Ibrahim Traoré

Mauritania
Saudis strengthen foothold in G5 Sahel Defense College

The G5 Sahel Defense College in Nouakchott, which trains 40 officer cadets from West African armies each year, is currently hosting 20 colonels from the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces (SAAF). Military collaboration between Mauritania and Riyadh is growing.

Burkina Faso
French diplomatic operations face turbulent times in Ouagadougou

Three months after Traoré's coup d'état, during which several French interests were attacked, Paris has yet to find a way to re-establish control in the country. Its ambassador's days are numbered and the departure of the Sabre task force is underway.

Burkina Faso
Wanted: local investors to save Air Burkina

After the illusory hopes raised by the US firm African Global Development, the Burkinabe authorities are exploring other options to save the continent's oldest airline from going under.

Burkina Faso, Russia
Nordgold's new boss in Ouagadougou for talks with junta

Georgy Smirnov, the new managing director of the Russian gold company, travelled discreetly to Burkina Faso's capital to try and reach an agreement with Ibrahim Traoré's junta on its gold exports and the future of its Taparko, Bissa and Bouly sites.

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
Alassane Ouattara, Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Aristides Gomès, Omar Denis Bongo Junior

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

Ivory Coast/Burkina Faso Ouattara wary of the Burkinabe PM

Congo Arlette Soudan-Nonault still enjoying the limelight

Guinea-Bissau Former PM Gomès calls on France and the UN to help

Equatorial Guinea Omar Denis Bongo Junior supports Obiang in Malabo

Burkina Faso, Togo
Burkina lets Togo advance across border in anti-Islamist militant fight

Burkina Faso's new transition president has authorised Togo's army to advance almost 40 kilometres into its territory to chase Islamist militant groups.

Africa
Alassane Ouattara, Ibrahim Traoré, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Hamza Abdi Barre, François Perrodo

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

Ivory Coast
Ouattara's €153m plan to boost Ivorian army

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has since mid-October been mulling a plan estimated at nearly 100bn CFA francs (€153m) to accelerate the acquisition of military equipment to strengthen the Ivorian army.

Burkina Faso
Traders threaten to cut Ouagadougou's fuel supply

At the time of the 30 September coup, the Burkinabe Ministry of the Budget owed over €600m to Sonabhy, the entity that manages the country's petroleum supply. The state-owned firm can no longer pay its traders, who are threatening to stop their oil deliveries.

Burkina Faso
Damiba's downfall could disrupt major international arts and crafts conference

A 26-member committee that steers the development of African arts and handicraft is meant to meet in Ouagadougou at the end of this month. Although this sector accounts for a third of Burkina Faso's GDP, the 30 September coup could affect the important gathering.

Morocco
Rabat puts Sahel and CAR top of African Union agenda

Le Maroc, qui a pris la présidence du Conseil paix et sécurité (CPS) de l'Union africaine (UA) pour le mois d'octobre, organisera le 20 une large réunion consacrée à la situation au Sahel.