Tamim bin Hamad al Thani

Rwanda
Last minute discussions impact UCC and CCC's bid for Kigali airport deal

The twists and turns of who will build the Rwandan capital's airport with Qatari funds are continuing.

Mali
Junta attempts rapprochement with Doha

Having discreetly dispatched a delegation to Doha in late May, a cash-strapped Bamako is now seeking to secure financial support for the transition. It has also appointed a new ambassador to Qatar.

The New Guard
South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Tunisia

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

South Africa Geordin Hill-Lewis, mayor and rising opposition social-media star

Nigeria Dozy Mmobuosi, leading tech titan

Zimbabwe Simbarashe Gwenzi, youth ambassador from Harare to Addis

Tunisia Sayida Ounissi, former Ennahda MP and thorn in Saied's side

Spotlight | Chad, Qatar
Spymasters stand in as mediators for Doha talks

Two shadowy figures who frequently meet each other - Ahmed Kogri and Mohammed bin Ahmed al-Misnad - are steering negotiations in Qatar between Chad's government and rebel groups.

Tunisia
Up in smoke: $3bn in aid from Qatar and Libya

Amid fraught talks with the IMF, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the Central Bank of Tunisia will be credited with $2bn from Doha or another billion from Tripoli.

Tunisia
No solution for budget crisis as Mechichi is cold-shouldered by IMF and Ghannouchi by Doha

Having failed to present a structural reform plan to the International Monetary Fund, Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi is unlikely to get any new budgetary aid in the short term. Parliamentary speaker Rached Ghannouchi, meanwhile, has been unable to obtain support from his allies in Qatar.

Somalia
Qatar quietly prepares for life after Farmajo

The emirate is distancing itself from the outgoing Somali president and spy chief Fahad Yasin could be the first to pay the price. As a sign of his loss of influence, Yasin is being sued for a raid on a local radio station late last month.

Qatar, Tunisia
No helping hand from Emir Al-Thani ahead of Tunisia's fraught IMF meet

Finance minister Ali Kooli's attempt to negotiate a new loan from the Qatar National Bank, with the backing of the Islamist leader Rached Ghannouchi, floundered when Doha set the interest rate at 5.5%.