DRC

Army adds Turkish Bayraktar drones to its arsenal

The FARDC have taken delivery in recent weeks of four new Turkish-made attack drones, Bayraktar TB2s.

Mysterious arms broker held for months by military intelligence in Kinshasa

The Congolese deputy prime minister in charge of defence is seeking the return of an $18m deposit paid out in an arms contract that was never honoured. The Lebanon-born businessman Dani al-Achkar has been held incommunicado since April.

Kinshasa orders Kigali to share Lake Kivu geological findings

The Congolese government has instructed a Parisian law firm to order Rwanda to provide it with geological exploration findings from the lake shared by the DRC and Rwanda.

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

Washington resumes crackdown on suspected Hezbollah financiers

The Congolese finance minister held meetings with several US officials to discuss the sensitive issue of Lebanese businessmen operating in the country and suspected of financing the Shiite Islamist organisation.

Tensions mount over Trump's roadmap to end war in the east

The US president is aiming for the swift signing of agreements with Kinshasa and Kigali to bring peace in the DRC. But behind the scenes, negotiations are stalling on several points.

US billionaire Erik Prince's firm hiring former French soldiers for security contract

A mysterious recruiter is touring the networks of former French servicemen, particularly from the elite French Foreign Legion, to offer them a project in the DRC.

Audit of BEAC's contentious recruitment process ready for regional ministers

The audit report on the recruitment process for the Bank of Central African States will be forwarded to the ministers of the Central African Monetary Union. It was launched to resolve the crisis that has been linked to suspected irregularities since 2022.

Kinshasa modifies Cuvette Centrale oil block perimeters

Félix Tshisekedi's presidency has just redrawn the boundaries of oil deposit zones in the forest area around the Congo river. The goal is to put a halt to encroachment on protected areas and put these deposits on the market.

Westwin Elements looks beyond DRC for mining needs

Led by KaLeigh Long, a former political consultant with close ties to evangelical Republican circles, the US company focuses on nickel refining and is currently sourcing outside the African country, contrary to its initial ambitions.

The New Guard
DRC, Libya, Kenya

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

DRCDana Mopulunga, at the forefront of medtech

LibyaHusam el-Gomati, vocal critic of corruption

KenyaMagdalene Chesoli, changing perceptions towards disability

War in the east: the main mediators meet in Doha

Representatives of the US, France and Togo are headed to Qatar, where discussions are underway on a pre-peace agreement. In a declaration of principles signed on 25 April in Washington, Kinshasa and Kigali gave themselves a week to chalk out a deal that could put an end to the conflict.