Ivory Coast
Paris and Abidjan speed up handover of French military base

Ivory Coast
President plans to meet Macron during Paris trip

The Ivorian president could meet with Emmanuel Macron in Paris as part of his trip to France, which began on 14 November with a first stop in Mougins (southeast).

Ivory Coast
Abidjan to acquire three Thales military radars

The Ivorian army is due to take delivery of a first Ground Master 200 radar by March. Abidjan plans to order three in total from the French group.

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, Nicolas Sarkozy, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Cyril Ramaphosa

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

Ivory CoastOuattara boosts Sarkozy's morale

GabonOligui Nguema, admirer of General de Gaulle

South Africa / RwandaRamaphosa's lexical blunder upsets Kagame

Gabon
How Paris is redefining its military cooperation with Libreville

While the French army officially handed over its military base last year, France still wants to keep a small contingent of 70 soldiers in Libreville.

Ivory Coast
Ouattara has discreet dinner with Macron in Paris

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara was discreetly received for dinner by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on 30 January. This private meeting was not on Macron's official agenda.

Ivory Coast
Ouattara to dine with Macron at Élysée Palace on 1 February

The Ivorian and French presidents will dine together at the Élysée Palace on 1 February. On the agenda of this luncheon is the handover of the base housing the French forces stationed in Ivory Coast and possibly this year's presidential election.

Ivory Coast
Israel limits military equipment sales to Abidjan

Israel's Ministry of Defence is restricting the export of military equipment to Ivory Coast, fearing the presidential vote later this year could lead to political instability.

Ivory Coast
Alassane Ouattara to take private trip to France

The Ivorian president will head to France on 15 January for personal reasons on a visit that coincides with his Angolan counterpart João Lourenço's state visit to Paris.

Palace Intrigues
Mamadi Doumbouya, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Alassane Ouattara, Nicolas Sarkozy

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

GuineaMamadi Doumbouya's new watch

CongoSassou's daughter's big Parisian wedding

Ivory CoastAlassane Ouattara hosts Nicolas Sarkozy in Mougins

Ivory Coast
Macron's brand-new Africa envoy due to meet Ouattara

Emmanuel Macron's new 'personal envoy' for Africa, former minister Jean-Marie Bockel, will be in Abidjan on 20-21 February to discuss the ongoing reorganisation of France's military presence on the continent.