialist internet service provider, is looking to break into new markets in English-speaking countries.

DRC
EGC struggles to make cobalt comeback

Five months after the arrival of its new managing director, the Gecamines subsidiary has still not revived its partnership with trading giant Trafigura, nor has it signed an ore processing agreement with Buenassa, contrary to some reports.

Ethiopia
Ex-Ethiopian Shipping Lines boss could soon rival former employer

Roba Megersa has not been idle since he was dismissed in March as head of state-owned Ethiopian Shipping Lines in the wave of liberalisation reforms that have swept through the industry. At the helm of another transport company, the former CEO is eyeing up the logistics sector.

Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger
Chad all but deprived of trade routes after Niger coup

Imports bound for Chad have been blocked in Benin since Niger's borders were shut after the recent coup there. This means Chad has lost a fourth major trade route - after conflict in Libya and in Sudan stopped the flow of goods - and it is now planning to boost its Cameroonian channel.

Gabon
Handling Partner Gabon fights for its survival

The Libreville airport handling company has amassed significant losses that are now being compounded by a leadership crisis, casting doubt over whether it will continue to operate beyond 2023.

Burkina Faso
Endeavour's sale of gold mines to Simon Tiemtoré marred by tax debt

For the past two years, Burkina Faso customs have been demanding more than €90m for the Boungou and Wahgnion mines, which Endeavour Mining has sold to Simon Tiemtoré of Lilium Capital without disclosing the debt.

Angola
How the €305m road between Luanda and Lunda Sul province will be financed

The African Trade Insurance Agency has just authorised the granting of a $305m loan, guaranteed by Deutsche Bank, to finance the Angolan road link between Luanda and Lunda Sul province.

Sahel
Euro-Sahel prospects for security projects

The Euro-Sahel association is working on the creation of a coastguard unit on the Senegal River, to improve monitoring of smuggling and illegal immigration routes.

Inner circles | Guinea
Albayrak leads Erdogan's economic and diplomatic drive in Conakry

All-powerful under Alpha Condé, the Turkish group Albayrak is continuing to hold its own under the junta despite some tensions. Several figures are keeping the dialogue going between Mamadi Doumbouya and the conglomerate, which has very close ties to the Turkish president.

Guinea
Doumbouya wants to renegotiate Albayrak's Conakry port contract

Conakry does not recognise the terms of the contract signed between the former administration and the Turkish group in 2018. Through renegotiations, Mamadi Doumbouya hopes to put pressure on Ankara to obtain the return of Alpha Condé from exile.

Burkina Faso, West Africa
President Traore pampers miner Iamgold

Despite needing money to buy weapons to fight armed groups in the north of Burkina Faso, the junta has decided to turn a blind eye to the Canadian firm's infringement of customs regulations. IamGold is the last mining firm operating in this region beset by terrorist violence.

DRC
Gide advises MSC on port of Matadi modernisation project

Law firm Gide Loyrette Nouel played an active role in the negotiations which led to the final agreement on the financing of the modernisation work to be carried out at the river port of Maatadi between Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Société Congolaise des Transports et Ports (SCTP) last month.

Cameroon, France
Gill Dingome and Thomas Clay cross swords again on Chad-Cameroon pipeline

The arbitration procedure launched by Petronas and ExxonMobil against Cameroon has been suspended for two months after Yaoundé's lawyer, Gill Dingome, sought the recusal of the oil firm's chosen arbitrator Thomas Clay.

Burkina Faso
Junta pressures mining industry into contributing to war effort

The junta, which is in financial difficulty, particularly because of the cost of its battle with the armed groups rife in northern and eastern Burkina Faso, is doing all it can to get its hands on the cash generated by the mines.

Nigeria
Africa Nature Investors secures national parks

At the end of this month, Africa Nature Investors will start ensuring security in parts of Edo state's Okomu National Park. It is the only Nigerian NGO working to conserve natural heritage locally, and it believes in profitability.

The New Guard
Guinea, Senegal, Egypt, Namibia

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

GuineaOumar Diouhé Bah leads the fight against fake medical products

SenegalHapsatou Doro mixes PR with diplomacy

EgyptAalaa Gamal, taking on the North African online payment market

NamibiaJames Mnyupe, the president's hydrogen expert