FAR

Burkina Faso, France
Junta rebuffs Paris over military cooperation

Two months after the coup, Burkina Faso's strongman is reluctant to accept operational support from France. A withdrawal of the Sabre force is now being discussed by the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu.

Palace Intrigues
Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Mohammed VI, Kandia Kamissoko Camara, André-Magnus Ekoumou

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

CAR Touadéra dispatches advisers for support in France

France/Morocco Moroccan ambassador to France in no hurry to leave

Ivory Coast Foreign ministry sees spies everywhere

Cameroon André-Magnus Ekoumou still has one foot in each port

Congo, France, Gabon
Macron's green diplomacy seeks to unite Bongo and Sassou

The French president, keen to promote the potential of Central Africa's rainforests, will attend a summit on the issue in Gabon early next year. But he also wants to see Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who has abysmal relations with his Gabonese counterpart, involved.

Namibia
Antler Gold thinks big in Namibia

Beyond its flagship projects in Erongo, the Canadian junior has been busy over the past year gathering exploration licences elsewhere in Namibia.

Morocco
House of Artificial Intelligence lays foundations for major AI development programme

With the inauguration of a House of Artificial Intelligence in Oujda this year, Morocco has confirmed its determination to take part in the fourth industrial revolution. Since it launched the Al Khawarizmi programme with funding of €4.

Gabon
Frédéric Bongo hits the comeback trail via intelligence

After three years of being sidelined, Frédéric Bongo, Ali Bongo's half-brother, is working on creating a system for coordinating the intelligence services. It's a project that's being discreetly supported by the president's son, Noureddin Bongo.

Algeria
Civilian fleet feels the heat from European port authorities

It's been far from plain sailing of late for many Algerian ships, several of which have been impounded in European ports over the past few months.

Egypt
Greek group Copelouzos leads race to connect Egypt to EU electricity grid

Two Greek companies are competing to connect Egypt to the supergrid of the European Union, which is keen to diversify its energy suppliers. Of the two, Copelouzos Group is Egypt's favourite.

Libya
Dabaiba loses support in Misrata

The Prime Minister quietly travelled to Misrata to seek support from several important local figures, to project his position, currently under threat.

Mozambique
ExxonMobil and ENI prepare the ground for the second Coral FLNG

While safety issues are far from being resolved in the Cabo Delgado province, the two majors operating in Block 4 are working hard to develop offshore solutions.

Guinea-Bissau, Senegal
Imbroglio over AGC allows CNOOC to shelve drilling plans

CNOOC is still waiting for Senegal and Guinea-Bissau to settle the matter of resource distribution on their joint maritime zone, where it operates the AGC Profond block. Until a solution is found, the Chinese major does not want to start its drilling programme on the licence.

Mozambique
Fura Gems to hunt for rubies in Niassa national park

Mozambique's mines ministry has awarded an exploration licence to Msawise Ruby Mining, which is owned by Fura Gems. The five-year permit covers an area of almost 10,000 hectares within the Niassa national park in the province of the same name.

The New Guard
Kenya, Tunisia, Mali, DRC

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence reveals the next generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

KenyaBack to the UA for Kenyatta influencer Pauline Njoroge.

TunisiaMalek Zahi, the other strongman of the Saied system.

MaliAmadou Bathily, business intelligence pioneer in Bamako.

DRCFrançois Kakese, the presidency's éminence grise.

Ivory Coast
Power struggle between big business and Abidjan slows cocoa campaign

International traders and chocolate manufacturers are limiting purchases of cocoa beans in Ivory Coast. The local regulatory board is requiring them to acquire 20% from local exporters, and they are unable to find enough 'sustainable' material locally.