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Niger

Nicolas Lerner, Director of the DGSE, at the Élysée Palace in Paris, April 2024. © Éric Tschaen/REA

Spotlight
From Lomé to Abidjan, new boss breathing life into French foreign intelligence service

At the head of the foreign intelligence service for a little under two years, Nicolas Lerner is trying to develop new contacts in West Africa. In a region undergoing great change, he is relying in particular on his good relations with Lomé and Rabat.

Subscribers only Defence 22.08.2025

Dakar port area, Senegal, 23 April 2024. © Nicolas Remene / Le Pictorium / MaxPPP

With Trump threatening action, Russian trader Theia is unable to sell its fuel shipments

A Russian ship belonging to the "ghost fleet" used by Moscow to circumvent sanctions was recently refused entry to Senegal and Togo. Ghana is its next target destination.

Subscribers only Energy, Commodity traders 01.08.2025

Francis Ngannou during training in Los Angeles, California, 16 May 2023. © Zuma Press/MAXPPP

From Abidjan to Dakar, MMA's Francis Ngannou reps for PFL

As chairman of the African branch of the Professional Fighters League, the former Cameroonian champion is eyeing four host countries for the 2026 edition in the region. He is supported in this effort by the Helios investment fund.

Subscribers only Business 28.07.2025

Faure Gnassingbé seeks to guide détente

Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé (centre) in Lagos, Nigeria, 28 May 2025. © Olympia de Maismont/AFP

Subscribers only Diplomacy 24.07.2025

Canadian fund Atlas Energy betting on oil royalties

Set up in June, the investment fund is hoping to put forward a new financing model to the continent's oil companies sector. Based on the payment of royalties, this system is above all used in North America.

Subscribers only Energy 21.07.2025

Niamey paying the price for UN cuts

As the United Nations grapples with a financial crisis, it is about to cut a good proportion of its staff in Niger, which risks exacerbating a number of problems in the country.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 17.07.2025

Spotlight
Standoff between China's CNPC and Niamey junta intensifies

There appears to be no end in sight to the conflict between the oil major and the Nigerien government. Each side is manoeuvering to try to make the other back down first.

Subscribers only Energy 14.07.2025

The Soraz refinery, thirty kilometers from Zinder, Niger, in November 2011.

Tel Aviv's ambush on the sidelines of Donald Trump's Africa summit

Currently in Washington, the Israeli Prime Minister intends to take advantage of the summit organised by the American president to meet with his African counterparts. This Israeli initiative is part of an attempt to normalise relations between the Jewish state and African and Arab countries.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 09.07.2025

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 7 July 2025, in Washington.

Spotlight
WAEMU in midst of Abidjan-Ouagadougou tug of war

Serious tensions between Alassane Ouattara and Ibrahim Traoré are paralysing the West African Economic and Monetary Union. The Ivorian president is steadfastly against Burkina Faso taking the head of the organisation's council of ministers, which is expected to meet on 11 July.

Subscribers only Finance, Diplomacy 04.07.2025

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara (left) and his Burkinabé counterpart Ibrahim Traoré.

Afreximbank seeks to strengthen its mark on future Africa Energy Bank

The continental import-export financial institution wants to launch the future African energy lender as soon as possible. This could provide it with an opportunity to clean up its own finances.

Free access Finance, Energy 03.07.2025

Former President of Afreximbank Benedict Oramah in Abidjan on 13 May 2025.

Spotlight
Nationalised SOMAIR uranium firm has back against the wall

With uranium extraction reduced to a bare minimum, the sale of yellowcake impossible and wage arrears mounting, Niger will struggle to revive the Société des Mines de l'Aïr on its own. But arbitration proceedings launched by former French shareholder Orano are likely to deter potential buyers.

Subscribers only Mining 03.07.2025

Uranium ore is heap leached with sulphuric acid at Areva's SOMAIR mine in Arlit, 25 September 2013.

ECOWAS presidents debate AU's next chairperson

The AU chair should go back to a West African state next year. The subject was briefly evoked during the ECOWAS summit in Abuja on 22 June, with several capitals dreaming of being ideal candidates.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 01.07.2025

Chinese major CNPC unable to calm tensions with the junta

The Chinese government is failing to find ways to ease tensions between the CNPC and the military in Niamey. The reason: a pressing demand for fresh funding from the transitional authorities.

Subscribers only Energy 30.06.2025

Niger's Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Changsha, central China on 11 June 2025.

Spotlight
Inside the Trump administration's Sahelian diplomacy

The Trump administration's diplomats, keen to distance themselves from the stance adopted under Joe Biden, are attempting to rebuild ties with the Sahel juntas. The strategy they are developing includes a transactional dimension.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 30.06.2025

Two Nigerien soldiers hold the American and Nigerien flags at Air Base 101 in Niamey in June 2024.

ECOWAS standby force and the issue of funding

Under pressure from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the sub-regional organisation is expected to present a funding project for a military standby force in the coming weeks. However, few are in favour of it seeing the light of day.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 30.06.2025

Appointment of Julius Maada Bio raises concerns within ECOWAS

Involved in various peace and mediation processes in Sierra Leone, the regional organisation has given a cautious welcome to the appointment of the country's president as its chair.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 25.06.2025

Niamey requests extension of IMF programme

Faced with a tense financial situation, the junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani would like to extend an agreement between his country and the International Monetary Fund until the beginning of 2026.

Subscribers only Finance 24.06.2025

Julius Maada Bio's coup to seize ECOWAS presidency

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye flew to Abuja on 21 June confident that he would take the helm of the West African organisation. However, it was ultimately the Sierra Leonean head of state who was appointed.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 23.06.2025

Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio in Nice, France, on 9 June 2025.

Senegal's Faye to take ECOWAS helm

Breaking news published on 21/06/25, at 13:00 GMT Heads of state from the West African regional bloc have agreed to appoint Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye as the next chair of the organisation, whose authority is being sorely tested by the departure of three member states run by military juntas.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 21.06.2025

Spotlight
Sidi Ould Tah fine-tunes his arrival at helm of African Development Bank

The president-elect of the pan-African institution still has two months to go before officially taking office. But amid thank-you tours, managing the transition and assembling his team, the Mauritanian already has a pile of dossiers on his desk.

Subscribers only Finance 18.06.2025

Outgoing President Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina (C) accompanies Sidi Ould Tah (R) during the AfDB annual meeting in Abidjan, 30 May 2025.

General Tchiani walks a tightrope to maintain control of army

Weakened by a string of deadly attacks on the army, the head of the junta is closing ranks around a handful of loyalists. At the same time, discontent is growing within the military.

Subscribers only Defence, Energy, Politics 13.06.2025

ECOWAS heads of state hold summit in Abuja on 22 June

The Economic Community of West African States will discuss its fiftieth anniversary celebrations at its meeting on 22 June, as well as the formalities for the departure of the AES countries.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 12.06.2025

Interpol accelerates police cooperation within ECOWAS

Police forces from Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin and Togo will share the data they collect as part of cooperation within the Economic Community of West African States.

Subscribers only Defence 11.06.2025

Sopamin wins its arbitration against uranium trader Curzon

Sopamin has won its arbitration case against British trader Curzon Uranium at the International Chamber of Commerce tribunal in Geneva.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 06.06.2025

Spotlight
Niamey junta dispatches emissaries to hunt for cheap weapon supply

Niger's ruling junta has sent emissaries to Kenya to try to buy weapons for its security forces on behalf of the interior ministry. Negotiations are well underway with a Nairobi-based company for the provision of weapons, the origin of which are raising eyebrows.

Subscribers only Defence 05.06.2025

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Morocco
The incessant fall of flour milling company Forafric

DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Niger

Spotlight
From Lomé to Abidjan, new boss breathing life into French foreign intelligence service

With Trump threatening action, Russian trader Theia is unable to sell its fuel shipments

From Abidjan to Dakar, MMA's Francis Ngannou reps for PFL

Faure Gnassingbé seeks to guide détente

Canadian fund Atlas Energy betting on oil royalties

Niamey paying the price for UN cuts

Spotlight
Standoff between China's CNPC and Niamey junta intensifies

Tel Aviv's ambush on the sidelines of Donald Trump's Africa summit

Spotlight
WAEMU in midst of Abidjan-Ouagadougou tug of war

Afreximbank seeks to strengthen its mark on future Africa Energy Bank

Spotlight
Nationalised SOMAIR uranium firm has back against the wall

ECOWAS presidents debate AU's next chairperson

Chinese major CNPC unable to calm tensions with the junta

Spotlight
Inside the Trump administration's Sahelian diplomacy

ECOWAS standby force and the issue of funding

Appointment of Julius Maada Bio raises concerns within ECOWAS

Niamey requests extension of IMF programme

Julius Maada Bio's coup to seize ECOWAS presidency

Senegal's Faye to take ECOWAS helm

Spotlight
Sidi Ould Tah fine-tunes his arrival at helm of African Development Bank

General Tchiani walks a tightrope to maintain control of army

ECOWAS heads of state hold summit in Abuja on 22 June

Interpol accelerates police cooperation within ECOWAS

Sopamin wins its arbitration against uranium trader Curzon

Spotlight
Niamey junta dispatches emissaries to hunt for cheap weapon supply

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About Africa Intelligence

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Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Morocco The incessant fall of flour milling company Forafric

DRC Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Simandou, Nimba and Zogota: the long and difficult road to the start of iron ore production

Makhzen Inc. or the ever more prosperous business empire of Mohammed VI's entourage

West African cocoa cartel battles with the traders

Cyril Ramaphosa

TotalEnergies

Rio Tinto

Mohammed VI

Alassane Ouattara

Niger

Spotlight From Lomé to Abidjan, new boss breathing life into French foreign intelligence service

With Trump threatening action, Russian trader Theia is unable to sell its fuel shipments

From Abidjan to Dakar, MMA's Francis Ngannou reps for PFL

Faure Gnassingbé seeks to guide détente

Canadian fund Atlas Energy betting on oil royalties

Niamey paying the price for UN cuts

Spotlight Standoff between China's CNPC and Niamey junta intensifies

Tel Aviv's ambush on the sidelines of Donald Trump's Africa summit

Spotlight WAEMU in midst of Abidjan-Ouagadougou tug of war

Afreximbank seeks to strengthen its mark on future Africa Energy Bank

Spotlight Nationalised SOMAIR uranium firm has back against the wall

ECOWAS presidents debate AU's next chairperson

Chinese major CNPC unable to calm tensions with the junta

Spotlight Inside the Trump administration's Sahelian diplomacy

ECOWAS standby force and the issue of funding

Appointment of Julius Maada Bio raises concerns within ECOWAS

Niamey requests extension of IMF programme

Julius Maada Bio's coup to seize ECOWAS presidency

Senegal's Faye to take ECOWAS helm

Spotlight Sidi Ould Tah fine-tunes his arrival at helm of African Development Bank

General Tchiani walks a tightrope to maintain control of army

ECOWAS heads of state hold summit in Abuja on 22 June

Interpol accelerates police cooperation within ECOWAS

Sopamin wins its arbitration against uranium trader Curzon

Spotlight Niamey junta dispatches emissaries to hunt for cheap weapon supply

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Morocco
The incessant fall of flour milling company Forafric

DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Spotlight
From Lomé to Abidjan, new boss breathing life into French foreign intelligence service

Spotlight
Standoff between China's CNPC and Niamey junta intensifies

Spotlight
WAEMU in midst of Abidjan-Ouagadougou tug of war

Spotlight
Nationalised SOMAIR uranium firm has back against the wall

Spotlight
Inside the Trump administration's Sahelian diplomacy

Spotlight
Sidi Ould Tah fine-tunes his arrival at helm of African Development Bank

Spotlight
Niamey junta dispatches emissaries to hunt for cheap weapon supply