Spotlight | Africa, Russia, Turkey
Ukraine war turns Ankara into hub for Russia's African Gold

Egypt, Russia
Cairo poised to adopt alternative Russian payment system to sidestep sanctions

Following the invasion of Ukraine and ensuing sanctions on Moscow, Visa and Mastercard bank cards issued in Russia no longer work outside the country. In order to keep attracting Russian tourists despite this ban, Egyptian banks have decided to take on the former's payment system, Mir.

The New Guard
Ivory Coast, Chad, South Africa and Somaliland

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence reveals the next generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

Ivory CoastKen Kakena, Congolese fintech expert of Abidjan.

ChadMamadou Djimtebaye, N'Djamena's go-to spin doctor.

South AfricaNobuhle Pamela Nkabane, the energy ministry's bright young spark.

SomalilandMohamed Ahmed's charm offensive in Addis Ababa.

Burkina Faso, Guinea
Russia's Nordgold talks up its future despite sanctions and closure of Taparko gold mine

The gold producer Nordgold, which has just announced the closure of one of its mines in Burkina Faso, claims to have found an alternative solution for refining its African output, which was an early victim of the sanctions targeting Russia and Nordgold's owner, oligarch Alexey Mordashov.

Zarrab, the golden chain between Turkey & Iran

Rivalry between Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyiup Erdogan and imam Fethullah Gulen has cast light on the activities of Reza Zarrab, architect of complicated financial deals between Iran and Turkey.