Benin

ECOWAS heads of state to meet on 7 July

The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will meet in Abuja on 7 July for their annual summit.

Gulf of Guinea naval officers gather in Brest

They have been in France since 12 June for a seminar on bilateral cooperation.

French generals set sights on the continent's embassy posts

With France's diplomats increasingly less interested in becoming ambassadors in Africa, French army generals look ready to step into their shoes.

French ambassadors to meet in Cotonou

The 10 or so French ambassadors posted in ECOWAS capitals will gather in Cotonou, Benin for their traditional annual conference on 25-26 April.

Atos to boost Benin's aviation intelligence

The debt-burdened French IT services group has been selected to modernise the Beninese army's airborne capabilities in collaboration with France's Défense Conseil International (DCI).

ECOWAS seeks funds for 'anti-terrorist' force

ECOWAS's plans to create a regional anti-terrorist force is still caught up on financing issues.

Interpol explores new form of police cooperation in West Africa

Interpol has been working for over a year on a project to create a regional police force in West Africa. Preliminary meetings are scheduled for next month.

The New Guard
Benin, Namibia, Uganda

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

Benin Olivier Pognon, state lawyer taking on multinationals

Namibia Emma Theofelus, new voice of transitional presidency

Uganda Resty Nabaggala, young founder of Here for Her

Institut Choiseul to ramp up Africa presence

The French think-tank Institut Choiseul has been active in Africa since 2014 and now plans to increase its presence in 2024. This March, it will launch a club specifically dedicated to the continent.

Ructions over EU fast intervention boat contract

Within the framework of SWAIMS, the European Union-funded Support to the West African Integrated Maritime Strategy, 12 coastal countries in West Africa have been selected to receive 24 fast rescue boats.

Tinubu and Talon entente benefits billionaire Tony Elumelu

The businessman's foundation, which had been affected by the closure of the borders between Benin and Nigeria, is now benefiting from better relations between the two countries since the new Nigerian president was elected last year.

UN's West Africa head on his way to Moscow

The UN special representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Mozambique's Leonardo Santos Simao, is booked to travel to Moscow in the first quarter of this year. He has a meeting with the Russian foreign ministry to discuss the situation in the Sahel.

Singapore's Rex set to take over Sèmè oil field

Benin's Sèmè oil field (block 1) will be taken over by the Singapore-based Rex International Holdings.

UN's West Africa head visited Élysée to talk junta sanctions

During a trip to Paris and Brussels, UNOWAS's Leonardo Santos Simao, held talks with officials, calling for a reduction in the sanctions against Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger's juntas.

Macron dismisses his foreign ministry's Africa director

Christophe Bigot's hold on his position as the French foreign ministry's Africa head had been shaky for months before his sacking on 12 December. In the end, it came down to his handling of the Niger coup.

Macron ponders French military presence in Africa

A gathering of France's top defence officials to discuss pressing issues about Africa that was original scheduled for 14 November will now take place on 12 December.

Macron reschedules defence council meeting focused on Africa

A meeting of the Élysée Palace's defence council, devoted specifically to Africa and initially planned for 14 November, is set to be rescheduled to another date before 28 November.