Weapons

Palace Intrigues
Félix Tshisekedi, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Mahamat Idriss Déby

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

DRCFélix Tshisekedi's very generous salary

GabonOligui Nguema seeks to defuse tensions with Sassou-Nguesso

ChadIdriss Déby and Céline Dion cross paths at Parisian palace hotel

South Africa
Entrepreneur Heine van Niekerk increases defence sector influence

Active in the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors, the South African investor has just bought two companies specialising in armoured vehicles in order to expand his business in the sale of military equipment.

South Africa
US defence companies shun Pretoria amid diplomatic tensions

The African Aerospace & Defence arms fair, held in Pretoria from 16 to 18 September, was marked by a sharp drop in participation from exhibitors in the sector.

Libya
With the central bank in crisis, French groups stuck with unpaid bills

Delays in honouring payments are undermining imports by French-based companies operating in the country. In response, the bank's governor is seeking to bring exchange rates more under control.

The New Guard
Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

NigeriaAmadou Thiam, driving force behind the Turkish defence industry

GhanaJohn Aggrey, crucial to the Accra-Moscow axis

KenyaBernard Momanyi Nyagaka, championing AI in business

Ethiopia
Threat of war forces Castel to close northern plant

Located near a strategic front line, the BGI Ethiopia brewery – which had already suspended operations until 2023 due to the first Tigray war (2020–2022) – has once again had to close its doors.

Ivory Coast
Belarusian firm poised to obtain contract to upgrade military helicopters

The state-owned arms company BSVT, which is under US and EU sanctions, has positioned itself on the project to modernise transport aircraft for the air force.

Senegal
The armed forces, victim of budgetary cuts

The country's military forces are having to cope with a persistent shortage of fuel and ammunition, which is hampering the conduct of operations. Yet the situation has not deterred Dakar from continuing to focus on developing locally produced military equipment.

South Africa
Turkish defence giant Aselsan to close its Pretoria subsidiary

In recent years, Aselsan South Africa has had to cope with declining business and the departure of a significant number of employees. The subsidiary was left with just a research and development office comprising around 30 staff members.

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.

Morocco
Israeli firm Elbit makes proposal to boost air force

Although unsuccessful so far, the Haifa-based company is attempting to sell a training programme to the Moroccan air force, based on a model that has already been trialled in Greece and the United Kingdom.