The coveted post of Tripoli intelligence chief is giving rise to a power struggle within the government as Turkey considers a major overhaul of the intelligence services.
Déby had successfully positioned a number of Chadians in key international appointments over the past few years but two of the most strategic posts could slip from his grasp in 2021.
Having made Africa's oil industry one of its target markets, the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei already has a solid foothold in Algeria and Nigeria. Angola is next in its sights.
With his partner, Benoît Eeckhout, Thierry Jungers plans to build a 147 MW hydroelectric plant in south-eastern DRC.
On frosty terms with Ali Bongo and going through a rocky patch with Félix Tshisekedi, the Congolese president Denis Sassou Nguesso has been tightening his ties with his Rwandan opposite number Paul Kagame. Several emissaries are acting as go-betweens.
Nigerian defence conglomerate DICON is expanding its Kaduna factory to make assault weapons, munitions and uniforms. The idea is to favour domestic production over costly imports.
Two Nigerian tech luminaries have set up a competition with big-name backers to help local startups avoid administrative pitfalls. Winners will be given access to the pair's extensive contact lists.
Supreme Court president David Maraga is set to retire in December and, with two years to go to the presidential elections, there is keen competitition for his position.
Sibanye-Stillwater shareholders have cited the case currently in progress against Brazilian mining giant Vale to justify their own legal action against the gold mining group before the American courts. They are claiming compensation for the drop in the group's share prices which they claim was caused by fatal accidents at its South African gold mines.
The Ang family-owned Genea Angola is behind Cimenfort, the new kid on the block in Angola's phosphate exploration sector. This Brazilian clan with Chinese roots first came to prominence as property developers in the suburbs of São Paulo and Luanda.
Head of security guard firm Sécurité 2000 and General Abdennour Aït Mesbah's son-in-law, Samy Boudjemaa is turning out to be a major supplier of electronics to customs and police services.
Sonatrach boss Toufik Hakkar is pressing ahead with the sacking of most of his colleagues but has offered his predecessor Rachid Hachichi the role of head of the company's gas commercialisation subsidiary in Switzerland.