"EUROPEAN UNION" - All our articles

EGYPT Infrastructures Energy 29/06/2022

Sissi steps up efforts to secure Sinai pipelines, at the heart of EU-Egypt-Israel gas deal

Egyptian gas terminals are a recurring target for an Islamic State branch in Sinai. After the EU signed in June an MoU to receive Israeli gas liquefied in Egypt, confronted with the boycott of Russian gas, the protection of these infrastructures has become a major issue for Cairo. [...]

SpotlightLIBERIA Infrastructures Mining Politics Business 29/06/2022

George Weah takes on Mittal over the future of the country's iron mines, railways

Liberia's president wants to restore his country's balance of power with the global steel giant ArcelorMittal. Mining magnate Robert Friedland is throwing his support behind George Weah with an ambitious project that would let his own iron be exported through the state from Guinea. [...]

Liberian President George Weah. © Thierry Gouegnon/Reuters

WEST AFRICA Defence 29/06/2022

EU wants four African navies to fight piracy together

The European Union plans to use the European Peace Facility to provide operational support to four West African navies, which are to take on a regional leadership role to counter the persistent threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. [...]

ETHIOPIA NIGERIA Diplomacy 29/06/2022

Obasanjo's softly-softly approach to Tigray mediation causes frustration all round Free

The African Union-elected mediator of the Ethiopian crisis, Olusegun Obasanjo, is keeping very quiet about his methods. But his international goals could clash with the 2023 Nigerian presidential election. [...]

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. © Christian Thompson/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

CENTRAL AFRICA GABON Diplomacy 29/06/2022

Francophonie secretary of state Zacharopoulou to visit Libreville

The French Secretary of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, will travel to Libreville from 5 to 8 July. [...]

French secretary of state Chrysoula Zacharopoulou. © Alexandre Marchi/L'Est républicain/PhotoPQR/MaxPPP

TUNISIA Diplomacy 29/06/2022

German President tries to re-establish contact between Kais Saied and G7 countries

The EU and the ambassadors of the G7 countries are trying to arrange a joint meeting with Tunisian president Kais Saied to preserve contact with Carthage Palace while the head of state is in the process of finalising the draft of the new constitution. [...]

FRANCE Commodity traders 28/06/2022

France discusses its FARM food security plan with major agricultural commodities traders

France recently brought together the largest international traders to support its initiative towards the countries most dependent on agricultural imports. But NGOs fear that the FARM Task Force overlooks longer-term agricultural issues in Africa. [...]

CHAD Diplomacy 28/06/2022

Paris to give €15m to Chad

France will release €15m to a cash-strapped Chad next month. [...]

SpotlightFRANCE SAHEL Diplomacy 24/06/2022

Macron mulls France's future in Sahel

Ever since the demise of Operation Barkhane was announced, French diplomats and military brass have been pondering their country's next steps in the region. A strategy paper is being prepared for Emmanuel Macron. [...]

French president Emmanuel Macron visits the troops of France's Barkhane counter-terrorism operation in Africa's Sahel region in Gao, northern Mali, 19 May 2017. © Christophe Petit Tesson/ POOL/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

SpotlightMOZAMBIQUE Defence Energy 23/06/2022

Rwanda seeks European financial help for Cabo Delgado mission

Rwanda's intervention in Cabo Delgado should soon enable the French major TotalEnergies to resume its huge liquefied natural gas project in the region. But in the face of the rising mission costs, several options are on the table to support the Rwandan military effort financially. [...]

Rwandan soldiers patrolling in Afungi, near the TotalEnergies complex in Cabo Delgado, 22 September 2021. © Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC NIGER Diplomacy 21/06/2022

World Bank names new country managers

Han Fraeters, the World Bank's representative in Central African Republic, is leaving his current role for a new posting in Niamey in Niger. He will replace Joelle Dehasse there, who left for Panama in March. [...]

NIGER EUROPEAN UNION Defence Diplomacy 20/06/2022

EU prepares to unlock €25m for Niger's armed forces

EU High Representative Josep Borrell just signed off on €25m in aid for Niger's army. The money will probably come from the European Peace Facility (EFP). [...]

EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell. © Stéphanie Lecocq/EPA/MaxPPP

Inner circles GUINEA Mining 17/06/2022

Doumbouya maintains ever tighter grip on mining sector

Moussa Magassouba, appointed head of the Guinean Ministry of Mines and Geology after the September 2021 coup, coordinates the beating heart of Guinean economy. However, he has been subject to frequent criticism from both civil society organisations and members of the government. [...]

Guinea's Minister of Mines Moussa Magassouba in front of a portrait of President Mamadi Doumbouya. © Twitter/Ministry of Mines and Geology of Guinea

MOROCCO Business 17/06/2022

French farmers fight to ban agricultural imports from Western Sahara

A French farmers' union has asked the Council of State to reach a decision on trade policy concerning fruit and vegetables produced in the disputed territory of Western Sahara. The issue was ruled on by the European General Court last year. [...]

ETHIOPIA Diplomacy 17/06/2022

EU commissioner Janez Lenarcic expected in Addis shortly

While the Ethiopian justice minister is expected in Brussels this weekend, the European commissioner for humanitarian affairs, Janez Lenarčič of Slovenia, is due to travel in the opposite direction [...]

SpotlightSOUTHERN AFRICA Commodity traders Diplomacy 16/06/2022

Putin's envoy reassures Harare and Maputo but avoids Pretoria

On a tour of southern Africa, Russian Federation Council leader Valentina Matvienko promised Zimbabwe and Mozambique that their imports of basic necessities would not be hit by the war in Ukraine. But the Kremlin envoy notably did not include South Africa in her trip. [...]

Valentina Matvienko, President of the Council of the Russian Federation. © Maxim Shipenkov/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

AFRICA RUSSIA Diplomacy 16/06/2022

Eskom's fate caught up in the clash between Ramaphosa and Mantashe