Ivory Coast
Presidential elections: the spin doctors stirring a media war

The New Guard
Angola, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Morocco

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

Angola Nelito Ekuikui, UNITA's new youth leader

Cameroon Stéphane Tiki, sales rep for French-speaking companies

Ivory Coast Danielle Benoist, Ivorian VP Tiémoko Meyliet Koné's spin doctor

Morocco Loubna Tricha, queen of professional integration

Ivory Coast
Concerto runs PR for visiting finance minister

At the end of May, the Parisian PR firm Concerto helped organise Ivorian finance minister Adama Coulibaly's visit to the French capital.

Africa, Tunisia
UReputation boss Lotfi Bel Hadj launches all-out legal attack on Facebook

After filing a complaint in November 2020 against Facebook in France, the Franco-Tunisian businessman who's the head of the Ureputation group has just launched a legal battle against the Californian giant in Tunisia.

Tunisia
Banned from Facebook, Lotfi Bel Hadj repositions Ureputation in Tunis and Nicosia

The Franco-Tunisian businessman Lotfi Bel Hadj, a provider of digital influence operations to African politicians and governments, has closed his agency in Brussels only to reinforce his Tunisian firm, Ureputation, and open a new branch in Cyprus.

Central African Republic
Parisian PR agency ImaGGE backs Catherine Samba-Panza's campaign in France

Early this month in Paris, Catherine Samba-Panza, candidate for president of the Central African Republic, relied heavily on ImaGGE communications agency for PR.

Ivory Coast
Talks heat up ahead of government reshuffle

Abidjan is abuzz with talk as Alassane Ouattara prepares his new cabinet, which could spell RHDP executive director Adama Bictogo's great comeback.

Ivory Coast
International francophone body pays high-tension pre-election visit to Abidjan

Désiré Nyaruhirira, special adviser to the secretary general of the international organisation of francophone countries, the IOF, is due to meet PDCI candidate Henri Konan Bédié and representatives of the RHDP on Friday 30 October, just a few hours before the first round of voting in the presidential elections.

DRC
Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler knocks on Carlos Ghosn's PR agency door

Accused by two NGOs of evading US sanctions, the mining magnate tried to enlist the services of influential consultancy Image 7 to prepare his judicial counterattack.

Ivory Coast
French ambassador Gilles Huberson recalled to Paris

With the presidential campaign in full swing in Abidjan and Paris juggling a wait-and-see attitude with muted disapproval of Alassane Ouattara's desire to run for re-election, the French foreign ministry has quietly recalled its ambassador Gilles Huberson for "administrative reasons".

Spotlight | Ivory Coast
Bédié, Gbagbo, Ouattara… Spectre of 2010 hangs over 2020 presidential election

The aerial choreography over Ivory Coast promises to be interesting on 22 December. The A330 of the French president Emmanuel Macron is due to take off from Bouaké at the end of the day (WAN 813) and may well cross [.

Guinea
Cellou Dalein Diallo talks third terms with Mahamadou Issoufou

On the fringes of the Paris Peace Forum held from [...]

Ivory Coast
Weakened within the RHDP, Amadou Gon Coulibaly beefs up his PR

In the face of criticism, the current prime minister and probable RHDP presidential candidate wants a 4.0 image makeover.

Ivory Coast
A game of electoral bluff

With the presidential election less than a year off, Alassane Ouattara, Henri Konan Bedie, Laurent Gbagbo and Guillaume Soro are giving out mixed messages.

Ivory Coast
Alassane Ouattara's 2020 electoral manoeuvres

The Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara is preparing to amend the constitution to facilitate the presidential bid of his prime minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly.

Spotlight | Africa
French touch for Africa's politicians

At a time when many French-speaking African countries are poised to hold elections, incumbent presidents and their challengers have been busy signing up French PR firms to devise media plans and put the appropriate spin on their communication.