Intrigues big and small – every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.
The decision of Comilog's majority shareholder, France's Eramet group, to suspend manganese production in Ga`bon because of low Chinese demand has worsened the already conflictual relations between management and unions at the company.
The president's new chief of staff may lack political clout, but he has a strong business background and enjoys support from powerful government figures. During Tshisekedi's first term, the leadership of his private office was deemed erratic, and he is keen to buck that trend.
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.
The Swiss group is trying to negotiate a compensation agreement with the Liberian authorities for the loss of its mining permit. In the meantime, it is pursuing its arbitration case, leaving Liberia faced with the threat of having to pay out several hundred million dollars.
The former justice minister hopes to make the most of the anti-government sentiment prevailing within civil society and among voters in her native region of central Kenya. But while Karua has already sounded out some prominent names, she's steering clear of an alliance with other opposition heavyweights.
The Ethiopian PM has appointed the former Addis Ababa mayor and minister of mines, whom he dismissed last year, to revitalize the struggling railway. An early supporter of Abiy, Takele has surrounded himself with loyalists, which risks raising some hackles.
Cyril Ramaphosa is suggesting that Pretoria is now backing the Zambian Samuel Maimbo to head the African Development Bank. This about-turn has dismayed local banks, which were backing South African candidate Swazi Tshabalala, who is still supported by the finance minister.
Breaking news published on 24/10/24 at 11:15 GMT - South Africa is to be the British foreign secretary's chosen port of call on his first official trip to Africa. On the agenda will be the situation in the Middle East and the next G20 presidency. His trip will overlap with Prince William's visit to the rainbow state.
France looks set to return what is believed to be the skull of the Sakalava king Toera, beheaded in 1897 by French colonial troops, more than 20 years after Madagascar first asked for it. It hopes the restitution can coincide with President Macron's visit to the country next year.
French company MGH Energy, backed by former Royal Air Maroc boss Driss Benhima, is pulling out all the stops to get the Moroccan renewable energy agency to approve a €5bn project to produce e-fuel in the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
Good connections within the French right and Franco-Moroccan business circles have helped the French ambassador gain acceptance in the country he professes to love, despite past tensions between Paris and Rabat. He is now seen as the lynchpin of their rapprochement, particularly on Western Sahara.
As the French leader makes his first official visit to Morocco, his announcements will be keenly awaited by France's industrial giants, who are vying for a huge range of strategic projects.