The Algerian intelligence services were long all-powerful in Mali, especially in the north of the country. But faced with a hostile junta and a reorganisation of the Tuareg movements, Algiers must now deal with a situation that is more fragile than ever.
Franco-British oil junior Perenco wants to quickly sell its share in Atora field in Gabon for $50m, indicating it does not wish to work with the future owner of Assala Energy's majority share, which Carlyle is in the process of selling.
French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu is preparing to make an official visit to Chad as part of plans announced by President Emmanuel Macron to completely reorganise France's military presence in Africa.
An obscure Turkish firm picked up two prized Burkinabe mining permits on 10 March: the Tambao manganese deposit, which has estimated reserves of 55m tonnes, and the Inata gold permit.
French and Israeli firms are among the contenders hoping to supply electronic listening and geolocation technology to Niger. A veteran military equipment broker known as Petit Boubé has agreed to pay for the equipment.
World Bank president David Malpass, who is due to meet President Mohamed Bazoum during a two-day visit to Niamey on 29 and 30 March, will follow up with a visit to Togo on 31 March and 1 April.
Defence minister and opposition figure Angelina Teny was sacked in early March by South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, who is seeking to regain control over the army. The move sparked an outcry.
Ethiopia is ready to soften its stance on the work of the International Commission of Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE), which it has been trying to obstruct, according to sources in UN and diplomatic circles.
South Africa and Russia want a connecting flight between their capitals, likely run by Russian firm Nordwind. But Western sanctions are getting in the way.
The head of the national oil giant, Toufik Hakkar, who is under fire for mismanaging the firm, is trying to secure backing from both the president's office and the army in order to stay in his job.
Together with its local partner PHI Group, the Tunisian firm Pétrole Services Industriel has won a $5.5m contract to construct pipelines for Société mauritanienne des hydrocarbures.
