LVMH

Palace Intrigues
Paul Biya, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Martin Bouygues

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

CameroonBiya postpones new Switzerland trip to host Albert II of Monaco

Central African RepublicTouadéra stands by French Ambassador Bruno Foucher

Ivory CoastMartin Bouygues, a no-show at the first lady's gala

Gabon
Negotiations stall around the neverending Hôtel Pozzo di Borgo story

While the French courts are due to rule on the future of the luxurious Parisian property owned by the Gabonese state, a host of intermediaries, lawyers and businessmen are busy behind the scenes, operating independently of Libreville's official legal strategy.

Gabon
Libreville set to sign deal with LVMH

In June, Gabon's green economy development agency is slated to sign a memorandum of understanding for the provision of forest products with Bernard Arnault's luxury giant.

Gabon
Parisian Hôtel Pozzo di Borgo, owned by Libreville, threatened with forced sale

A luxurious French 18th century building belonging to the Gabonese state has become the subject of a summons to pay procedure for seizure of property by one of the country's creditors. If Libreville does not honour its debt by the end of the year, the property could be sold at auction.

Ivory Coast
Luxury giant LVMH makes a courtesy visit to Abidjan

Although not very active on the continent, Bernard Arnault's group is nevertheless attempting to maintain contact with a handful of African capitals. To that end, it sent a delegation to Ivory Coast in early October.

Ivory Coast
Prosuma's bubbles burst as it loses champagne and spirits distribution

The Prosuma group, controlled by the Kassam and Fakhry families, will no longer be distributing champagnes and spirits in Ivory Coast.

Palace Intrigues
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Bernard Arnault, Félix Tshisekedi, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Laurent Gbagbo

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

Gabon Bernard Arnault abandons bid to buy Paris mansion

DRCTshisekedi renews relations with Moïse Katumbi

Algeria Dominique de Villepin's secret tête-à-tête with Abdelmadjid Tebboune

Ivory Coast Ex-president Laurent Gbagbo visits Paris and Brussels

Gabon
Sale of Pozzo di Borgo mansion in Paris held for ransom by Gabon's creditors

The Gabonese state has seen the sale of its mansion, long the home of late German designer Karl Lagerfeld, grind to a standstill in Paris.

Palace Intrigues
Félix Tshisekedi, Amadou Ba and Nicolas Sarkozy, Teodoro Obiang Nguema

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

DRC Helene Mercier-Arnault, wife of luxury goods magnate Bernard Arnault, pays a cultural visit to Kinshasa

SenegalNicolas Sarkozy phones Amadou Ba

Equatorial GuineaTeodoro Obiang Nguema mourns a death and a murder

Liberia
Details of Liberia's secret deal with ArcelorMittal revealed

Africa Intelligence has gained access to the confidential deal which gives the global steel giant a virtual monopoly on iron ore in Liberia at the expense of Solway Mining.

Botswana
Kimberley Process set for stormy session in Gaborone

The upcoming Kimberley Process plenary session is set to be dominated by the question of whether Russian precious stones should now be classed as "conflict diamonds", and by Botswana's bid to host the organisation's future permanent secretariat.