For executives at the Chinese state-owned company CNPC, Niger's new regime is not necessarily bad for business. The oil major now hopes to make swift and cost-effective progress on certain thorny issues dating back to the Bazoum era.
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Energy 
Breaking published on 30/08/23 at 18:55 - Ali Bongo's sworn protector, the Commander of the Gabonese National Guard, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, has ended up ousting the president instead. Behind the scenes, Haut-Ogooué heavyweights are preparing to purge the system, starting with the former first lady and her son.
The loyal acquaintance of Inoussa Kanazoé has made the most of the void left by the global trading giants and support from the coup leaders to become one of the country's biggest fuel suppliers and a major player in the wider West African region.
Former Chadian agriculture minister Djimet Adoum, who has been at the helm of the Coalition for the Sahel since 2021, is preparing to hand over to former Mauritanian foreign minister Hamadi Ould Meimou.
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Diplomacy 
The government has launched a vast programme to set up a digital identity system for citizens. Its printing and data storage contracts offer rich pickings.
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Politics As it becomes increasingly clear that South Sudan's opposition leader and first VP Riek Machar is under house arrest, his party is threatening to boycott next year's elections. The East African regional bloc IGAD is due to consider his case shortly.
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Politics A trip to Beijing by senior members of Kenyan President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance party on 25 August has been postponed indefinitely at the last minute 'for diplomatic reasons'.
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Diplomacy 
The European Commission and Namibia have approved a raft of joint projects, 10 months after signing a framework cooperation agreement in mining and industry. In addition, the EU is also in talks with further countries.
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Mining After casting doubt in recent weeks, President Andry Rajoelina will announce his candidacy for re-election on 6 September. He is expected to face two former presidents, Marc Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina.
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Politics 
The co-founder of Buraq Air, the Qatari Hamad Ali Al Thani, helped the boss of the airline Air Mediterranean launch flights from Athens to Libya, as well as to Dubai and Damascus.
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Business The Casablanca commercial appeal court has postponed the liquidation of SAMIR, Morocco's only refinery operator, for three months after rejecting the latest offers from potential buyers.
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Energy 
