Mahamat Idriss Déby

Africa
Russian defence team heads on Africa tour to explore fresh military opportunities

Four African countries are being targeted by Moscow, which wants to strengthen its military partnerships and explore new openings for Africa Corps. Chad, Congo, Madagascar and Tanzania are on the itinerary of a delegation led by the deputy minister of defence.

Chad, Libya
Tripoli leverages Community of Sahel-Saharan States to seal rapprochement with Déby

Chad and Libya's Government of National Unity are using CEN-SAD to shape a new relationship, despite the risk of upsetting Benghazi and the Haftar clan, which prefers a more militarised approach to the Sahel.

Palace Intrigues
Romuald Wadagni, Alassane Ouattara, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Daoussa Déby

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

BeninRomuald Wadagni misses Ivory Coast independence celebrations

CongoDenis Sassou-Nguesso's security chiefs alarmed by Fabien Singaye's presence in Kinshasa

ChadDaoussa Idriss Déby makes discreet Paris visit

Chad
Mahamat Idriss Déby pushes for local production of arms

The president has set up a new state-owned company to meet the needs of Chad's armed forces. It is tasked with assembling military equipment in the country. Talks have begun between suppliers and the former chief of staff to the president, who has been appointed to head the new entity.

Chad
Defence firm Arquus secures deal as military ties with Paris improve

The French defence firm has just won a contract worth more than €50m to renew the Chadian army's logistics vehicles. This commercial success reflects the revival of a security cooperation between the two countries.

Central African Republic
Plane shipping ammunition makes curious return trip after Bangui grounding

Held on the tarmac at M'Poko airport with an arms shipment bound for Chad, an Airbus A321 freighter was eventually authorised to leave for Cairo before continuing on to N'Djamena. The episode highlights a cooling in relations between the Central African Republic and its northern neighbour.

Libya, Niger
Niamey speeds up rapprochement with Tripoli

Envoys sent by Abdourahamane Tchiani have travelled to the Libyan capital to further discuss security cooperation and to discreetly recover Nigerien prisoners. Niger's double-dealing is causing tensions with General Khalifa Haftar's faction.

Libya
Saddam Haftar pushes for control of cross-border smuggling routes

Libya's National Army is intensifying operations in the Fezzan region in an effort to tighten its grip on the borders with Chad and Niger, while seeking to win over local Toubou communities.

Chad
French army makes a quiet return to N'Djamena

A handful of French officers returned to N'Djamena in mid-April to revive cooperation with the Chadian army, at a time when the partnership with Turkey is faltering.

Chad
N'Djamena races to replace ageing Kribi oil export platform

The current vessel is over 20 years old and as of April 2028 will no longer be operational or insurable.

Palace Intrigues
William Ruto, Emmanuel Macron, Aya Nakamura

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

Africa ForwardThe very diplomatic seating plan for heads of state dinner

KenyaRaila Odinga Junior on a fact-finding mission at the Africa-France summit

MaliSinger Aya Nakamura finalises her own documentary ahead of her three Paris shows

Cameroon
Pope's trip still a headache for Yaoundé

Despite the Vatican's willingness and the efforts of the presidency, preparations for Pope Leo XIV's visit to the country continue to run up against major obstacles, notably in terms of security and logistics.