Spotlight | Africa
African leaders lobby for AfDB presidency from Abuja to Pretoria

Palace Intrigues
William Ruto, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Sidi Ould Tah

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

Kenya/SomaliaWilliam Ruto phones Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to give assurances

Djibouti/MauritaniaAfDB: Djibouti minister of finance gives full support for Mauritanian candidate

Sudan/CARCentral African intelligence head's not-so-secret visit to Port Sudan

KenyaSeason 2 of The Agency to be shot in Kenya

Ivory Coast
Ouattara appoints new executive director to African Development Bank

Leaving his post as executive director for Ivory Coast to the African Development Bank, Adama Koné will be replaced by Massandjé Touré-Litsé, who until recently had been commissioner to ECOWAS.

South Africa
Despite Africa Finance Corp's advances, Pretoria refuses membership

Although the object of several years of intense lobbying, South Africa is reluctant to become the 46th African member of AFC. The financial institution is nevertheless multiplying its initiatives and projects.

South Africa
Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala's AfDB presidency campaign under the radar

South Africa's Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala is still hoping to chair the African Development Bank, despite her country's official support for her Zambian rival, economist Samuel Munzele Maimbo.

Africa
Consultancy takes part in AfDB presidency recruitment process

Hannah Ryder, managing director of Development Reimagined, is due to meet the figures vying to take over the reins of the African Development Bank.

Equatorial Guinea
Teodoro Obiang puts forward candidate for AU trade commissioner post

The Equatorial Guinean president is backing a close ally for the post of commissioner for economic development, tourism, trade, industry and mining at the African Union. The Central Africa region is also set to make nominations for the two posts to which it is entitled.

Kenya
Jiangxi Construction Engineering wins $46m contract for Isiolo-Mandera corridor

The Chinese company has been awarded a $46m contract by the Kenya National Highways Authority to upgrade a 38km stretch of road in the northeast of the country.

Chad
Mahamat Idriss Déby lobbies hard for his AU Commission candidate

The president is using all his diplomatic resources to try to secure the post of Commissioner for Economic Development at the African Union for his personal choice: Amine Idriss Adoum. He's aiming to rally the Central African states behind this sole candidate.

Central African Republic
Bangui drinking water project held up due to Touadéra's missing signature

The Saep Bangui II project, which involves building a drinking water supply system in the capital, was discussed this month in a meeting between Minister Arthur Bertrand Piri and an African Development Bank team.

Chad
World Bank earmarks $100m to combat desertification in Chad

The World Bank is drawing up a $100m project to help fight desertification in Chad. The plan, to be implemented by the environment ministry’s department of environmental assessments, must be submitted for validation by the bank's board by 28 November.

Zambia
Samuel Munzele Maimbo starts Western tour for AfDB presidency votes

The Zambian candidate, in the running to take over the leadership of the African Development Bank in May, is having a series of meetings with France, Japan, Morocco and the UK.

Cameroon
Yaoundé throws in the towel for AfDB presidency

Cameroon has decided not to put forward a candidate for the presidency of the AfDB, despite two profiles emerging in recent months. This means that President Paul Biya will not find himself at odds with his Chadian counterpart.

Ivory Coast
Cost of new African Development Bank HQ revealed

The African Development Bank's old premises in Abidjan will be demolished to make way for new ultra-modern buildings. According to estimates, they will cost $700m.

Sudan
Hamdok keeps low profile in Brussels after London heckling

He did not appear in public in the Belgian capital.

South Africa, Zambia
Kerfuffle over AfDB candidate backed by Pretoria

Cyril Ramaphosa is suggesting that Pretoria is now backing the Zambian Samuel Maimbo to head the African Development Bank. This about-turn has dismayed local banks, which were backing South African candidate Swazi Tshabalala, who is still supported by the finance minister.

Senegal
Bassirou Diomaye Faye lobbies for Amadou Hott to take over as AfDB President

Senegal's president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, recently approached the Heads of State of the African Development Bank's shareholder countries to declare his official support for Amadou Hott's candidacy to head the institution.

Benin
Inside the arrest of Patrice Talon's most powerful best friend, Olivier Boko

Breaking news published on 24/09/24 at 16:33 GMT - Olivier Boko, a longstanding adviser to Patrice Talon who accompanied the Beninese president in his rise to power, was arrested on the night of 23-24 September.

South Africa
Lusaka and Pretoria at loggerheads within SADC

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, whom Zambia irked with its candidate for the AfDB presidency and its stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has issued veiled critiques of his counterpart Hakainde Hichilema behind his calls for cohesion within the regional bloc.