"DGSE" - All our articles - Africa Intelligence

Spotlight | Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
Inside the Trump administration's Sahelian diplomacy

The Trump administration's diplomats, keen to distance themselves from the stance adopted under Joe Biden, are attempting to rebuild ties with the Sahel juntas. The strategy they are developing includes a transactional dimension.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 30.06.2025

Two Nigerien soldiers hold the American and Nigerien flags at Air Base 101 in Niamey in June 2024.

Spotlight | Senegal
From Abidjan to Beijing, Macky Sall spins a web for the post of UN secretary general

While not yet officially a candidate, the former Senegalese president still sees himself as a potential successor to António Guterres at the head of the United Nations. But a number of obstacles lie in his way.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 30.05.2025

The then Senegalese President Macky Sall in New York, on 19 September 2023.

Algeria
Macron revives plans for Tebboune state visit

During his upcoming visit to Algiers, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin is expected to present the Algerian president with an official invitation to make a state visit to France.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 03.04.2025

French President Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers in August 2022.

Spotlight | Ivory Coast
Abidjan goes shopping for cybersecurity and intelligence systems

Amid tensions in the run-up to the presidential election, Abidjan has been looking to cyberintelligence specialists for help in boosting the capacities of its security services. As part of this drive, the gendarmerie recently procured two IMSI-catcher surveillance systems from an Israeli supplier.

Subscribers only Defence 06.03.2025

Ivorian Defence Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara in Port-Bouet military camp, Abidjan, on 20 February 2025.

Chad
French army withdrawal leaves subcontractors in the dark

Since the French army left Chad on 31 January, a number of French and foreign subcontractors in N'Djamena have been wondering about their future. A handful of them may end up staying, however, to carry out operations for the Chadian army.

Subscribers only Defence 17.02.2025

Trucks carrying French army vehicles leaving the former Fort Lamy air base in N'Djamena, Chad, 29 January 2025.

Inner circles | Nigeria
The tight and dedicated team around head of national security Nuhu Ribadu

Placed at the head of Nigeria's security apparatus, Nuhu Ribadu is meddling in political issues and attempting to deal with the multiple threats facing the country. To do this, he calls on a researcher, a number of specialists and his network in Western capitals.

Subscribers only Defence 14.02.2025

Nuhu Ribadu in Abuja, Nigeria, 10 December 2014.

Algeria
Algiers looking to renew military ties with Bamako and Niamey

While its relations with the Malian junta are at a standstill, Algeria is trying to restart its military cooperation with Burkina Faso and Niger.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 13.02.2025

Chad
CAE Aviation, collateral victim of withdrawal of French forces

The French ISR specialist has been asked to leave the 172 Fort-Lamy air base by 19 January.

Subscribers only Politics 16.01.2025

Spotlight | Morocco, Niger
Moroccan intelligence services' secret talks to free Mohamed Bazoum

With the utmost discretion, the kingdom's foreign intelligence agency has been holding talks with Niamey's junta since September with a view to freeing Niger's former president, who has been detained for 18 months.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 17.12.2024

Niger's former president, Mohamed Bazoum, in Niamey on 2 May 2022.

Palace Intrigues
Joe Biden, Mahamat Idriss Déby, Faustin-Archange Touadéra

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

SenegalDakar airport used as rear base for Biden's Angola visit

ChadMahamat Idriss Déby and select few announce end of military pact with Paris

Central African RepublicTouadéra pays final tribute to ex-minister Duchemin

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 05.12.2024

Spotlight | West Africa
Macron tackles final decisions on military presence in Africa

The French president is due to convene a Defence Council devoted specifically to Africa at the end of October. The initial conclusions of the report he commissioned from his personal envoy, Jean-Marie Bockel, will be presented at the meeting.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 02.10.2024

French general Thierry Burkhard during training exercises at the Raponda Walker Arboretum forest in Akanda, Gabon, 15 April 2022.

Palace Intrigues
Mahamat Idriss Déby, Emmanuel Macron and Aziz Akhannouch

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

ChadMahamat Idriss Déby still shunning Paris

AfricaReunion of Macron's African ENA classmates in Paris

MoroccoThe truth behind exit of Akhannouch's secretary-general

Subscribers only Diplomacy 26.09.2024

Burkina Faso
French embassy returns Ouagadougou flats lent by the authorities

The French embassy in Burkina Faso recently completed its handing back of around twenty flats made available to it by the authorities in Ouagadougou.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 12.09.2024

Congo
Sassou culls his intelligence services

The Congolese president has retired two senior police officers close to the head of the National Security Council, Jean-Dominique Okemba. An ally of his son, who serves as international cooperation minister, has been promoted.

Subscribers only Defence 10.07.2024

Denis Sassou Nguesso at the inauguration of South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa as president in Pretoria on 19 June 2024.

Ivory Coast
Alassane Ouattara's intelligence service undergoing major crisis

The Ivorian intelligence agency is experiencing major upheavals, leading to the resignation of several senior executives over the past few weeks.

Subscribers only Defence 02.07.2024

Alassane Ouattara following his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Abidjan on 23 January 2024.

North Africa
Plethora of candidates for French African expats' National Assembly seat

No less than 19 hopefuls are competing to represent the 9th electoral constituency for French citizens living abroad in the French National Assembly. Voters in the Maghreb will play a determining role in the outcome.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 25.06.2024

Franco-Tunisian Karim Ben Cheikh, outgoing deputy for the ninth constituency for French citizens living abroad, on 4 April, 2024.

Palace Intrigues
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Pascaline Bongo, Patrick Achi

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

GabonGeneral Oligui loyal to Omar Bongo's favourite Parisian hotel

Equatorial GuineaObiang to visit Paris without meeting Macron

GabonPascaline Bongo's US exile

Ivory CoastEx-PM Patrick Achi ditches French passport

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 30.05.2024

Ivory Coast
Interior minister Diomandé's discreet Parisian meetings

During his stay, the minister has met with a number of senior French officials.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.04.2024

DRC
Félix Tshisekedi to make official visit to France

The Congolese president has accepted Emmanuel Macron's invitation to Paris next month.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 27.03.2024

Spotlight | Burkina Faso
Brazilian plane order complicates negotiations to release French intelligence agents

The Burkinabe junta suspects Washington and Paris of blocking the delivery of an Embraer Super Tucano attack plane, and this is overshadowing negotiations for the release of four DGSE agents detained in Ouagadougou.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 07.03.2024

Ibrahim Traoré, President of Burkina Faso's transitional government.

DRC Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Namibia Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

The Sahel threatened by a jihadist tornado

Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare

West African cocoa cartel battles with the traders

DGSE

Spotlight | Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Inside the Trump administration's Sahelian diplomacy

Spotlight | Senegal From Abidjan to Beijing, Macky Sall spins a web for the post of UN secretary general

Algeria Macron revives plans for Tebboune state visit

Spotlight | Ivory Coast Abidjan goes shopping for cybersecurity and intelligence systems

Chad French army withdrawal leaves subcontractors in the dark

Inner circles | Nigeria The tight and dedicated team around head of national security Nuhu Ribadu

Algeria Algiers looking to renew military ties with Bamako and Niamey

Chad CAE Aviation, collateral victim of withdrawal of French forces

Spotlight | Morocco, Niger Moroccan intelligence services' secret talks to free Mohamed Bazoum

Palace Intrigues Joe Biden, Mahamat Idriss Déby, Faustin-Archange Touadéra

SenegalDakar airport used as rear base for Biden's Angola visit

ChadMahamat Idriss Déby and select few announce end of military pact with Paris

Central African RepublicTouadéra pays final tribute to ex-minister Duchemin

Spotlight | West Africa Macron tackles final decisions on military presence in Africa

Palace Intrigues Mahamat Idriss Déby, Emmanuel Macron and Aziz Akhannouch

ChadMahamat Idriss Déby still shunning Paris

AfricaReunion of Macron's African ENA classmates in Paris

MoroccoThe truth behind exit of Akhannouch's secretary-general

Burkina Faso French embassy returns Ouagadougou flats lent by the authorities

Congo Sassou culls his intelligence services

Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara's intelligence service undergoing major crisis

North Africa Plethora of candidates for French African expats' National Assembly seat

Palace Intrigues Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Pascaline Bongo, Patrick Achi