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Benin

Dutch diplomats host civil society behind closed doors

In early May, the Dutch embassy in Cotonou discreetly hosted a seminar on the future of democracy in West Africa.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 25.05.2023

OCP plans more fertiliser plants in West Africa

After opening its first fertiliser plant in Nigeria last October, phosphate giant OCP, 95% owned by the Moroccan state, is keen to repeat that success elsewhere in West Africa. It is prospecting in Togo and Senegal.

Subscribers only Business 19.05.2023

President Traore pampers miner Iamgold

Despite needing money to buy weapons to fight armed groups in the north of Burkina Faso, the junta has decided to turn a blind eye to the Canadian firm's infringement of customs regulations. IamGold is the last mining firm operating in this region beset by terrorist violence.

Subscribers only Mining 16.05.2023

Spotlight
Paris mulls drastic reduction of French troops in Africa

French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to Port-Bouët camp, Ivory Coast, December 2019. © Media Coulibaly/Reuters

Subscribers only Defence 09.05.2023

Mozambican ex-foreign minister tipped for top UNOWAS job

At UN headquarters in New York, the name Leonardo Santos Simão, Mozambique's former foreign minister under Joaquim Chissano, is doing the rounds as the potential next head of UNOWAS.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 20.04.2023

Yacoub Sidya, Russian group Nordgold's invisible partner

Companies linked to Mauritanian businessman Yacoub Sidya are omnipresent around the African operations of Russian miner Nordgold, which was hit by sanctions after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The gold mining firm, however, takes great care to remain in the background.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 17.04.2023

World Bank to appoint new country director for Abidjan office

The World Bank's country director in Abidjan Coralie Gevers's successor will come from the institution's Madagascar office and be appointed in June.

Subscribers only Finance 14.04.2023

Beninese and Rwandan football federations tackle dispute over CAN qualifier

Several officials of the Beninese football federation have been irked by arrangements for a recent Benin versus Rwanda football match, and suspect Kagame had a hand in the affair. The match was a 2024 African Cup of Nations qualifying game and was supposed to be played in Cotonou, but after being delayed by 48 hours, was finally held in Kigali.

Subscribers only Politics 12.04.2023

Washington provides $1m to help West African states transition back to democracy

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is about to launch a new programme, financed by the State Department, to encourage the return to civilian rule in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Chad.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 12.04.2023

French defence committee boss Gassilloud due in Dakar and Niamey to discuss military bases

After a trip to Abidjan, the head of the French parliament's armed forces committee, Thomas Gassilloud, will travel to Senegal and Niger this month to discuss the reorganisation of French military deployment in West Africa.

Subscribers only Defence 04.04.2023

Thomas Gassilloud, president of the National Defense and Armed Forces Commission, the 24th of January 2023

In Bruxelles, Coalition of the Sahel to thrash out new strategy

Members of the Sahel Coalition will meet in Brussels on 27 March under the leadership of Djimet Adoum. The approach to be taken after Mali's withdrawal from the G5 Sahel last year will be on the agenda.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 27.03.2023

Cotonou looks to both Paris and Moscow for army helicopters

Although the Beninese army recently acquired two French-made H 125 helicopters, it has also been negotiating the purchase of transport aircraft from Russian Helicopters in a drive to beef up its operations against armed groups in the north.

Subscribers only Defence 23.03.2023

Kigali set to postpone Benin deployment

Despite being at an advanced stage, the plan to dispatch a Rwandan army contingent to Benin has been on standby since late last year, though a deployment has not been ruled out in the medium term.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 02.03.2023

Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali, 23 June 2022.

New WFP aid package for Ouagadougou, Abuja and N'Djamena

The UN World Food Programme decided on a new support plan for Africa in early February. The budget is close to €30m.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 02.03.2023

Macron to bring forward statement on French bases in Africa

The French president is about to catch everyone off guard with an early unveiling of his plans to reorganise the French military in Africa. He initially planned to make this announcement during his tour of Central Africa next month.

Subscribers only Defence 24.02.2023

French president Emmanuel Macron at the military base in Djibouti on 12 March 2019.

French armed forces minister Lecornu due in Abidjan and Dakar

France's armed forces minister Sébastien Lecornu will travel to Ivory Coast and Senegal in the coming days, though his schedule has yet to be finalised

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 16.02.2023

Spotlight
From Dakar to Algiers, Belgrade's charm offensive in Africa

Serbia is conducting a charm offensive in African capitals in a bid to boost business and persuade them not to recognise Kosovo's independence. The operation is steered behind the scenes by a powerful Serbian businessman with deep links to Africa, working in concert with Belgrade's foreign minister Ivica Dacic.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 14.02.2023

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic on 26 February 2020.

New candidates mooted for leadership of UN's West Africa and Sahel office

An increasing number of potential candidates for the leadership of the UN's West Africa and Sahel regional office UNOWAS is being put forward.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 07.02.2023

West Africa ponders choice of next UNOWAS head

The Dakar-based post UN post has been vacant since October and the names of several African diplomats are doing the rounds.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 02.02.2023

African leaders plan trip to Kyiv and Moscow

A handful of African heads of state are planning a joint visit to Moscow and Kyiv to meet Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. Details could be discussed at the next African Union summit.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 27.01.2023

Diplomat Luc Briard to focus on African diaspora at foreign ministry

The French foreign ministry has recently appointed diplomat Luc Briard to oversee all matters relating to the African diaspora

Subscribers only Diplomacy 25.01.2023

Delayed EU anti-piracy cooperation presents Washington and Seoul with opening

SWAIMS, an EU project to fight piracy in the waters off West Africa, is experiencing hold-ups. Washington and Seoul are meanwhile working to counteract Chinese ambitions in the region.

Subscribers only Defence 24.01.2023

Spotlight
French investigators probe former African logistics giant Necotrans

French financial crimes prosecutors have been investigating Necotrans, a former champion of port logistics in Africa, for the past two years. Brothers Grégory and Emmanuel Quérel and their links with Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo are at the heart of the probe.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 17.01.2023

MTN to downsize in Africa in 2023

Telecomms giant MTN has mandated the South African bank Absa for the sale of some of its smaller operations in Africa. The financial services company has already started evaluating several of these assets.

Subscribers only Business 06.01.2023

Spotlight
Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana battle for "energy hub" title under Nigeria's shadow

Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana have launched ambitious projects and made bold statements in their bids to become West Africa's next "energy hub". Those efforts, however, are a long way from unseating dominant Nigeria.

Subscribers only Energy 02.01.2023

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DRC
The Tshisekedi clan's dangerous ties with cobalt looting "cartels"

Gabon
Gunvor secrets (2/2): the hidden clauses of the Assala Energy buyout

Benin

Dutch diplomats host civil society behind closed doors

OCP plans more fertiliser plants in West Africa

President Traore pampers miner Iamgold

Spotlight
Paris mulls drastic reduction of French troops in Africa

Mozambican ex-foreign minister tipped for top UNOWAS job

Yacoub Sidya, Russian group Nordgold's invisible partner

World Bank to appoint new country director for Abidjan office

Beninese and Rwandan football federations tackle dispute over CAN qualifier

Washington provides $1m to help West African states transition back to democracy

French defence committee boss Gassilloud due in Dakar and Niamey to discuss military bases

In Bruxelles, Coalition of the Sahel to thrash out new strategy

Cotonou looks to both Paris and Moscow for army helicopters

Kigali set to postpone Benin deployment

New WFP aid package for Ouagadougou, Abuja and N'Djamena

Macron to bring forward statement on French bases in Africa

French armed forces minister Lecornu due in Abidjan and Dakar

Spotlight
From Dakar to Algiers, Belgrade's charm offensive in Africa

New candidates mooted for leadership of UN's West Africa and Sahel office

West Africa ponders choice of next UNOWAS head

African leaders plan trip to Kyiv and Moscow

Diplomat Luc Briard to focus on African diaspora at foreign ministry

Delayed EU anti-piracy cooperation presents Washington and Seoul with opening

Spotlight
French investigators probe former African logistics giant Necotrans

MTN to downsize in Africa in 2023

Spotlight
Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana battle for "energy hub" title under Nigeria's shadow

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

DRC The Tshisekedi clan's dangerous ties with cobalt looting "cartels"

Gabon Gunvor secrets (2/2): the hidden clauses of the Assala Energy buyout

Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare

The Renaissance Dam – a national symbol but a regional quandary

West African cocoa cartel battles with the traders

Félix Tshisekedi

Eurasian Resources Group

Nasser Bourita

Mercuria

Mamadi Doumbouya

Benin

Dutch diplomats host civil society behind closed doors

OCP plans more fertiliser plants in West Africa

President Traore pampers miner Iamgold

Spotlight Paris mulls drastic reduction of French troops in Africa

Mozambican ex-foreign minister tipped for top UNOWAS job

Yacoub Sidya, Russian group Nordgold's invisible partner

World Bank to appoint new country director for Abidjan office

Beninese and Rwandan football federations tackle dispute over CAN qualifier

Washington provides $1m to help West African states transition back to democracy

French defence committee boss Gassilloud due in Dakar and Niamey to discuss military bases

In Bruxelles, Coalition of the Sahel to thrash out new strategy

Cotonou looks to both Paris and Moscow for army helicopters

Kigali set to postpone Benin deployment

New WFP aid package for Ouagadougou, Abuja and N'Djamena

Macron to bring forward statement on French bases in Africa

French armed forces minister Lecornu due in Abidjan and Dakar

Spotlight From Dakar to Algiers, Belgrade's charm offensive in Africa

New candidates mooted for leadership of UN's West Africa and Sahel office

West Africa ponders choice of next UNOWAS head

African leaders plan trip to Kyiv and Moscow

Diplomat Luc Briard to focus on African diaspora at foreign ministry

Delayed EU anti-piracy cooperation presents Washington and Seoul with opening

Spotlight French investigators probe former African logistics giant Necotrans

MTN to downsize in Africa in 2023

Spotlight Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana battle for "energy hub" title under Nigeria's shadow

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

DRC
The Tshisekedi clan's dangerous ties with cobalt looting "cartels"

Gabon
Gunvor secrets (2/2): the hidden clauses of the Assala Energy buyout

Spotlight
Paris mulls drastic reduction of French troops in Africa

Spotlight
From Dakar to Algiers, Belgrade's charm offensive in Africa

Spotlight
French investigators probe former African logistics giant Necotrans

Spotlight
Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana battle for "energy hub" title under Nigeria's shadow