Gupta

Niger
Arise stymied by change of regime in Niamey

Gagan Gupta's Arise group was on the point of signing a major contract with the government of Mohamed Bazoum for the construction of a special economic zone, but the arrival of the junta has upset its plans.

Gabon
Gagan Gupta's bid to save Arise involves tricky negotiations

On 30 September, Gabon coup leader Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema met with Indian tycoon Gagan Gupta, who is reportedly close to Noureddin Bongo, the son of fallen president Ali Bongo. But Gupta had spent several days of enforced waiting.

Nigeria
Aliko Dangote struggles to recruit personnel for his new refinery

Mohan Kumar of India, who has been head of HR at Dangote Industries since 2013, is experiencing major difficulties in recruiting future expatriate managers for Africa's largest refinery (650,000 b/d).

Central African Republic, South Africa
Touadéra pays visit to Gupta brothers' Indian base

The Central African president Faustin Archange Touadéra recently travelled to Dehradun to meet the Gupta brothers, who have applied for asylum in his country to escape prosecution in South Africa.

Central African Republic
Gupta brothers play honorary consul for Touadera

The Gupta brothers, Atul and Rajesh who wants to demonstrate the range of their connections to President Faustin-Archange Touade, organised a meeting for him with an Indian investor presenting himself as a vice president of India's Bharatiya Janata Party.

The New Guard
Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Guinea

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

KenyaMary Mutula, from reality TV to activism

South AfricaChrispin Phiri, justice ministry spokesman and rising ANC star

MoroccoSamia Jlil, co-founder of Women For Cyber Africa

GuineaMambi Magassouba combines mining and writing novels

South Africa
Ramaphosa and justice minister split on how to nab Gupta brothers

South Africa is keen to catch Atul Gupta and Rajesh Gupta, suspected of masterminding the embezzlement of $940m of state funds. But it is wavering on whether to ask for help from the FBI or to appeal the United Arab Emirates' refusal to extradite the brothers.

South Africa
Gupta brothers spotted in Switzerland

The Gupta brothers are not actually in custody in the UAE and have used their South African passports to travel and do business. They were last spotted in Switzerland.

Spotlight | Central African Republic, South Africa
Gupta brothers seek asylum in central Africa

Currently living in exile in Dubai and under threat of being extradited to South Africa, where they are wanted on charges of embezzlement, the Guptas are seeking a safe haven in the centre of the continent.

Central African Republic, South Africa
Dubai's silence over Gupta brothers' whereabouts causing panic in Pretoria

None of South Africa's recent attempts to make contact with the UAE regarding the Gupta brothers have been successful. South African authorities are no longer sure that the two businessmen are being held in Dubai and are concerned that they may be granted asylum in central Africa.

DRC
Double act takes over from Trafigura trader Economou to ensure cobalt continuity

The discovery of major fraud in Trafigura's nickel business, which could cost the Swiss firm up to $577m, pushed its trader Socrates Economou towards the exit. Mehdi Wetterwald and Daniel von Arx are taking over from him and will head to DR Congo to secure the group's supplies of cobalt.

South Africa
McKinsey bids to redeem itself with Pretoria via pro bono work

The US consulting firm, which admitted involvement in embezzling funds from state-owned firms Eskom and Transnet, hopes to work again in South Africa's public sector. But this time it plans to do so free of charge within a corporate social responsibility framework.

DRC
Ex-Bell Pottinger staff lend helping hand to Kinshasa

Increasingly concerned about the advance of the M23 rebels in the east of the country, DR Congo president Felix Tshisekedi has been scouring for help abroad to push his case.

Mozambique
Indian miners extend reach over Tete's mines

The mines in the north-western Mozambican province of Tete, where the Indian giant Jindal rules, are continuing to attract mining investors from the subcontinent, with the blessing of local FRELIMO officials.