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Palace Intrigues
Emmanuel Macron, Nana Akufo-Addo, Laurent Gbagbo, Sylvie Baïpo-Temon

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

France/Egypt Will Macron cut the ribbon of the Suez Canal Museum?

Ghana/France Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo heading to the Sorbonne

Ivory Coast Gbagbo's bank accounts unblocked

France/CAR Baïpo-Temon acts as stand-in CAR consul in France

DRC
Fortunat Biselele and Theophas Mahuku, the men behind miner Sud South's dizzying rise

The success of Sud South, which last year signed a lucrative contract with the mining province of Lualaba, is down to its discreet ties with Theophas Mahuku a friend of the Kabila family, and with President Felix Tshisekedi's close adviser, Fortunat Biseleleand.

Congo
IMF recommendations on conflicts of interest spell trouble for oil ministry

Under pressure from international donors, the Congolese president has signed a decree to crack down on conflicts of interest within his administration. Its implementation is likely to have repercussions for numerous advisers to the oil minister who have one foot in the private sector.

Central African Republic, France
Rwandan army and MINUSCA in the running to take over M'Poko base

The French army will withdraw from Bangui before the end of the year, freeing up the M'Poko military base. To avoid it falling into Russian paramilitary Wagner's hands, Paris is in discussions with MINUSCA and the Rwandan army.

Guinea
Robert Friedland's discreet meetings with Guinea coup leader Doumbouya

The mining magnate Robert Friedland was received three times in July and September by the Guinean junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya. The billionaire and the colonel discussed at great length projects and strategy for developing the country's mining sector.

Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast gives up on second Abidjan metro line

Ivory Coast has given up on building a second metro line for its economic capital Abidjan and has instead plumped for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system.

Ethiopia
Addis-Ababa tries to reassure investors as fighting in Tigray surges

Ethiopia's diplomats are worried about investors withdrawing due to the civil war and security risks. Foreign investments are the country's third top source of foreign currency.

Kenya
Odinga presidential defeat sparks turf wars in his former strongholds

Kenya's western and coastal regions have provided long-standing support for opposition leader Raila Odinga. But after his latest failed presidential bid, they are now the scene of local power struggles. Some of his erstwhile followers have defected or formed new parties.

Brazil, South Africa
Brazil names new Cape Town consul to appease South Africa after Bolsonaro gaffe

President Bolsonaro's attempt last year to appoint a political ally as ambassador to Pretoria went badly wrong and led to turbulent relations between the two countries. The appointment of a new Brazilian consul in Cape Town aims to further ease the tension.

France, South Africa
Who is on the shortlist to be France's next ambassador to South Africa?

Since mid-September, the French foreign ministry has been studying applications from those in the running to be France's next ambassador to South Africa, following current ambassador Aurélien Lechevallier's appointment as head of the Direction générale de la mondialisation (DGM).

Egypt, South Sudan
Egyptian moves on White Nile waters divide South Sudanese leaders

Fears over the environmental impact of the dredging of a White Nile tributary by Egypt prompted Silva Kiir in July to put a stop to the project, which has raised fears that it may increase the flow of the Nile downstream.

Algeria
Issad Rebrab back in hotseat

Two and half years after being released from custody, Cevital's founder is tangled in a new legal case over a plant in Béjaïa.