Françoise Joly

Congo
Fragmented campaign set-up for presidential elections

Weakened by internal divisions and palace infighting, President Denis Sassou-Nguesso's campaign is being prepared without, for the time being, calling on major international communications agencies.

Congo
Sassou fine-tunes his campaign team

With four months to go before the presidential election, the head of state is relying on the Parti Congolais du Travail, which is holding its congress at the end of December, and on a small circle of loyalists, while dealing with tensions within his clan.

Palace Intrigues
Mohammed VI, William Ruto, Umaro Sissoco Embaló

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

MoroccoMohammed VI's exclusive trip to see the pharaohs

KenyaGideon Moi says ‘no' to joining Ruto's new government

Guinea-BissauThe problematic ex-president Umaro Sissoco Embaló

Congo
After postponing his Paris trip, Sassou set to visit Abu Dhabi

Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso will head to Abu Dhabi on 6 April to attend the AIM Congress, an investors' forum.

Congo
Presidential adviser Françoise Joly boosts her standing in Brazzaville

Sassou's confidant has managed to have one of her allies promoted to head of presidential protocol, much to the dismay of intelligence chief Jean-Dominique Okemba. Joly may be ruffling a few feathers, but she still enjoys the confidence of the head of state.

Congo
Cash-strapped Congo switches sanitation firms

The Lebanese operator's Congolese subsidiary, Averda, which provided waste collection services in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, will cease trading at the end of December. The government has already signed a contract with Turkish company Albaykar.

Palace Intrigues
Vladimir Putin, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Félix Tshisekedi

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

CongoLimited attendance at Julienne Sassou-Nguesso's wedding

RussiaPutin's Africa man in tête-à-tête with Ahoua Don Mello

DRCAn unhappy Francophonie summit

Congo
Sassou poised to make official visit to Kazakhstan

The Congolese president is expected in Astana at the end of July.

Congo
Sergey Lavrov to meet Nguesso in Brazzaville

The Russian foreign minister is due in town on 3 June.

Congo
First ladies line up in Libreville for Edith Bongo's foundation

Two weeks after an initial ceremony in Congo, the Bongo and Sassou families are preparing to pay tribute to former Gabonese First Lady Edith Lucie Bongo Ondimba, this time in Libreville, with many guests from across the continent.