Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

The Morning Brief
Log in

Password

Keep me logged in

Forgot your password?
Subscribe

Olivier Liffran

Africa Intelligence journalist Olivier Liffran reports on countries in Central and Southern Africa. He is also an infrastructure specialist and deputy head of the "In focus" section.

Spotlight | DRC
Secret financial intelligence audit into battle against M23

An investigation has shed some light on the millions of dollars paid by the state to private military companies and arms brokers.

Subscribers only Defence, Business 18.04.2024

Soldiers near Beni in north-eastern DRC in December 2021.

In Focus | DRC
Dan Gertler's billions of dollars in royalties at heart of huge legal battle

Africa Intelligence has seen a series of confidential documents revealing a dispute between Dan Gertler and his former Congolese lawyer. This complex file reveals the financial arrangements put in place by the Israeli billionaire to deal with US sanctions.

Subscribers only Finance, Mining 20.03.2024

Dan Gertler addresses the Congolese people on 16 November 2020.

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa paves way for secret negotiations with Kigali

At Washington's request, the Democratic Republic of Congo has reluctantly agreed to consider dialogue with Rwanda, but only if the latter ceases its military presence on Congolese soil. Kinshasa is at the same time maintaining its war rhetoric and trying to reboot its military campaign against M23 rebels.

Subscribers only Defence 06.02.2024

DR Congo president, Félix Tshisekedi, and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame.

In Focus | DRC
Tshisekedi clan involved in former Katanga province's mining wild west

The names of several members of President Félix Tshisekedi's family keep quietly cropping up in connection with artisanal mining in Lualaba. Some of the sites invaded by artisanal miners last year are owned by Kazakhstan's Eurasian Resources Group.

Subscribers only Mining 05.02.2024

© Illustrated by Julien Pacaud Pictures: F. Scoppa/P. Meinhardt/AFP; J. Graylock/M. Kaplan/E. Zani/Alamy

Spotlight | DRC
IGF opposes Gécamines over mega-bonuses worth €40m

Gécamines' board of directors voted to pay a 5% bonus to the members of the committee that negotiated a $1.6bn deal with China's Tenke Fungurume Mining.

Subscribers only Mining, Business 15.01.2024

Gécamines' headquarters in Lubumbashi, DRC, on 16 January, 2021.

Spotlight | DRC
Katumbi's election campaign overshadowed by 'Zambian nationality'

With just two weeks to go until the presidential election, opposition candidate Moïse Katumbi continues to be scrutinised over his nationality, with his rivals accusing him of having Zambian citizenship.

Subscribers only Politics 07.12.2023

Moise Katumbi at an election rally in Goma on 23 November 2023.

Spotlight | DRC
Samcrete gears up for multi-million dollar arbitration against Kinshasa

The Egyptian civil engineering company is beginning to put a figure on the millions of dollars it will be claiming from the DRC over its contract to build a road between Mbuji-Mayi and Kananga.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 07.12.2023

DRC president Félix Tshisekedi and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Spotlight | DRC
FARDC and its foreign and domestic allies fail to coalesce in battle against M23

Despite the support of nearly 1,000 foreign instructors, the mobilisation of armed groups and the imminent deployment of Chinese drones, Kinshasa has so far proved incapable of coordinating operations against the M23 rebels in eastern DRC.

Subscribers only Defence 24.11.2023

Goma, capital of North Kivu province, DRC, on 21 October 2023.

Spotlight | DRC
Mission impossible in North Kivu for DRC electoral commission

The DRC government had hoped the security situation in the war-torn eastern province would improve sufficiently for voting to go ahead in next month's elections. But clashes with M23 rebels and logistical challenges could deprive the Masisi and Rutshuru areas of the vote.

Subscribers only Politics 16.11.2023

The president of the Independent National Electoral Commission of the DRC, Denis Kadima.

DRC
DR Congo security chief seeks to reboot Paris-Kinshasa relations

Jean-Louis Esambo, who just took over as head of DR Congo's Conseil National de Sécurité, is seeking to rekindle relations with French intelligence and diplomatic services.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 13.11.2023

DRC
Government at odds over repaying its oil debts

Several senior figures in the DRC administration are against proposed arrangements for reimbursing $438m that was used to subsidise petrol prices in 2022. But failure to find a rapid solution could result in fuel shortages and unwanted political consequences.

Subscribers only Finance, Energy, Politics 09.11.2023

Spotlight | DRC
How Congo Airways plans to take off again

With its three aircraft grounded, Congo Airways is looking for others so as to resume operations quickly, in line with President Felix Tshisekedi's express wishes. To do this, the company has been doing the rounds of a variety of different intermediaries and suppliers.

Subscribers only Politics, Business 25.10.2023

A Congo Airways passenger jet at N'Djili International Airport in Kinshasa

DRC
Gecamines executives suspected of embezzling $10m

Breaking news published on 24/10/23 at 16:01 GMT - According to a document that Africa Intelligence has seen, state auditors suspect 30 Gecamines managers of embezzlement.

Subscribers only Mining 24.10.2023

Gécamines' headquarters in Lubumbashi, DR Congo.

In Focus | DRC
Tshisekedi keeps close eye on Kabila ahead of presidential elections

Since the summer, Félix Tshisekedi's inner circle has been discreetly trying to resume talks with his predecessor's entourage. To this end, both camps have sought the support of the Togolese head of state Faure Gnassingbé.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 19.09.2023

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and his predecessor Joseph Kabila.

In Focus | DRC
NB Mining affair: bumpy road ahead for opposition candidate Katumbi in run up to presidential elections

Africa Intelligence has gained access to previously unpublished documents that shed harsh new light on the legal battle over the assets of NB Mining that pits Congolese politician Moïse Katumbi against French businessman Pascal Beveraggi.

Subscribers only Mining, Politics 04.09.2023

For nearly three years, Pascal Beveraggi has been engaged in an all-out hunt for the funds, debts and assets recovered by his great rival Moïse Katumbi.

Spotlight | DRC
There's more to Gécamines' record performance than meets the eye

The state-owned company had revenue of around $1bn in 2022, even though its own production has been on the wane for years. Gécamines' directors are exploring new avenues to revive the mining of "strategic" minerals.

Subscribers only Mining 01.09.2023

Gecamines' Shituru hydrometallurgical facility, which processes copper and cobalt, outside Likasi in the southern region of Katanga, on 31 January 2013.

DRC
Kazakh miner ERG clashes with presidential family in Lualaba

In June, the army conducted investigations to find out who is behind the artisanal diggers working on ERG's mining permits. The names of presidential family members and a cooperative belonging to Lualaba province's acting governor came up during on-site interviews.

Subscribers only Mining 28.07.2023

ERG CEO Benedikt Sobotka and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi.

DRC
Lack of dialogue between M23 and Kinshasa paralyses DRC peace process

Rebels from the M23 movement are refusing to demobilise after Kinshasa rejected their demand for dialogue, effectively paralysing the Nairobi peace process which should have seen them laying down their arms at a former military base.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 26.07.2023

East African Regional Force (EACRF) soldiers guard Rumangabo camp, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on 6 January 2023.

Spotlight | DRC
Rubaya mine at heart of vast coltan trafficking network

Tonnes of the strategic mineral coltan are being extracted and exported illegally from mines owned by the family of MP Edouard Mwangachuchu Hizi, who is currently being tried by a military court. Armed groups have been trafficking the mineral, allegedly with the complicity of the security forces.

Subscribers only Mining, Politics 06.07.2023

Edouard Mwangachuchu, founder and former director of SMB, in the mining territory of Masisi, in 2011

DRC
China Three Gorges may be back on track to bag Grand Inga deal

The Congolese government, after a series of U-turns in the Grand Inga mega-dams project, is now looking again at plans proposed by China Three Gorges. Much to the chagrin of Australia's Fortescue Metals Group, which fears that it will lose the project.

Subscribers only Energy 12.06.2023

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!

Guinea
Behind the scenes of Mamadi Doumbouya's offensive on Russian miner Nordgold

DRC
Dan Gertler's billions of dollars in royalties at heart of huge legal battle

Olivier Liffran

Spotlight | DRC
Secret financial intelligence audit into battle against M23

In Focus | DRC
Dan Gertler's billions of dollars in royalties at heart of huge legal battle

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa paves way for secret negotiations with Kigali

In Focus | DRC
Tshisekedi clan involved in former Katanga province's mining wild west

Spotlight | DRC
IGF opposes Gécamines over mega-bonuses worth €40m

Spotlight | DRC
Katumbi's election campaign overshadowed by 'Zambian nationality'

Spotlight | DRC
Samcrete gears up for multi-million dollar arbitration against Kinshasa

Spotlight | DRC
FARDC and its foreign and domestic allies fail to coalesce in battle against M23

Spotlight | DRC
Mission impossible in North Kivu for DRC electoral commission

DRC
DR Congo security chief seeks to reboot Paris-Kinshasa relations

DRC
Government at odds over repaying its oil debts

Spotlight | DRC
How Congo Airways plans to take off again

DRC
Gecamines executives suspected of embezzling $10m

In Focus | DRC
Tshisekedi keeps close eye on Kabila ahead of presidential elections

In Focus | DRC
NB Mining affair: bumpy road ahead for opposition candidate Katumbi in run up to presidential elections

Spotlight | DRC
There's more to Gécamines' record performance than meets the eye

DRC
Kazakh miner ERG clashes with presidential family in Lualaba

DRC
Lack of dialogue between M23 and Kinshasa paralyses DRC peace process

Spotlight | DRC
Rubaya mine at heart of vast coltan trafficking network

DRC
China Three Gorges may be back on track to bag Grand Inga deal

Refine your search

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Guinea Behind the scenes of Mamadi Doumbouya's offensive on Russian miner Nordgold

DRC Dan Gertler's billions of dollars in royalties at heart of huge legal battle

African Union: the battle of the giants

East Africa's hotly contested coffee sector

William Ruto's new order

Olivier Liffran

Spotlight | DRC Secret financial intelligence audit into battle against M23

In Focus | DRC Dan Gertler's billions of dollars in royalties at heart of huge legal battle

Spotlight | DRC Kinshasa paves way for secret negotiations with Kigali

In Focus | DRC Tshisekedi clan involved in former Katanga province's mining wild west

Spotlight | DRC IGF opposes Gécamines over mega-bonuses worth €40m

Spotlight | DRC Katumbi's election campaign overshadowed by 'Zambian nationality'

Spotlight | DRC Samcrete gears up for multi-million dollar arbitration against Kinshasa

Spotlight | DRC FARDC and its foreign and domestic allies fail to coalesce in battle against M23

Spotlight | DRC Mission impossible in North Kivu for DRC electoral commission

DRC DR Congo security chief seeks to reboot Paris-Kinshasa relations

DRC Government at odds over repaying its oil debts

Spotlight | DRC How Congo Airways plans to take off again

DRC Gecamines executives suspected of embezzling $10m

In Focus | DRC Tshisekedi keeps close eye on Kabila ahead of presidential elections

In Focus | DRC NB Mining affair: bumpy road ahead for opposition candidate Katumbi in run up to presidential elections

Spotlight | DRC There's more to Gécamines' record performance than meets the eye

DRC Kazakh miner ERG clashes with presidential family in Lualaba

DRC Lack of dialogue between M23 and Kinshasa paralyses DRC peace process

Spotlight | DRC Rubaya mine at heart of vast coltan trafficking network

DRC China Three Gorges may be back on track to bag Grand Inga deal

Refine your search

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Guinea
Behind the scenes of Mamadi Doumbouya's offensive on Russian miner Nordgold

DRC
Dan Gertler's billions of dollars in royalties at heart of huge legal battle

Spotlight | DRC
Secret financial intelligence audit into battle against M23

In Focus | DRC
Dan Gertler's billions of dollars in royalties at heart of huge legal battle

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa paves way for secret negotiations with Kigali

In Focus | DRC
Tshisekedi clan involved in former Katanga province's mining wild west

Spotlight | DRC
IGF opposes Gécamines over mega-bonuses worth €40m

Spotlight | DRC
Katumbi's election campaign overshadowed by 'Zambian nationality'

Spotlight | DRC
Samcrete gears up for multi-million dollar arbitration against Kinshasa

Spotlight | DRC
FARDC and its foreign and domestic allies fail to coalesce in battle against M23

Spotlight | DRC
Mission impossible in North Kivu for DRC electoral commission

DRC
DR Congo security chief seeks to reboot Paris-Kinshasa relations

DRC
Government at odds over repaying its oil debts

Spotlight | DRC
How Congo Airways plans to take off again

DRC
Gecamines executives suspected of embezzling $10m

In Focus | DRC
Tshisekedi keeps close eye on Kabila ahead of presidential elections

In Focus | DRC
NB Mining affair: bumpy road ahead for opposition candidate Katumbi in run up to presidential elections

Spotlight | DRC
There's more to Gécamines' record performance than meets the eye

DRC
Kazakh miner ERG clashes with presidential family in Lualaba

DRC
Lack of dialogue between M23 and Kinshasa paralyses DRC peace process

Spotlight | DRC
Rubaya mine at heart of vast coltan trafficking network

DRC
China Three Gorges may be back on track to bag Grand Inga deal