Benin
Talon tackles tempests galore

The New Guard
Botswana, Somalia, Benin

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

BotswanaFund manager Bame Pule, a discreet adviser to president Masisi

SomaliaBarkhad Kaariye, speaking on behalf of Somaliland

BeninLéonce Hamza Houngbadji, founder of Africa Solutions Week

Benin
Reforms that rub the Constitution the wrong way

President Patrice Talon pledged in his electoral campaign in March [...]

Benin
Talon’s fellow travellers to China

When President Patrice Talon travelled to Peking, Guangzhou and Shenzhen [...]

Spotlight | Africa, France
Where presidents dine in Paris, the walls have no ears and the food c'est tres bon indeed

Far from official buildings crawling with potential eavesdroppers, the plush premises of Paris' more fashionable eateries have over the years become veritable extensions of African presidential palaces. Over fine Chinese food, heads of state can meet discreet emissaries, brainstorm and [.

Benin
Auguste Alavo brought out of retirement to head Paris embassy

Auguste Alavo (WAN n°726), 70, has been appointed ambassador to Paris, succeeding Jules-Armand Aniambossou. Alavo, who is officially retired, is [...]

Benin
A coup among the Freemasons!

Vincent Nicoue has been unceremoniously dethroned as Grand Master.

Benin
Johannes Dagnon, Patrice Talon’s eminence grise

If Olivier Boko is Patrice Talon’s right-hand man ( WAN n°731), Franco-Beninese Johannes Dagnon is his eminence grise. An accountant [...]

Benin
IMF’s harsh words for Boni Yayi’s track record

Visiting Cotonou between June 6-18, an IMF mission could hardly [...]

Benin
Patrice Talon puts his right hand man in charge of the port of Cotonou

In accordance with his logic of retaking control of the key economic sites which were closed to his companies during [...]

Spotlight | Benin
Patrice Talon grabs control of economy

Benin’s new President Patrice Talon pledged in earnest throughout his electoral campaign that he would not mix politics with business. However now that he is comfortably installed in the presidential palace, Talon appears to be keen to reinstate all of [.