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Gabon

Former Ali Bongo chief of staff Maixent Accrombessi.© DR

How Maixent Accrombessi switched allegiance from Ali Bongo to Patrice Talon

Ali Bongo's former chief of staff, who relocated to Benin two years ago, took his fortune with him and has forged friendly relations with the president and his family there.

Subscribers only Politics 01.07.2020

Franco-Moroccan financier Yariv Elbaz at the 2014 New York Forum Africa.© New York Forum Africa/Richard Attias & Associates

In Focus
How Ycap became the Gabonese sovereign fund's favorite asset manager

After having been sanctioned by France's financial markets authority, financier Yariv Elbaz has succeeded in making a comeback in Gabon with his fund Ycap, which has become the main financial partner of the country's sovereign fund.

Subscribers only Business 29.06.2020

Libreville tries to play off Trafigura against Augusta

SOGARA refinery in Port Gentil. The contract to lift the company's atmospheric residues is up for bids.© Achille T/PD

Subscribers only Energy 26.06.2020

Henri Proglio, Libreville's ace advisor

The Gabonese government has asked Henri Proglio, the former CEO of EDF and Veolia, to help with a strategy for the national utility SEEG, which was run by Veolia up until last year.

Subscribers only Business 19.06.2020

The makers of Zenith Energy's new ally in Libreville, Mberi Oil & Gas

Driven by its need to resume production Zenith Energy is firing on all cylinders in Gabon. It has called on the services of a company not well known in the industry but headed by a former Addax Petroleum executive.

Subscribers only Energy 17.06.2020

June is Sahel month for French diplomats

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.© Reuters

Subscribers only Diplomacy Running Story - The Sahel security crisis 11.06.2020

OPEC latecomers Bongo, Sassou and Lourenço first to flout rules

The Covid-19 crisis has forced members of the Vienna-based organisation to drastically cut their production, but a number of African countries have ostensibly disregarded their obligations.

Subscribers only Energy 11.06.2020

The Bongo family's sky-high surprise

Gabon's presidential family had until now been blissfully unaware that it does not actually own the two Boeings and Bombardier Global that it uses to jet around. After recently learning otherwise, it is having trouble working out who does control the planes.

Subscribers only Business 09.06.2020

The Boeing 737 registering as P4-BBJ, frequently used by Sylvia Bongo.

BW Energy, Perenco and Assala put brakes on Gabonese oil industry renaissance in face of Covid-19

Thanks to a new hydrocarbons code, new contracts gushed forth for Gabon in 2019 but the pandemic is forcing operators to delay their investments, frustrating at a stroke the country's best efforts.

Subscribers only Energy 05.06.2020

Inner Circle
Gagan Gupta's French troops

Though now active in Africa via the three Arise mega-funds, Indian-Singaporean agribusiness giant Olam still relies on French advisors to help guide its path.

Subscribers only Business 04.06.2020

Security Council to probe Sahel army abuses

The United Nations Security Council has set itself a tall task for its 5 June meeting: overview the G5 Sahel States but also look into accusations of abuse against several of the coalition's national armed forces.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 03.06.2020

Spotlight
From Bongo to Kagame: Liban Soleman is now tight with Rwanda's first family

The scion of a prominent Somali family that has spread itself across Africa, business consultant Liban Soleman, having served as Ali Bongo's chief of staff for five years, now works closely with the family of Rwanda's president.

Subscribers only Politics 26.05.2020

Liban Soleman, the well-connected consultant newly appointed to the Rwanda Development Board.

In Focus
Antoine Hayem, the charterer who keeps the Bongo family flying despite the lockdown

Despite borders being closed as part of the measures taken to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, the Gabonese presidency is making greater use than ever of its favourite private aviation service provider, Frenchman Antoine Hayem. Publicity-shy but highly active, he began working for Russian oligarchs and now spends his time meeting the demands of African presidencies and rock groups.

Subscribers only Politics, Business 18.05.2020

Food aid makes for healthy public relations

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, leading political figures and entrepreneurs are finding that food donations are good for their image.

Subscribers only Politics 15.05.2020

President's office quietly dismisses last witness to Bongo's stroke

Jean-Luc Ndong Amvame, the last of Ali Bongo's staff to have been with him at the time of his stroke in 2018, has discreetly stepped down from his duties as head of the president's personal security.

Subscribers only Politics 06.05.2020

Inner Circle
Omar Denis Jr Bongo cuts an increasingly solitary figure

The 26-year-old half-brother of Ali Bongo and grandson of Denis Sassou Nguesso, Omar Denis Jr Bongo, appears to have been increasingly ostracised by the Gabonese president's clan, who suspect him of harbouring presidential ambitions for 2023.

Subscribers only Politics 30.04.2020

Document
Olam self-medicates marketing strategy to shore up its image

While marching on with its strategy to divest from African infrastructure projects and facing up to a feisty inquiry commission in Mauritania, the Olam group is actively engaging African countries faced with the Covid-19 pandemic to improve its reputation.

Subscribers only Business 28.04.2020

Lambert-Noël Matha keeps tight rein on state security amid Covid-19 pandemic

While the presidential couple leads the public information campaign on the coronavirus crisis, the all-powerful interior minister Lambert-Noël Matha is keeping a tight grip on the levers of the security apparatus, ready to crack down on any social unrest sparked by the epidemic.

Subscribers only Politics 24.04.2020

Bongo clan takes back control of the country's sovereign fund

After having been headed for 10 years by Serge Mickoto, the husband of President Ali Bongo's step-sister, Gabon's sovereign fund has been taken over by a close associate of Mohamed Ali Saliou, best friend of the president's son and closest adviser, Noureddin Bongo.

Subscribers only Finance 22.04.2020

Why NJ Ayuk chose Leoncio Amada Nze as Africa Energy Chamber chief's point man in Malabo

The African Energy Chamber is expanding its team to mediate between the private sector and governments.

Subscribers only Energy 21.04.2020

Heavy-handed Sinopec takeover of Addax Petroleum pushes tensions to boiling point

Addax Petroleum's subsidiaries are feeling the brunt of the decision to move the senior management from Geneva to Beijing, from where all the shots are now called.

Subscribers only Energy 20.04.2020

Bongo family tightens its grip on security apparatus

Hitherto beyond the influence of first lady Sylvia Bongo and her son Noureddin, who has been acting as the presidency's number two since late last year, the Republican Guard has just been placed under the authority of people who owe their elevated positions to the Bongo family.

Subscribers only Politics 06.04.2020

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Gabon

How Maixent Accrombessi switched allegiance from Ali Bongo to Patrice Talon

In Focus
How Ycap became the Gabonese sovereign fund's favorite asset manager

Libreville tries to play off Trafigura against Augusta

Henri Proglio, Libreville's ace advisor

The makers of Zenith Energy's new ally in Libreville, Mberi Oil & Gas

June is Sahel month for French diplomats

OPEC latecomers Bongo, Sassou and Lourenço first to flout rules

The Bongo family's sky-high surprise

BW Energy, Perenco and Assala put brakes on Gabonese oil industry renaissance in face of Covid-19

Inner Circle
Gagan Gupta's French troops

Security Council to probe Sahel army abuses

Spotlight
From Bongo to Kagame: Liban Soleman is now tight with Rwanda's first family

In Focus
Antoine Hayem, the charterer who keeps the Bongo family flying despite the lockdown

Food aid makes for healthy public relations

President's office quietly dismisses last witness to Bongo's stroke

Inner Circle
Omar Denis Jr Bongo cuts an increasingly solitary figure

Document
Olam self-medicates marketing strategy to shore up its image

Lambert-Noël Matha keeps tight rein on state security amid Covid-19 pandemic

Bongo clan takes back control of the country's sovereign fund

Why NJ Ayuk chose Leoncio Amada Nze as Africa Energy Chamber chief's point man in Malabo

Heavy-handed Sinopec takeover of Addax Petroleum pushes tensions to boiling point

Bongo family tightens its grip on security apparatus

Olam pushes ahead with its withdrawal

€100 million for Transgabonais railway

Tchango dynasty firmly established in Port-Gentil

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Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

Ibrahim Traoré

Virtus Minerals

Paul Kagame

Savannah Energy

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Gabon

How Maixent Accrombessi switched allegiance from Ali Bongo to Patrice Talon

In Focus How Ycap became the Gabonese sovereign fund's favorite asset manager

Libreville tries to play off Trafigura against Augusta

Henri Proglio, Libreville's ace advisor

The makers of Zenith Energy's new ally in Libreville, Mberi Oil & Gas

June is Sahel month for French diplomats

OPEC latecomers Bongo, Sassou and Lourenço first to flout rules

The Bongo family's sky-high surprise

BW Energy, Perenco and Assala put brakes on Gabonese oil industry renaissance in face of Covid-19

Inner Circle Gagan Gupta's French troops

Security Council to probe Sahel army abuses

Spotlight From Bongo to Kagame: Liban Soleman is now tight with Rwanda's first family

In Focus Antoine Hayem, the charterer who keeps the Bongo family flying despite the lockdown

Food aid makes for healthy public relations

President's office quietly dismisses last witness to Bongo's stroke

Inner Circle Omar Denis Jr Bongo cuts an increasingly solitary figure

Document Olam self-medicates marketing strategy to shore up its image

Lambert-Noël Matha keeps tight rein on state security amid Covid-19 pandemic

Bongo clan takes back control of the country's sovereign fund

Why NJ Ayuk chose Leoncio Amada Nze as Africa Energy Chamber chief's point man in Malabo

Heavy-handed Sinopec takeover of Addax Petroleum pushes tensions to boiling point

Bongo family tightens its grip on security apparatus

Olam pushes ahead with its withdrawal

€100 million for Transgabonais railway

Tchango dynasty firmly established in Port-Gentil

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

In Focus
How Ycap became the Gabonese sovereign fund's favorite asset manager

Inner Circle
Gagan Gupta's French troops

Spotlight
From Bongo to Kagame: Liban Soleman is now tight with Rwanda's first family

In Focus
Antoine Hayem, the charterer who keeps the Bongo family flying despite the lockdown

Inner Circle
Omar Denis Jr Bongo cuts an increasingly solitary figure

Document
Olam self-medicates marketing strategy to shore up its image