François Hollande

Madagascar
Who will lead the Scattered Islands mixed commission?

The Franco-Malagasy mixed commission, charged with adjudicating on the handing over of the Scattered Islands, under French sovereignty but claimed by Madagascar since 1970, will meet on 30 June in Paris.

Palace Intrigues
Félix Tshisekedi, Joseph Kabila, Paul Biya, Denis Sassou-Nguesso

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

DRCNeutralising Kabila's networks in South Africa

CameroonTwo of Paul Biya's collaborators bicker it out over protocol

CongoPublishing house Ipanema organises gala for Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Inner circles | Congo, Ivory Coast
Banker Ibrahim Magassa dispenses financial advice from Abidjan to Brazzaville

At the comparatively young age of 44, the French-Ivorian banker has established himself as a leading adviser to indebted states, initially to Ivory Coast and then to Congo and Ghana. He can rely on a solid network of contacts in Paris, not least at the investment bank Rothschild.

Morocco
Questions abound over Veolia's desalination mega-project

The memorandum of association signed between Morocco's interior ministry and the French multinational is lacking in detail and has raised several technical and financial doubts.

Africa
AFD gears up for October's Francophonie gathering

The French Development Agency has just appointed Safia Ibrahim-Otokoré, its director in the DR Congo, to prepare for the 19th Francophonie Summit this October.

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, Laurent Gbagbo, Emmanuel Macron, Teodoro Obiang, William Ruto, Dadju

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

Ivory CoastOuattara, Bédié and Gbagbo to meet in Yamoussoukro

Equatorial GuineaMacron suggests meeting with Obiang to end Paris private mansion dispute

KenyaRuto administration's appointment of Kenyatta's cousin ruffles the ex-presidential family's feathers

France/AfricaRapper Dadju tours Africa, from Libreville to Abidjan

France, Ivory Coast
Hollande could join Merkel in Yamoussoukro

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due in Yamoussoukro on 8 February to receive the Félix-Houphouët Boigny Prize from UNESCO at the invitation of President Alassane Ouattara. She may see a familiar face there: that of former French president François Hollande

Egypt
Youssef, Zahran, Badawy among possible candidates to replace Foreign Minister Shoukry

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is on his way out. His successor is likely to be recruited from among the ambassadors posted in countries that Cairo sees as strategic.

Morocco
Paris and Rabat standoff opens window of opportunity for lobbyists

Tensions between Paris and Rabat are giving lobbyists and middlemen something to work with. However the impact of this work is minimal, while the kingdom's main intermediaries in Paris remain somewhat removed from the Elysée.