Benin, Congo
Busted: Kiki Sassou Nguesso’s ghost PR writer unmasked by her own computer!

Palace Intrigues
Nicolas Sarkozy, Teodorin Obiang, François Beya and Thomas Boni Yayi

Intrigues big and small. Every Tuesday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

Congo/France Denis Sassou Nguesso invites Sarkozy to stay

Equatorial Guinea VP Teodorin Obiang holidays in Lisbon

Congo/DRC François Beya looked after by JDO

Benin/Guinea Thomas Boni Yayi enlists daughter in mediation

Spotlight | Senegal
The real story behind Karim Wade’s release

The presidential pardon and subsequent release of Karim Wade during the night of June 23 was the result of a series of national African and international interventions, the details of which can be exclusively revealed by West Africa Newsletter.

Spotlight | Benin
Patrice Talon grabs control of economy

Benin’s new President Patrice Talon pledged in earnest throughout his electoral campaign that he would not mix politics with business. However now that he is comfortably installed in the presidential palace, Talon appears to be keen to reinstate all of [.

Spotlight | Benin
Zinzou treads crowded path to presidential palace

With no charismatic front runner in sight, a plethora of candidates have thrown their hates in the ring for Benin's presidential elections on February 28. Outgoing leader Thomas Boni Yayi heeded advice, left the constitution alone, and will step down [.

Spotlight | Africa
How a leader's offspring wield influence

Late French president Francois Mitterrand set the example by naming his son, Jean-Christophe, an adviser at the Elysee Palace. Now it's a rare case when the children of African presidents fail to take advantage of their father's position to load [.