The boss of Nigeria's powerful oil company has appointed several expats to positions such as his closest adviser and the directors of the firm's subsidiaries, since NNPC became a limited liability company.
Several self-defence group leaders, reintegrated into an infantry battalion, have been arrested in recent days in the capital by the Central African Republic army with the help of Russian paramilitaries.
The head of state has been mulling over whether to reshuffle his government for some days now. Current Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé is expected to be reappointed, but a number of other departures are likely.
Seplat has still not received final approval from the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission for its $1.3bn deal with US group ExxonMobil.
A respected leader in his region, the former governor of Mombasa, Ali Hassan Joho, is struggling to win over the traditional opposition strongholds in western Kenya. He is seeking to unite the key leaders of the coast around his own possible party.
Pedro Makita, former governor of Cuanza-Nord provinces, is making his return to Angola's National Assembly as an MPLA lawmaker.
Sami al-Menfi, diplomatic adviser and brother of the president of the Libyan Presidential Council, has been appointed to provide reassurance to Morocco following a meeting between the presidents of Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.
A number of senior-ranking Moroccan officials have visited the United States in recent weeks, this time it is delegate minister for investment Mohcine Jazouli's turn.
