India's export ban and subsequent tax hike on broken rice, of which Senegal is a major consumer, have greatly displeased Dakar. Macky Sall and his ministers mobilised to get New Delhi to change its position, but high export taxes continue to disrupt grain imports.
After eight years representing Equatorial Guinea in France, where the "ill-gotten gains" saga took up much of his time, Miguel Oyono Ndong Mifumu is soon due to head up his country's embassy in Belgium.
Georges Gougouey, a discreet adviser to Central African head of state Faustin-Archange Touadéra, was one of the main figures working behind the scenes on 21 November to set up the headquarters of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) in Bangui.
Aminata Touré has become one of the government's fiercest critics and no longer hides her ambitions for Senegal's 2024 election. The former prime minister may found her own party and has powwowed with disgruntled majority members in order to develop a strategy.
A group of French and German MPs and diplomats are heading to Berlin in early December to discuss the outlines of their military partnership in the Sahel region, as well as the impact that the war in Ukraine is having on the African continent.
The main leaders of the Azimio la Umoja coalition, which was defeated in August's presidential elections, have nominated family members for seats in the East African Legislative Assembly. That has led to internal dissent, which is threatening the movement's existence.
British firm Petra Diamonds wants to gradually reduce its 63% stake in the country's leading diamond site. The Tanzanian government, meanwhile, is planning to change its tax system to encourage local trading and cutting of precious stones.
Mining investors have been looking to Africa's largest salt flat, the Makgadikgadi Pan in north-eastern Botswana, for its untapped lithium potential. Gaborone has issued several exploration permits to newcomers in recent months.
A delegation from the French state investment bank will visit Johannesburg this month with a view to opening a regional office there. The South African economic capital is also favoured to host the bank's new Africa department, with a launch planned for January.
Egypt's government has launched an initiative to reduce the diplomatic corps' budget. Public spending is on the line as the state's debt grows amid the war in Ukraine.
Two Greek companies are competing to connect Egypt to the supergrid of the European Union, which is keen to diversify its energy suppliers. Of the two, Copelouzos Group is Egypt's favourite.