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

Congo
Premium Capital Securities has freeze on its accounts removed

Premium Capital Securities was suspected of having ties with the former deputy treasury director, Armel Silvère Dongou.

Congo
Rodrigue Malanda-Samba, linchpin for Sassou in Pool region

Head of the presidency's political department, Malanda-Samba is back in the National Assembly. As an elected representative from Pool, a region traditionally averse to the president's power, he is one of Denis Sassou-Nguesso's key supporters for 2026's presidential vote.

Congo
Presidential adviser Françoise Joly boosts her standing in Brazzaville

Sassou's confidant has managed to have one of her allies promoted to head of presidential protocol, much to the dismay of intelligence chief Jean-Dominique Okemba. Joly may be ruffling a few feathers, but she still enjoys the confidence of the head of state.

Congo
Cash-strapped Congo switches sanitation firms

The Lebanese operator's Congolese subsidiary, Averda, which provided waste collection services in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, will cease trading at the end of December. The government has already signed a contract with Turkish company Albaykar.

Congo
Sassou poised to make official visit to Kazakhstan

The Congolese president is expected in Astana at the end of July.

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.

Congo
First ladies line up in Libreville for Edith Bongo's foundation

Two weeks after an initial ceremony in Congo, the Bongo and Sassou families are preparing to pay tribute to former Gabonese First Lady Edith Lucie Bongo Ondimba, this time in Libreville, with many guests from across the continent.

Congo
Édith Lucie Bongo Ondimba memorial brings Libreville and Brazzaville closer together

Every year since her death in 2009, Congo's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso has organised a ceremony to honour his late daughter, the former First Lady of Gabon. Several heads of state, including Gabon's Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema are expected to attend this year's event.

Palace Intrigues
Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Brice Oligui Nguema, Tidjane Thiam

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

Republic of Congo French media boss visits Denis Sassou-Nguesso at home

GabonCharles Mba behind Tidjane Thiam's visit to Libreville

GabonGeneral Oligui Nguema's on a mission to woo region's leaders

Spotlight | Congo
Françoise Joly bestows her favours on Bayegan at expense of Masono

The Turkish oil trader Bayegan has worked its way into the good books of Sassou's international affairs adviser, whereas its rival Masono appears to have fallen out of favour.