In Focus | West Africa
Where next for mining's wild child, Robert Friedland?

DRC
Kico tries to kick out mine-adjacent landowners in Kipushi

Pending the relaunch of its mine in Haut-Katanga, Kipushi Corp still has to build a new exit road for its zinc production. But the planned route encroaches on a number of plots of land, whose residents the company wants to evict.

Niger
GoviEx looks for talks with junta to save uranium mining project

After having had its mining permit withdrawn, Canadian junior GoviEx is trying to save its Madaouela mining project, which had been due to come into production in early 2025. It is seeking negotiations with Mines Minister Ousmane Abarchi.

Morocco
Mining magnate Benoît La Salle targets big Moroccan copper find

The Canadian head of Aya Gold & Silver believes he can find a major copper deposit in Morocco by investing in exploration. He has been discussing his plans with other mining sector figures like Robert Friedland and Mark Bristow.

Angola, DRC
Ivanhoe Mines in pole position on Lobito corridor railway

Robert Friedland's group managed to transport its copper via the Angolan port of Lobito late last month. It has thus won its logistical gamble and is one step ahead of its competitors.

DRC
Ivanhoe loses legal battle against Vidiye Tshimanga

Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines is going to have to rein in its ambitions for Western Foreland after losing its appeal in Paris against Vidiye Tshimanga's firm.

Morocco
Benoit La Salle hammers out Tangiers graphite plant details with Rabat

The Quebec mining entrepreneur has teamed up with China's C-One to build an anode plant in Tangiers that will eventually supply EV battery manufacturers with synthetic graphite. The level of subsidies has yet to be agreed.

Guinea
Friedland executives and lobbyists battle Jindal over Nimba project

Magnate Robert Friedland's representatives in Conakry sent letters to Guinean junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya and Jindal's management, declining to sell their Nimba iron ore deposit to the Indian group, although the mining project is struggling.

Mali
Barrick Gold reassured about its future in Mali after audit

As the Malian gold sector undergoes an audit ordered by the ruling junta, the Canadian giant Barrick Gold, the country's leading gold producer, said it was reassured by the initial exchanges its teams had had with the audit firm Mazars.

DRC
Ivanhoe loses arbitration against Tshisekedi's ex-adviser Tshimanga

The Canadian mining giant had initiated arbitration against Vidiye Tshimanga's firm Cobamin over the aborted sale of prospecting licences for south-eastern DRC, but billionaire Robert Friedland's company lost its case in September.

Guinea
Robert Friedland shakes up his Guinea team

On 1 November, the American-Canadian mining tycoon Robert Friedland went ahead with the expected reshuffle of his management team for the project at mount Nimba in Guinea.

Ivory Coast
Canada's Sama Resources surfs nickel wave with Ivory Coast digs

Cashing in on a nickel craze driven by demand for electric vehicle batteries, Canadian mining firm Sama Resources is expanding its explorations in Ivory Coast, backed by the tycoons Robert and Govind Friedland.

The New Guard
Ivory Coast, Guinea, Sudan, Zimbabwe

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

Ivory Coast Cédric Diarra, the PM's special adviser

Guinea Baba Hady Thiam, darling of the multinationals

Sudan Fintech and Abdigani Diriye's free banking services app

Zimbabwe Ndlovu, head of African Risk Capacity

DRC
Louis Watum attempts to defuse local tensions in Kipushi

The project to resurrect the zinc and copper mine is only just getting started, but frictions with local communities over recruitment have already necessitated the intervention of Robert Friedland's trusted lieutenant in the DRC.

Guinea, Liberia
Robert Friedland hits pause button in Guinea, Liberia

The US-Canadian mining magnate is grappling with political uncertainty in Monrovia and Conakry. While waiting for things to settle down, he has suspended most of his works and has put hundreds of employees on standby.