Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

The Morning Brief
Log in

Password

Keep me logged in

Forgot your password?
Subscribe

Congo
Juggling family members at heart of Sassou's reshuffle

Congolese president Denis Sassou-Nguesso on 12 June 2023. © Issouf Sanogo/AFP

Although his PM is set to be reappointed, the Congolese president is planning major changes at the ministries. His son Denis Christel's position looks precarious, but his nephew Wilfried looks set to make his entrance. [...]

Published on 12/01/2024 at 05:40 GMT Reading time 2 minutes

This article may be accessed by subscribers

In order to ensure high-quality and independent journalism, Africa Intelligence relies solely on subscriptions from its readers, with no advertising, no events and no consulting work.

Several offers are available depending on your particular reading needs

Consult our offers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters, a selection of free articles, keyword alerts.

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

Congo
Sassou tries to delay his clan's sumptuous weddings

The Congolese leader has asked his entourage to postpone their expensive ceremonies until after the 2026 presidential election, fearing that they might upset the rest of the country. Yet his daughter Claudia remains determined to go ahead and tie the knot next month.

Subscribers only Politics 14.02.2025

Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso in Oyo, Congo, July 2022.

Congo
Why Sassou sacked his finance minister

Managing public revenue had become a headache for Denis Sassou-Nguesso. His solution was to replace Jean-Baptiste Ondaye, who had become very isolated in recent months, with Ludovic Ngatsé.

Subscribers only Politics 15.01.2025

Jean-Baptiste Ondaye in Brazzaville, Congo, 22 September 2023.

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Laurent and Simone Gbagbo

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

Ivory CoastOuattara on private visit to France

CongoSassou the family matchmaker

Ivory CoastLaurent and Simone Gbagbo to officially split

Subscribers only Politics 16.05.2024

Congo
French PR specialist Patricia Goldman approaches Denis Sassou-Nguesso

In early April, the Paris-based communications expert Patricia Goldman discreetly offered her firm Patricia Goldman International's services to the Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso.

Subscribers only Business 29.04.2024

Congo
Françoise Joly, Sassou's special adviser, under fire

An adviser to Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Joly has recently been the target of a social media campaign. The French-Rwandan's involvement in a number of issues has sparked tension in the head of state's entourage.

Free access Infrastructure, Politics 12.03.2024

Sergey Lavrov welcomes Congolese presidential adviser Françoise Joly in Moscow on 1 March 2021.

Congo
French PR agencies compete for Congo presidential contracts

Paris-based agency Ipanema secures the lion's share of Denis Sassou Nguesso's PR contracts thanks to the influence of adviser Françoise Joly. But it faces competition from its compatriot 35°Nord, which has direct access to the Congolese president via his daughter Claudia Sassou Nguesso.

Subscribers only Business 11.07.2023

Congolese president Denis Sassou Nguesso in Paris on 22 June 2023.

Congo
Sassou invites Brazzaville elite to first lady's 80th birthday bash

This weekend the first lady Antoinette Sassou Nguesso will be celebrating her 80th birthday in the Congolese capital. While her close entourage have been planning the 1,000-plus gathering, the logistics are being handled by President Denis Sassou Nguesso's daughters via Ben'tsi.

Subscribers only Politics 05.05.2023

Congolese president Denis Sassou Nguesso with his wife Antoinette.

Congo
Congo ministers 'Kiki' and Bouya spar in contest to attract foreign investment

The international cooperation minister Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso has been given the official go-ahead for an inter-ministerial committee to manage foreign investments. His rival, the minister of territorial development Jean-Jacques Bouya, has been kept on the sidelines.

Subscribers only Politics, Business 11.04.2023

Congo
Sassou deftly pairs inner circle with cabinet members

The president's cabinet reshuffle has done little to rock the boat of his prime minister Anatole Collinet Makosso or of his own entourage. Only his finance minister, Rigobert Foger Andely, has had to say goodbye.

Subscribers only Politics 30.09.2022

Congo
Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso loses ground in Brazzaville

Despite considerable self-promotion efforts, the international cooperation minister is struggling to find his place within a government where he has managed to irk several ministers. His public-private partnership law has just been rejected by his father, the Congolese president, who keeps him at a safe distance from presidential affairs.

Subscribers only Politics 22.09.2022

Congo
Who has Prime Minister Makosso's ear?

Appointed prime minister in May 2021, Anatole Collinet Makosso has surrounded himself with a staff of around 30, most of whom came from his predecessor's cabinet. Since his arrival, he has had a very limited hand in appointing his main advisers.

Subscribers only Politics 19.04.2022

Congolese Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso.