Inner circles | DRC
Jean-Pierre Bemba determined to make his mark at defence

DRC
Riyadh appoints new ambassador to Kinshasa

Faced with the involvement of the UAE and Qatar in the DRC, Riyadh has no intention of being outdone and has decided on the name of its new diplomatic representative in Kinshasa.

Inner circles | DRC
SADC regional force chief Monwabisi Dyakopu walks tightrope against M23

After almost four months in charge of a regional intervention force deployed to restore peace to eastern DRC, the South African is frustrated by a shortage of men and resources. And a chronically strained relationship with MONUSCO isn't helping.

Palace Intrigues
Azali Assoumani, Jean-Pierre Bemba, Abdourahamane Tchiani, Bobi Wine

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

ComorosOutgoing AU chair Assoumani aims for Sahel tour

DRCElectoral commission boss berated by Bemba

NigerBattle for ambassador's Paris residence

UgandaBobi Wine prepares his political comeback in music

DRC
Army combat aircraft get makeover in Georgia

A Georgian firm has been tasked with upgrading the attack capacities of six helicopters and two planes belonging to the Congolese armed forces. They should be ready for deployment against the M23 rebels as of next March.

DRC
Congolese courts quash two former warlords' candidacies

Two candidates in the legislative elections in Ituri province have been declared ineligible by the DRC's Constitutional Court. The grounds were that they had been convicted of war crimes by the International Criminal Court and the military courts.

The New Guard
Kenya, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Angola

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

KenyaBina Maseno mixes politics and aesthetics

DRCStéphanie Mbombo, from mining to climate finance

EthiopiaGezahegn Mamo pushes pure Ethiopian coffee

AngolaJean-Claude Nzita, spokesman for Cabinda's independence movement

DRC
Republican Guard carried out deadly crackdown in Goma

The deadly raid against an anti-UN protest in Goma last week was carried out by the Republican Guard.

DRC
Serbia's Yugoimport turns on charm offensive with Congolese securocrats

A delegation from the Serbian arms company Yugoimport visited Kinshasa in July. Taking advantage of the difficulties faced by its competitors and the favourable security situation, it made a series of proposals to modernise the army.

DRC
MONUSCO agrees to help investigate the murder of former minister Chérubin Okende

MONUSCO chief Bintou Keita has responded favourably to a request from the DRC authorities for help investigating the murder of former minister Chérubin Okende Senga.

DRC
Brokers vie to supply transport aircraft to Congolese army

The army high command is keen to expand its cargo plane fleet so that it can combat the M23 rebels more effectively in eastern DRC. Military equipment brokers are queuing up to do business with Kinshasa, among them the British firm Fortfield International headed by Issah Huseini.

DRC
Kinshasa eyes Chinese fighter jets after buying Beijing's drones

A high-level delegation from the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corp (CATIC) travelled last week to Kinshasa, accompanied by officers from the People's Liberation Army (PLA), to try to sell its JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to DR Congo.