Short of funds, the government regularly exerts pressure on CNPC. The latest development concerned the loss of the Bilma block, which triggered a visit to Niamey by a top official from the state oil major.
France and the Central African Republic's improving of relations is coming up against Russian diplomatic and propaganda counter-offensives. Meanwhile, the mercenary group Wagner is resurgent in the African country.
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's former mines minister, who is wanted for questioning by the police after having been accused of incest, has solid support within the national transition committee and outside Gabon.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's announcement on 28 November that France must close its military bases in his country calls into question the future of a transmitter centre that for many years fulfilled a mission linked to nuclear deterrence.
New energy trading firm Kaskara Commodities is currently shopping for investors with the aim of going public in the coming weeks.
Central Kenya's elites and Uhuru Kenyatta's family want to join a political party that would support Kalonzo Musyoka's presidential bid. For his part, the recently deposed Rigathi Gachagua would prefer to set up his own party, which would put forward a different candidate.
Former Burundian PM Édouard Nzambimana has won a posthumous victory in the case brought by his family against his native country before the East African Court of Justice.
The South African minister of sports is trying to convince the president's office to back the city's bid to host the 2036 summer Olympic Games. But with the treasury tightening the purse strings, there is little chance he will be able to make it work.
The European Union Border Assistance Mission in the country is conducting a closed consultation process to select a new security service provider in January.
Former French PM Bernard Cazeneuve is expected in Casablanca on 11 December to chair a meeting at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Morocco.
