"MAXIME PASZKOWIAK" - All our articles

Thierno Ba, friend to Macky Sall and key military equipment broker

In just a short years, Thierno Ndom Ba has established himself as one of Dakar's most sought-after military equipment brokers. With discretionary use of special funds from the presidency, the businessman has become a main supplier of Senegal's gendarmerie. [...]

In just a few years, businessman Thierno Ndom Ba, a close friend of President Macky Sall, has established himself as one of Dakar's most sought after military equipment brokers.

SpotlightMOZAMBIQUE SOUTH AFRICA Defence Diplomacy 12/10/2022

South African army plagued by setbacks in Cabo Delgado

The SADC intervention force in northern Mozambique, to which South Africa is the main contributor, has suffered a series of setbacks, including logistical snafus, lack of intelligence gathering, and poor coordination with Rwandan and Mozambican troops. [...]

A military convoy of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) rides along a dirt road near Pemba on 5 August 2021.

GABON Defence 03/10/2022

Paris suspends sale of armoured vehicles to Republican Guard ahead of elections

Fearing repression during the 2023 presidential election, the French authorities have suspended the export of armoured vehicles to Libreville. [...]

In Focus AFRICA RUSSIA Politics Business Diplomacy 26/09/2022

Senator Morozov, Moscow's go-to PR rep in Africa for Putin, Russian business and the FSB

Igor Morozov heads AFROCOM, an organisation that aims to facilitate Russian companies' access to African markets. He is increasingly present on the continent, making regular trips and waging an aggressive commercial diplomacy there. [...]

Senator Igor Morozov, ex-FSB colonel, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, 16 June 2022.

SpotlightWEST AFRICA Defence Diplomacy 21/09/2022

Inside the EU's new security lab

The European Union is drawing up the contours of a new programme to boost the armies of the countries of the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea. Already widely used to support Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion, the European Peace Facility must be at the center of this new West African strategy. [...]

SpotlightMOROCCO Defence Diplomacy 15/09/2022

Moroccan air force helicopter contract pits Airbus against US and Italian firms

Airbus Helicopters is in pole position to sell several dozen transport and reconnaissance helicopters to Morocco's air force and its gendarmerie. But the competition is stiff, with the US firms Sikorsky and Bell and Italy's Leonardo keen to get a piece of the pie. [...]

DRC Defence 07/07/2022

Turkish paramilitary firm Sadat goes on charm offensive in Kinshasa

The private company is taking an interest in the DR Congo's security market, lured by opportunities to train its armed forces and police and by the country's need for military equipment. [...]

WEST AFRICA Defence 02/06/2022

Swiss NGO Coginta facilitates deployment of Delair drones against Boko Haram

The military contingents of Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon deployed within the Multinational Joint Task Force are to receive a dozen intelligence-gathering drones from the French firm Delair. The project is being overseen by Coginta, an NGO active in supporting security initiatives in West Africa. [...]

A DT-26 intelligence drone sold by Delair in 2019 to the Niger National Guard.

In Focus AFRICA UNITED NATIONS Defence 16/05/2022

Chad, Togo and Ivory Coast vie for blue helmet contracts

Amid Europe's gradual military withdrawal from Mali and as peacekeeping needs grow in the Central African Republic, three states are jostling for lucrative troop contribution contracts. But the UN's strict rules on equipment and training place tall hurdles in the way of their ambitions. [...]

A Chadian MINUSMA soldier parades during a visit by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous to Tessalit, Mali, in March 2013.

In Focus WEST AFRICA Defence Diplomacy 07/02/2022

Brussels, Washington and London battle for maritime ascendancy with anti-piracy programmes

Under pressure from its shipowners, Brussels is set to launch its SWAIMS anti-piracy programme for countries in the Gulf of Guinea that lack the resources to respond effectively to the problem on their own account. [...]

An armed Somali pirate along the coast, 7 January 2010. In the background, the Greek cargo ship MV Filitsa is anchored off the town of Hobyo in northeast Somalia, where it is being held by pirates.

IVORY COAST Defence 01/02/2022

General Doumbia opens Abidjan's doors to Turkey's defence industry after deal with Otokar

The chief of staff of the Ivorian armed forces has just taken delivery of 20 Cobra armoured vehicles from the Turkish manufacturer Otokar, with a view to deployment within MINUSCA in the Central African Republic. [...]

General Lassina Doumbia, chief of staff of the Ivorian armed forces.

SENEGAL Defence Business 13/01/2022

Gaby Peretz puts €300m on table for Senegalese military

The highly successful Israeli broker and close friend to Macky Sall has opened a €300m credit line to help strengthen the Senegalese military over the next three years despite budget difficulties. [...]

CAMEROON Defence 16/12/2021

Army turns to MBDA and Spain's Duma to reverse its NW/SW misfortunes

Increased attacks against defence and security forces in the separatist provinces of western Cameroon have prompted the military high command to open talks with armoured vehicle manufacturer Duma Engineering and missile manufacturer MBDA. [...]

ETHIOPIA TURKEY Defence Diplomacy 15/11/2021

Addis set to deploy Turkish combat drones against Tigray rebels' offensive

In the wake of an August military aid accord struck by Turkish President Erdogan and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in recent weeks the Ethiopian army has taken possession of at least six Bayraktar TB2 combat drones. [...]

A Bayraktar TB2 drone from the Turkish manufacturer Baykar Makina.

IVORY COAST Defence 23/09/2021

Téné Birahima Ouattara opts for US firm Score Technologies over Thales for border surveillance

The Ivorian defence minister recently awarded a $25m contract to the US firm Score Technologies to monitor the northern border of Ivory Coast in order to prevent attacks by armed groups. A setback for France's Thales, and a decision that was encouraged by Lacina Koné, Ouattara's former adviser on new technologies. [...]

Ivory Coast defense minister Téné Birahima Ouattara.

In Focus AFRICA Defence Business 16/08/2021

Top military broker Gaby Peretz's grand African trek

Since the late 1980s, Gaby Peretz and his firm AD Con have carved themselves out a reputation in the very closed world of military equipment brokerage in Africa. Initially specialising in the promotion of interception equipment, the firm has progressively expanded its range of services and these days negotiates and finances major aerial and naval military equipment deals. [...]

IVORY COAST Defence Business 24/06/2021

Brokers Gaby Peretz and Victor Delerue help Israel Shipyards and Raidco Marine in Abidjan

In the wake of a contract between Israel Shipyards and Abidjan for two patrol boats, French Raidco Marine has surfed on its success. All with the help of two shrewd brokers. [...]

NIGER Defence 24/05/2021

Arms broker Aboubacar Hima makes a fresh start in Niamey

At the beginning of May, military equipment broker Aboubacar Hima, known as "Petit Boubé", took the helm of a new Niamey-registered company called Privinvest. It's his way of getting back on his feet after having had a run-in with the Nigerien courts. [...]

In Focus EGYPT Defence Business 26/04/2021

Naval Group navigates its way through Egypt's military procurement labyrinth

After being prevented from competing for Egyptian arms contracts along with other French companies for the last two years, France's Naval Group is trying to get back into the Egyptian market. It is negotiating to sell Egypt a number of mine countermeasures vessels via a contract which will certainly involve offsets, which are the key to success on the Egyptian military equipment market. [...]

CONGO Defence 20/04/2021

Brazzaville navigates between Moscow and Brussels to combat piracy Free

The Congolese navy has begun operating several BK-10 assault boats recently acquired from Russia. But the professionalisation of the country's maritime agencies will owe much to the support of the European Union. [...]

The Congolese navy has for several months been operating at least three Russian BK-10 assault boats.

Thierno Ba, friend to Macky Sall and key military equipment broker

From Texas to South Kivu's highlands, Mahoro Peace Association's complex channels finance militia

MAXIME PASZKOWIAK

Thierno Ba, friend to Macky Sall and key military equipment broker

South African army plagued by setbacks in Cabo Delgado

Paris suspends sale of armoured vehicles to Republican Guard ahead of elections

Senator Morozov, Moscow's go-to PR rep in Africa for Putin, Russian business and the FSB

Inside the EU's new security lab

Moroccan air force helicopter contract pits Airbus against US and Italian firms

Turkish paramilitary firm Sadat goes on charm offensive in Kinshasa

Swiss NGO Coginta facilitates deployment of Delair drones against Boko Haram

Chad, Togo and Ivory Coast vie for blue helmet contracts

Brussels, Washington and London battle for maritime ascendancy with anti-piracy programmes

General Doumbia opens Abidjan's doors to Turkey's defence industry after deal with Otokar

Gaby Peretz puts €300m on table for Senegalese military

Army turns to MBDA and Spain's Duma to reverse its NW/SW misfortunes

Addis set to deploy Turkish combat drones against Tigray rebels' offensive

Téné Birahima Ouattara opts for US firm Score Technologies over Thales for border surveillance

Top military broker Gaby Peretz's grand African trek

Brokers Gaby Peretz and Victor Delerue help Israel Shipyards and Raidco Marine in Abidjan

Arms broker Aboubacar Hima makes a fresh start in Niamey

Naval Group navigates its way through Egypt's military procurement labyrinth

Brazzaville navigates between Moscow and Brussels to combat piracy Free

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Thierno Ba, friend to Macky Sall and key military equipment broker

From Texas to South Kivu's highlands, Mahoro Peace Association's complex channels finance militia

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The ANC's fierce leadership contest

MAXIME PASZKOWIAK

Thierno Ba, friend to Macky Sall and key military equipment broker

South African army plagued by setbacks in Cabo Delgado

Paris suspends sale of armoured vehicles to Republican Guard ahead of elections

Senator Morozov, Moscow's go-to PR rep in Africa for Putin, Russian business and the FSB

Inside the EU's new security lab

Moroccan air force helicopter contract pits Airbus against US and Italian firms

Turkish paramilitary firm Sadat goes on charm offensive in Kinshasa

Swiss NGO Coginta facilitates deployment of Delair drones against Boko Haram

Chad, Togo and Ivory Coast vie for blue helmet contracts

Brussels, Washington and London battle for maritime ascendancy with anti-piracy programmes

General Doumbia opens Abidjan's doors to Turkey's defence industry after deal with Otokar

Gaby Peretz puts €300m on table for Senegalese military

Army turns to MBDA and Spain's Duma to reverse its NW/SW misfortunes

Addis set to deploy Turkish combat drones against Tigray rebels' offensive

Téné Birahima Ouattara opts for US firm Score Technologies over Thales for border surveillance

Top military broker Gaby Peretz's grand African trek

Brokers Gaby Peretz and Victor Delerue help Israel Shipyards and Raidco Marine in Abidjan

Arms broker Aboubacar Hima makes a fresh start in Niamey

Naval Group navigates its way through Egypt's military procurement labyrinth

Brazzaville navigates between Moscow and Brussels to combat piracy Free

Refine your search

First visit

Contacts

Tools

Follow us

A website produced by

Indigo Publications also publishes: