Faustin-Archange Touadéra

Gabon
Oligui Nguema buys two VIP planes

The Gabonese president's office used a broker to discreetly acquire two luxury aircraft for the presidential fleet, which have just been delivered to Libreville.

Central African Republic
Sant'Egidio movement sets up talks between armed group MPC and Bangui

A member of the MPC and a close associate of President Touadéra met in Rome this month at the invitation of the Sant'Egidio peace organisation. It is hoped these talks will result in the return of imprisoned rebel leader Mahamat Al-Khatim.

Central Africa
BEAC entrance exam scandal: an ongoing headache for new governor

Yvon Sana Bangui, the economist who has headed the Central African States Central Bank since the start of the year, is looking for a solution to the entrance exam controversy that he inherited from his predecessor Abbas Mahamat Tolli.

Libya
Libyan embassy in Paris in state of flux

It has been in a state of limbo since the dismissal of ambassador Khaled Kagigi in April.

Palace Intrigues
Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Alassane Ouattara, Patrice Talon, Faustin-Archange Touadéra

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

Congo Sassou puts finishing touches on Congo Basin summit preparations

Ivory Coast Ouattara thinks twice about naming bridge after Gbagbo

Benin President's son Lionel Talon seeks to bring NBA to Cotonou

CAR Pro-Russian sports minister invited to Paris Olympics

Central African Republic
Collusion claims cloud sale of Africa Global Logistics equipment

A subsidiary of the Lebanese firm Group Trad acquired the seized assets of AGL at an auction in early June. But rival buyers have cried foul, alleging collusion.

Central African Republic
Tamoil petrol stations taken over as CAR's fuel crisis continues

Amid a major fuel shortage in the Central African Republic, Energy Minister Arthur Bertrand Piri decided to requisition six Tamoil petrol stations and give three of them to Prisca Mamadou, an influential businesswoman and wife to the head of the country's armed forces.

Central African Republic
Paris mulls resuming financial aid to Bangui

France may restore financial aid to the Central African Republic, four years after freezing it because of the influence of the Russian paramilitary firm Wagner in Bangui. An agreement due to be signed by the two states later this year would release €10m.

Central African Republic
Cameroon's Neptune Oil under pressure in CAR

Faced with a worsening fuel crisis, Central African Republic lawmakers and the IMF want Energy Minister Arthur Bertrand Piri to end an exclusive deal with Cameroon's Neptune Oil.

Central African Republic
US picks new ambassador for Bangui

US President Joe Biden's pick of new ambassador to the Central African Republic, Christopher Lamora, is a human rights specialist close to the Democratic Party.