00 days

00 hours

00 mins

00 secs

Special offer: -15%15% OFF your subscription

Consult our offers

Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

Scroll through edition

The Morning Brief
Log in

Password

Keep me logged in

Forgot your password?
Subscribe

In Focus | Africa
Massad Boulos, a free agent of Donald Trump's African diplomacy under close watch

From Kinshasa to Tripoli via Libreville, the American president's Africa adviser has, for several months, sought to establish himself as the leading architect of US policy on the continent. But senior figures within the Trump administration question his reliability and his presumed dealings with figures in the business world. [...]

Published on 20/10/2025 at 04:40 GMT Reading time 11 minutes Pierre-Elie de Rohan Chabot, Joan Tilouine, Sarah Vernhes

Illustrated by Julien Pacaud © J. Raedle/Getty Images/AFP ; F. van den Bergh/ANP/AFP ; J. Watson/AFP ; K. Jaafar/AFP

This article may be accessed by subscribers

In order to ensure high-quality and independent journalism, Africa Intelligence relies solely on subscriptions from its readers, with no advertising, no events and no consulting work.

Several offers are available depending on your particular reading needs

Consult our offers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters, a selection of free articles, keyword alerts.

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

15% OFF your subscription

Special offer: Only 4d and 14h to take advantage of it

Consult our offers

This offer is open to all new subscribers and runs until 24/10/2025

Set up keyword notifications

Assala Energy organisation
BGN International organisation
Biden public figure
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema public figure
Donald Trump public figure
ENI organisation
Félix Tshisekedi public figure
Government of National Unity organisation
Khalifa Haftar public figure
Libyan National Army organisation
M23 organisation
Massad Boulos public figure
Mercuria organisation
National Oil Corp organisation
National Security Council organisation
Perenco organisation
Saddam Haftar public figure
TotalEnergies organisation
Umaro Sissoco Embalo public figure
United Nations organisation
Patrick Luabeya
Adam Boehler
Ahmed al-Ashibi
Alex Spiro
America First Global
BGN Int DMCC
BGN Int US
École des Roches
Ercüment Cafer Bayegan
Fadoul Afrique
Farouk Hajaig
Gentry Beach
Hill International
Ibrahim Dbeibeh
Jonathan Pratt
Khalifa Harb
Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek
Marco Dunand
Mellitah Oil and Gas
Michael Boulos
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Refaat Mohammed al-Abbar
Richard Grenell
Ruya Bayegan
Sarah Fadoul Boulos
Susie Wiles
Tiffany Trump
Tom Barrack

Libya
The two factions go into battle over NOC chair

The two main clans controlling Libya, led by Ibrahim Dbeibeh and Saddam Haftar, are each pushing their respective candidates for chair of the national oil company.

Subscribers only Energy 25.09.2025

In Focus | DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Faced with deadlock over the M23 rebels' capture of territory in the east of his country, DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi has turned to Donald Trump's administration to propose a $3tn deal in exchange for US protection.

Subscribers only Mining, Diplomacy 21.05.2025

Gabon
Donald Trump's envoy expected at Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's inauguration

Massad Boulos, the US president's special adviser on Africa, will join the Gabonese president's inaugural ceremony and, while there, discuss with several heads of state sensitive subjects, such as the conflict in the east of the DRC.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 01.05.2025

Donald Trump's special adviser on Africa, Massad Boulos (centre), in Kigali, on 8 April 2025.

DRC
Perenco hit with two state-mandated audits

The Congolese hydrocarbon ministry has commissioned two companies to carry out detailed audits of Franco-British energy company Perenco's oil business in the country. These reports should shed light on the firm's actual oil production, as well as its environmental impact.

Subscribers only Energy 11.12.2024

In Focus | Libya
From Tripoli to Benghazi, Turkish trader BGN's oil odyssey

BGN has established itself as a key player in Libyan oil. The Dubai-based firm headed by Rüya Bayegan has managed to capture most of the country's crude oil, become one of its leading fuel suppliers and is now looking to invest in infrastructure and oil fields.

Subscribers only Energy 02.12.2024

© Illustrated by Julien Pacaud. Photos : M. Turkia/A. Doma/AFP/Y. Mahjoub/NurPhoto via AFP

15% OFF your subscription

Special offer: Only 4d and 14h to take advantage of it

Consult our offers

This offer is open to all new subscribers and runs until 24/10/2025

Set up keyword notifications

Assala Energy organisation
BGN International organisation
Biden public figure
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema public figure
Donald Trump public figure
ENI organisation
Félix Tshisekedi public figure
Government of National Unity organisation
Khalifa Haftar public figure
Libyan National Army organisation
M23 organisation
Massad Boulos public figure
Mercuria organisation
National Oil Corp organisation
National Security Council organisation
Perenco organisation
Saddam Haftar public figure
TotalEnergies organisation
Umaro Sissoco Embalo public figure
United Nations organisation
Patrick Luabeya
Adam Boehler
Ahmed al-Ashibi
Alex Spiro
America First Global
BGN Int DMCC
BGN Int US
École des Roches
Ercüment Cafer Bayegan
Fadoul Afrique
Farouk Hajaig
Gentry Beach
Hill International
Ibrahim Dbeibeh
Jonathan Pratt
Khalifa Harb
Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek
Marco Dunand
Mellitah Oil and Gas
Michael Boulos
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Refaat Mohammed al-Abbar
Richard Grenell
Ruya Bayegan
Sarah Fadoul Boulos
Susie Wiles
Tiffany Trump
Tom Barrack

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!

DRC
The Tshisekedi clan's dangerous ties with cobalt looting "cartels"

Gabon
Gunvor secrets (2/2): the hidden clauses of the Assala Energy buyout

In Focus | Africa
Massad Boulos, a free agent of Donald Trump's African diplomacy under close watch

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Set up keyword notifications

Libya
The two factions go into battle over NOC chair

In Focus | DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Gabon
Donald Trump's envoy expected at Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's inauguration

DRC
Perenco hit with two state-mandated audits

In Focus | Libya
From Tripoli to Benghazi, Turkish trader BGN's oil odyssey

Spotlight | DRC
Illegal coltan mining intensifies in North Kivu

Libya
ENI comes up short as battle between oil minister and NOC ensues

Palace Intrigues
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Paul Biya, Patrice Talon, Andry Rajoelina

GabonTurkey's BGN cosies up to General Oligui

CameroonPaul Biya refuses to replace head of presidential guard

BeninPatrice Talon on voicemail only at ECOWAS summit

MadagascarRajoelina to be sworn in without a French minister present

Inner circles | Libya
New NOC boss Bengdara brings in his own people

Set up keyword notifications

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

DRC The Tshisekedi clan's dangerous ties with cobalt looting "cartels"

Gabon Gunvor secrets (2/2): the hidden clauses of the Assala Energy buyout

Simandou, Nimba and Zogota: the long and difficult road to the start of iron ore production

Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare

The Renaissance Dam – a national symbol but a regional quandary

Andry Rajoelina

African Development Bank

Paul Biya

Erik Prince

AFRICOM

In Focus | Africa Massad Boulos, a free agent of Donald Trump's African diplomacy under close watch

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Set up keyword notifications

Libya The two factions go into battle over NOC chair

In Focus | DRC Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Gabon Donald Trump's envoy expected at Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's inauguration

DRC Perenco hit with two state-mandated audits

In Focus | Libya From Tripoli to Benghazi, Turkish trader BGN's oil odyssey

Spotlight | DRC Illegal coltan mining intensifies in North Kivu

Libya ENI comes up short as battle between oil minister and NOC ensues

Palace Intrigues Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Paul Biya, Patrice Talon, Andry Rajoelina

GabonTurkey's BGN cosies up to General Oligui

CameroonPaul Biya refuses to replace head of presidential guard

BeninPatrice Talon on voicemail only at ECOWAS summit

MadagascarRajoelina to be sworn in without a French minister present

Inner circles | Libya New NOC boss Bengdara brings in his own people

Set up keyword notifications

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

DRC
The Tshisekedi clan's dangerous ties with cobalt looting "cartels"

Gabon
Gunvor secrets (2/2): the hidden clauses of the Assala Energy buyout

In Focus | Africa
Massad Boulos, a free agent of Donald Trump's African diplomacy under close watch

Libya
The two factions go into battle over NOC chair

In Focus | DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Gabon
Donald Trump's envoy expected at Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's inauguration

DRC
Perenco hit with two state-mandated audits

In Focus | Libya
From Tripoli to Benghazi, Turkish trader BGN's oil odyssey

Spotlight | DRC
Illegal coltan mining intensifies in North Kivu

Libya
ENI comes up short as battle between oil minister and NOC ensues

Palace Intrigues
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Paul Biya, Patrice Talon, Andry Rajoelina

Inner circles | Libya
New NOC boss Bengdara brings in his own people