Spotlight | DRC
Tshisekedi dangles mineral resources in exchange for help against M23

DRC
United Cominière demands millions of dollars from Rahim Dhrolia's company MMR

The CEO of United Cominière accuses his partner Mining Mineral Resources of favouring, to his detriment, parallel circuits for transporting minerals.

DRC
Generals pay secret visit to Israel

Kinshasa wants to speed up the revamping of its armed forces. A delegation from the general staff travelled to Tel Aviv at the end of October to meet representatives of Elbit Systems.

DRC
Cuts force MONUSCO to withdraw some of its peacekeepers

Already much-weakened, the UN stabilisation mission has been directly affected by budgetary cuts introduced by Washington, forcing it to make painful tradeoffs.

DRC
M23 military leader sanctions officers responsible for looting and embezzlement

General Sultani Makenga has been punishing his senior men involved in offences committed in areas under the movement's control. High-ranking officers and even his own brother have already been thrown into prison for short sentences.

DRC
Tshisekedi presidency readjusts its strategy towards M23 at Doha talks

Fearing that the ongoing negotiations in Doha could lead to an impasse, the Congolese authorities are seeking to shift the responsibility for any failure onto M23.

DRC
Tshisekedi seeks to strengthen Entreprise Générale du Cobalt's monopoly

The Congolese president, eager to clean up the small-scale cobalt sector, brought together the key stakeholders in mid-June. The goal was to speed up the growth of the Gécamines subsidiary, which is responsible for structuring a market still largely informal.

Spotlight | DRC
Sale of Musonoï East mining site to Abu Dhabi meets uncertainty

The DR Congo president has insisted that Gécamines go back on its decision to terminate its collaboration with South African Robert Gumede for the development of the Musonoï mining project. Owned by the Congolese state company, this deposit is on a list of assets that had recently been proposed to Abu Dhabi.

The New Guard
Ivory Coast, Nigeria, DRC

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

Ivory CoastArthur Banga, the security expert whispering in the ears of military staff

NigeriaArabinrin Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, a decisive woman of multiple talents

DRCCorneille Kabanga, the quiet go-between for Chinese giant CNMC

DRC
Potential mining deal with Abu Dhabi taking shape

Emirati company International Resources Holding pursuing low-key discussions with Gécamines on granting of strategic mining permit in the Katanga province of Lualaba.

Palace Intrigues
Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Félix Tshisekedi

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

CongoJetsetter Sassou off to Paris and then Moscow

GabonMahamadou Bonkoungou, indispensable backer of Oligui Nguema

DRCEmirati ambassador conducts his diplomacy outside Kinshasa

DRC
Dan Gertler's lawyer arrested by the National Cyber Defence Council

The National Cyber Defence Council, attached to Félix Tshisekedi's presidency and led by Jean-Claude Bukasa, has arrested lawyer Médard Palankoy Lakwas, longterm adviser of Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler.

DRC
Kinshasa seeks to firm up ambitious Plan Nkita 2035

Despite his second term being overshadowed by the conflict in the east, President Tshisekedi and his government are elaborating a plan to transform the country's economy over the next decade. One of the aims is to ensure that the future Kinshasa Mercantile Exchange lives up to its full potential.

DRC
Companies up in arms over pause in cobalt exports

In a memo to the authorities, the Congo's business federation has called into question the legality of the four-month suspension of cobalt exports.

Palace Intrigues
Paul Kagame, Romi Bhatia, Abdel Fattah al-Sissi

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

DRC-FranceÉlysée and foreign ministry bid to postpone Solidarité Congo concert

MoroccoRomi Bhatia takes a plane ride

EgyptMacron due in Cairo on 7 April

DRC
Kinshasa hopes US congressman visit will make up for missed Washington meeting

Despite a missed meeting that was due to take place in early March in Washington, the DR Congo is hoping to convince the United States to support it in its battle with M23 rebels. It will make its case during a special visit from a US congressman later this month.

DRC
The advance of M23 frustrates DRC Gold Trading's plans

State-owned DRC Gold Trading, which aims to combat gold smuggling in the east of the country, has been hit hard by the expansion of the area controlled by M23 rebels.

DRC
The drilling contracts scandal that's causing embarrassment all the way to the presidency

President Félix Tshisekedi was initially enthusiastic about new solar-powered water pumps and street lighting, but the contracts have given rise to violent score settling in the presidential entourage amid accusations of overcharging.

DRC
Gécamines tries to block Chemaf sale to Chinese firm

State-owned Gécamines is fighting the sale of the mining company Chemaf to the Chinese company Norin Mining and could go so far as to withdraw the licences it has granted to this subsidiary of the Shalina Resources group.