Central Bank

South Sudan
Standard Bank abandons plans to open subsidiary in Juba

The South African group is feeling the effects of South Sudan's protracted political and security crisis and could turn to other East African countries instead.

South Sudan
Central bank plays for time in $1bn lawsuit with Qatar National Bank

The Bank of South Sudan hopes to obtain a modification of the schedule for legal proceedings or the nullification of the latest elements added to the complaint filed by QNB. The South Sudanese state had incurred significant debt during the civil war in 2015 to finance its imports.

Burundi
Gitega mends fences with IMF despite franc dispute

By promising reforms, the government has returned to the International Monetary Fund's good graces. The latter had suspended its programmes after the Ndayishimiye administration refused to devalue its currency at the beginning of the year.

Tunisia
The French withdrawal of former minister Ali Kooli

Ali Kooli, who held the economy and finance portfolio in Hichem Mechichi's government, has conveniently avoided Tunis in recent years.

Guinea
The pitfalls of the national gold refinery project

Announced as a key infrastructure project in the Simandou 2040 development plan, the Nimba Gold Refinery is still a long way from becoming operational.

Mauritania
Slowly but surely, London looks to invest in Nouakchott

Increasingly present in the country since BP's arrival in 2016, British diplomats are keen to further ties with Mohamed Ould Ghazouani's government. Beyond energy, the partnership between the two nations is likely to develop in the financial and security sectors.

Libya
Trump's 'art of the deal' sidelines UN

Washington has taken up negotiations between the recognised institutions in the West and the East, without involving the UN mission.

Morocco
Revolut bank signs up former Mastercard executive

The British neobank has hired Yacine Faqir as country manager.

Sudan
General Burhan's camp riven by divisions in the light of the taking of El Fasher

SAF second in command, General Shams al-Dine Kabbashi, gathered the recommendations from political groups in mid-October for the start of a national dialogue. As there is a lack of consensus from the outset, this initiative risks suffering at the hands of the RSF advance in Darfur.

South Sudan
Juba attempts to reject an arbitration decision ordering it to pay $1bn to Qatar

Lawyers for the Republic of South Sudan and its central bank are trying to get their summons to appear before a US court rejected.

Palace Intrigues
Felix Tshisekedi, Faustin-Archange Touadera, Narendra Modi

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

DRCFélix Tshisekedi's low-key Brussels trip

Central African RepublicTouadéra on the starting blocks of his presidential campaign

South AfricaRussian embassy and Indian high commission censor writer critical of Narendra Modi

Egypt, Sudan
Businessman Mohamed El Garhy fronts Egypt's bid for Sudanese gold

Backed by the General Intelligence Service, the El Garhy Steel Group owner has teamed up with Sudanese partners to invest in gold and iron mines, as Cairo moves to bolster central bank reserves.