Ivory Coast

Palace Intrigues
William Ruto, Florentino Pérez, Ibrahim Magassa

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

KenyaWilliam Ruto's two-pronged crusade against alcohol and drugs

Ivory CoastIvorian banker Ibrahim Magassa teams up with Real Madrid's Florentino Pérez

KenyaKikuyu Elders' particularly political New Year's Eve

Société Générale's former executives set up own consulting bank

A handful of former senior African executives from the banking institution are preparing to officially launch a new structure called Tomasteed Alternative Credit Advisors.

Defence services supplier Sincerus sets up in the north

A Virginia-based service provider is strengthening its presence in Ivory Coast after being awarded a drone supply contract funded by the US State Department.

Téné Birahima Ouattara on his way to becoming National Assembly speaker

Alassane Ouattara's younger brother is expected to succeed Adama Bictogo as leader of the lower house at the end of this month. This promotion is part of his rise to power, closely endorsed by the president himself.

Transcao comes to the rescue of struggling cocoa traders

At the risk of undermining its own stability, the Conseil Café-Cacao trading subsidiary has had to step up to the plate to absorb the volumes dropped by a number of local operators facing financial difficulties.

Abidjan and Beijing beef up defence cooperation

Following the appointment of a new ambassador, the Ivorian mission in China will have a new attaché who has already forged close ties with Chinese companies working in the security sector, notably Huawei.

Parliamentary polls: Téné Birahima Ouattara toils to gain ground in Abobo

Defence Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara, the younger brother of President Alassane Ouattara, is struggling to make his mark in Abobo, a large working-class district in northern Abidjan and historic stronghold of the ruling RHDP party.

Reckless Ivorian cocoa traders hit by falling prices

Following the economic downturn, several local figures in the cocoa sector who had bet on prices continuing to rise now find themselves in dire straits. In order to mitigate the effect of contract breaches, the Conseil Café-Cacao is attempting to reach an agreement with them.

Abidjan to boost gendarmerie's front-line role against terrorist threat

The armed force is setting up a new, more operational anti-terrorist unit and plans fresh deployments in the north of the country, as Abidjan seeks to tighten control of its borders with Mali and Burkina Faso amid growing regional insecurity.

Abidjan considers new satellite intelligence systems

Additional resources could be allocated to monitoring the country's northern borders.

Coffee and cocoa exporters under pressure from Conseil Café-Cacao

The industry regulator has launched a major investigation targetting several traders accused of illegal discounts and kickbacks to the detriment of cooperatives. Olam, the sector's second largest player, is already under fire.

The New Guard
Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Egypt

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

Ivory CoastAmadou Diawara, putting cyber security at the service of states

Guinea-BissauFatumata Jau, number one partner of international donors

EgyptMostafa Talaat, a gold prospector with big dreams

Alassane Ouattara's security apparatus undergoing reorganisation

From the Ministry of Defence to the general staffs of the army and the gendarmerie, discussions are underway to appoint the key figures in the president's security apparatus.

Government minister Éléonore Caroit to represent Paris at Alassane Ouattara's inauguration

The French Minister for Francophonie and International Partnerships, Éléonore Caroit, will represent Emmanuel Macron at Alassane Ouattara's inauguration on 8 December.

Ouattara finally entrusts monitoring the Bissau crisis to his VP

The president has entrusted his vice president with overseeing the crisis in Guinea-Bissau, triggered by the 26 November coup.