Iron

Guinea, Liberia
Robert Friedland hits pause button in Guinea, Liberia

The US-Canadian mining magnate is grappling with political uncertainty in Monrovia and Conakry. While waiting for things to settle down, he has suspended most of his works and has put hundreds of employees on standby.

Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria
Brown Rudnick recruits African energy specialist James Douglass

The law firm has brought in a specialist in financing and energy contracts with ready access to a flourishing network across West and Southern Africa.

Guinea
Beijing triggers new dynamic at Simandou

The creation of Beijing's new iron ore purchasing arm, China Mineral Resources Group, led by Baowu Steel executives, is likely to entail changes for Chinese state firms involved in the two consortiums that own the colossal Guinean deposit.

Guinea
Beijing plugs its "narrative" through Guinean press

As part of its efforts to improve its image on the African continent, China ramped up its media presence in Guinea last month, including pushing its "narrative" on the thorny Taiwan issue.

Zimbabwe
Ziscosteel revival divides Mnangagwa government

Kuvimba Mining House and its German technical partner SMS Group have been chosen to revive Ziscosteel, one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's major industrial projects. Not everyone in government is convinced by this choice.

Guinea
Beny Steinmetz's group tries to appeal in Paris over Simandou iron arbitration

After losing to the Guinean state, which it accuses of expropriation, the Franco-Israeli billionaire's company, Beny Steinmetz Group Resources (BSGR), is seeking to overturn the decision of the World Bank arbitration tribunal. It is invoking the out-of-court settlement obtained by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2019.

Gabon
Libreville settles its accounts with pan-African Télésud channel

In July and August, Gabon paid the €650,000 euros it still owed Télésud for promotional work. The pan-African channel, founded in 1998 and now owned by Cameroonian business tycoon Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, has thus settled its accounts with Libreville.

The New Guard
Guinea, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana

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

GuineaDjami Diallo, key to negotiations on the Simandou iron ore project

KenyaOgutu Okudo, oil specialist and Odinga's spin doctor

South AfricaMaropene Ramokgopa, the pro-Ramaphosa leader of the ANC Women's League

GhanaTawiah Agyarko-Kwarteng, social and environmental spokesperson for the cocoa industry

Mauritania
Hensoldt Nexeya secures coasts and borders

Around a dozen maritime and inland surveillance posts are currently being equipped or created in Mauritania - a major project being carried out by the defence electronics firm Hensoldt Nexeya.

The New Guard
Morocco, Guinea, Zimbabwe and Libya

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

MoroccoMakhzen keeping tabs on Obaid Amrane's rising star.

GuineaMamadou Diallo, from the embassy to the World Bank.

ZimbabweJohn Paradza, a key player in Mnangagwe's battle for the youth vote.

LibyeKhalid Chaouki, former Italian MP growing his Tripoli business network.

Guinea
Indian firms make bauxite headway

The Indian firm Ashapura is ready to mine one of its bauxite deposits in Guinea, at a time when several of its compatriots are entering the country to begin exploration of the same ore, which is in great demand by Indian industrialists.

Palace Intrigues
Macky Sall, Assimi Goïta, George Weah, Evariste Ngamana and Marine Le Pen

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

Senegal/MaliMacky Sall telephones Assimi Goïta

LiberiaGeorge Weah to be guest of honour at Prince Johnson's birthday celebrations

CAR/FranceParis refuses medical transfer of deputy speaker Evariste Ngamana

France/AlgeriaMarine Le Pen hones her stance on relations with Algiers