Central African Republic
Touadéra sets his team straight after foreign agents bill sent back

Cameroon
Cameroon's secret plan to thwart Abbas Mahamat Tolli's candidacy for AfDB president

Since July, Cameroonian diplomats have been pushing for economist Albert Zeufack to take over the presidency of the African Development Bank, instead of the former BEAC governor whom N'Djamena is supporting.

DRC
Government on mission to improve state company governance

Portfolio minister Jean-Lucien Bussa Tongba is cracking down on the tensions between the chief executives and board chairs of state companies, which are affecting their results. On his list is a clarification of their responsibilities and a first assessment of their compliance in November.

Africa
French retailer Casino at loggerheads with its African franchises

The French group is still suffering the consequences of selling its large-format stores to Intermarché and Auchan. The companies running its franchises in Africa want to terminate their contracts and move to competitor Coopérative U, which offers a wider range of products at a lower price.

Kenya
Odinga casts wide net in AU Commission chair campaign

African Union, Kenya
Odinga reignites campaign to chair AU Commission

Domestic politics may have distracted him of late, but Kenya's former prime minister is stepping on the gas again in his quest to take the helm of the African Union's executive arm. SADC and ECOWAS member states are on his itinerary.

Kenya, Somalia
Ruto sketches out next phase of Kenyan military presence in Somalia

As the African Union's military engagement in Somalia enters a third chapter in January, Kenya is keen to keep its boots on the ground to counter the threat posed by Al-Shabaab.

South Africa
How petroleum minister ignored warnings over launch of new state oil firm

Botswana
Mokgweetsi Masisi ignores IMF's advice and keeps splurging ahead of polls

Botswana's president hopes to be returned to office this week. In the run-up to the 30 October elections, he has ordered spending taps to be kept open despite budgetary red flags and falling revenues in the diamond sector.

Morocco
OCP and Engie set sights on joint giant green hydrogen plant

Morocco
Paris and Rabat enter closed-door talks on Western Sahara autonomy plan

In the wake of the Élysée's recognition of ‘Moroccan sovereignty' over the disputed territory and Emmanuel Macron's recent trip to Morocco, the two countries are due to discuss how to revise an autonomy plan first proposed in 2007.

Egypt
Cairo sheds assets to settle debts

The sale of the Ras el-Hekma resort destination to an Emirati fund has allowed the Egyptian government to pay off some of its debt to the UAE directly. As Cairo's crippling cash flow crisis continues, such a solution looks set to repeat.