Spotlight | DRC
Deal within deal allows tycoon Dan Gertler to save €130m in DRC settlement

Palace Intrigues
Emmanuel Macron, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Dan Gertler, Faustin-Archange Touadéra

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

FranceMacron's new ‘Mr Africa' to start in January

GabonOmer Laviv, Dan Gertler's go-between with Oligui Nguema

Central African RepublicRussian deputy defence minister misses Touadéra on Bangui stopover

LibyaParis embassy diplomat chastised by Quai d'Orsay

DRC
Secret trade-off deal with oil block assessor

A Nigerian businessman, whose company pre-financed the assessments of the DRC oil blocks put up for sale in July, is asking the hydrocarbons minister Didier Budimbu to organise a restricted tender call to award two blocks of his choice.

DRC
UN, Houston and Washington on Tshisekedi's US agenda

Expected next week in New York for the annual United [...]

DRC
In the midst of a petrol shortage, "contaminated" shipment causes a stir in Kinshasa

A tanker operating for Petrocam was to supply the Congolese capital's service stations, which have been dry since the beginning of September, within the next few days. However, the 25,000 tonne cargo has now been found to be "contaminated" and "dangerous".

DRC
Dan Gertler made a secret trip to meet Félix Tshisekedi before Antony Blinken's arrival

Breaking news published on 11/08/22 at 18:05 - Less than 24 hours before the arrival in the DRC of the head of US diplomacy Antony Blinken, Dan Gertler visited Kinshasa. With great discretion, Washington is preparing files for possible sanctions targeting advisers of President Tshisekedi involved in the agreement with the Israeli billionaire.

DRC, Israel, United States
Dan Gertler under FBI investigation

U.S. authorities are investigating possible circumvention of the sanctions they have put in place against mining magnate Dan Gertler in DRC. Dan Gertler claims he knows nothing about these investigations and has complied with the sanctions.

DRC
Kinshasa wants a piece of the pie following Glencore's $1bn guilty plea

Breaking news published on 15/06/22 at 12:25 - In the wake of the agreement reached last May between Glencore and the US Department of Justice, which puts an end to the latter's investigations into the Swiss trader, Congolese financial intelligence intends to claim compensation for the prejudice caused to the DRC.

Libya
ENI and NOC's former legal counsel still seeking unpaid bills

Mellitah Oil & Gas, a joint venture between ENI and NOC, stands accused by its former legal team of failing to fulfil its financial obligations, which it claims relates to a lack of services rendered.

In Focus | DRC
The unseen hands at play in US ruling against DRC in Dig Oil award

Following a US court ruling, the DRC may see up to $619m of its US assets seized by oil junior Dig Oil. Africa Intelligence has had access to documents that reveal the determining behind-the-scenes role played by several Congolese ministers in this legal fiasco.

Spotlight | DRC
Why is Dan Gertler transferring his oil assets to new firms?

The Israeli diamond dealer is trying to counter the effects of US sanctions on his Congolese companies and is hoping to get a new extension on his oil permits.

Spotlight | DRC
How ENI plans to snatch blocks 1 and 2 from right under Total's nose

All it took was just one visit from ENI chairman Claudio Descalzi to President Félix Tshisekedi on September 13 (AEI 849) for the wheels to start turning on the Italian major's return to the DRC.