Ouattara

West Africa
Macron ponders French military presence in Africa

A gathering of France's top defence officials to discuss pressing issues about Africa that was original scheduled for 14 November will now take place on 12 December.

Ivory Coast
Abidjan bides time on tax incentives extension for local cocoa processing

Cocoa giants Cargill, Barry Callebaut and Olam, which have been investing heavily in industry in Ivory Coast since 2016, have still not received a guarantee from government that it will continue with a tax policy that favoured local processing.

Ghana, Ivory Coast
Abidjan and Accra cross swords over cocoa

The difficult marketing campaign for the 2023-2024 harvest is undermining cooperation between the two West African giants in the sector.

Palace Intrigues
Robert Friedland, Mamadi Doumbouya, Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly

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

GuineaDoumbouya snubs Friedland in NYC

DRCModeste Bahati Lukwebo acquires luxury Bukavu hotel

EgyptSisi lays on elite judo training for grandson

Ivory CoastOnly first class will do for Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly

Ivory Coast
Standard Chartered facilitates €533m loan for Abidjan

The financially challenged Ivory Coast is to receive a Standard Chartered Bank-facilitated €533m loan in late November.

Palace Intrigues
Félix Tshisekedi, David Cameron, Faure Gnassingbé, Alassane Ouattara, Guillaume Soro

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

DRCWill Cameron get through to Tshisekedi?

Ivory Coast/TogoOuattara and Gnassingbé's discreet tête-à-tête in Riyadh

NigeriaOlivier Becht keeps billionaire company in Lagos

Ivory CoastExiled opposition figure Guillaume Soro back in Africa

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, Emmanuel Macron, Faure Gnassingbé, Charles Blé Goudé, Blaise Matuidi

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

Ivory CoastOuattara and Macron try to set date for meeting

TogoGnassingbé's quiet London escape

Ivory CoastOpposition leader Charles Blé Goudé prepares own "address to the nation"

CongoFootball world champion Blaise Matuidi nurtures his networks

Palace Intrigues
Félix Tshisekedi, Amadou Ba and Nicolas Sarkozy, Teodoro Obiang Nguema

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

DRC Helene Mercier-Arnault, wife of luxury goods magnate Bernard Arnault, pays a cultural visit to Kinshasa

SenegalNicolas Sarkozy phones Amadou Ba

Equatorial GuineaTeodoro Obiang Nguema mourns a death and a murder

Gabon
Oligui Nguema and Ouattara set to finally meet

Transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has been trying for several weeks to build closer ties with Abidjan. The Gabonese military officer hopes to visit Ivory Coast by the end of the year.

Ivory Coast
Alassane Ouattara set to meet Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara is expected to travel to France on 3 November. As well as spending a few days at his home in Mougins in the south-east, his trip will include a more official component, too.

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Lula, Mahamadou Issoufou, Florence Parly

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

Ivory CoastPatrick Achi's final tête-à-tête with Alassane Ouattara?

CongoBrazilian president Lula unable to attend Sassou's environmental summit

NigerMahamadou Issoufou, an uncomfortable presence on International Crisis Group's board of trustees

BeninFrance's ex-armed forces minister visits Cotonou

Ivory Coast
General Bassanté takes part in AFCON 2023 security

General Aly Badara Bassanté will be responsible for promoting "operational synergies" between Ivorian security forces and intelligence services during the 2023 African Cup of Nations.