Diplomacy

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Faure Gnassingbé

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

Ivory CoastAlassane Ouattara on personal visit to France

CongoUNESCO: Denis Sassou-Ngesso's candidate makes a stop at the Grand Orient de France

West AfricaECOWAS 50th anniversary summit on hold

Madagascar
Behind the scenes of the foreign minister's visit to Paris

In addition to the meeting on the Scattered Islands, which the two foreign ministers chaired, Jean-Noël Barrot and his Malagasy counterpart, Rasata Rafaravavitafika, held a closed-door lunch meeting.

Congo
Trump administration in no rush to name new ambassador

Eugene Young, US ambassador to Brazzaville, will leave his role this month but will only be replaced by a chargé d'affaires for the time being.

Mali
Washington sends mission to Bamako

An American delegation is expected to arrive in the Malian capital in the coming days to renew ties with the Sahelian juntas.

West Africa
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.

Senegal
French army about to hand back Rufisque base

After a long period of uncertainty, the French armed forces are due to announce the return of the military post to their Senegalese counterparts. It has long been seen as having strategic importance.

West Africa
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.

Botswana
Paris appoints its future head of mission in Gaborone

In August, Valérie Baraban will become France's ambassador to Botswana, replacing Olivier Brochenin.

Palace Intrigues
Félix Tshisekedi, João Lourenço, Alassane Ouattara, Ousmane Sonko, William Ruto

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

Angola/DRCTshisekedi's one-on-one with João Lourenço

Ivory Coast/SenegalThe "Macky Sall" case at the heart of discussions between Alassane Ouattara and Ousmane Sonko

KenyaOdinga pressures Ruto to appoint close associate to State House

Benin, Ivory Coast
Transfer of West African Health Organization HQ to Abidjan irritates Talon

Based in Bobo-Dioulasso, the WAHO headquarters are expected to move to Abidjan, following the decision by ECOWAS member states.