Ivory Coast

The New Guard
Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Morocco

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

NigeriaMark Okoye II, Bola Tinubu's financial arm in the South East

Ivory CoastLinda Pathinvo Abihona, a bridge between Ivorian startups and Silicon Valley

MoroccoIlyas El Maliki, leader of Moroccan streaming

European Council President António Costa postpones Ivory Coast trip

He was due to visit on 24 February, but has had to cancel at the last minute.

South African defence firms host Ivorian military

Several South African defence companies presented their catalogue of military equipment to an Ivorian delegation visiting Johannesburg.

Rebrab sons pursue Cevital's Ivorian ambitions

The Algerian industrial group Cevital is seeking to establish itself in Ivory Coast. Salim, one of the firm's directors and son of its founder Issad Rebrab, has travelled to Abidjan with a view to setting up production units in the country.

Sanctions-hit Dubai trader Coral Energy reinvents itself again

After an initial name change to 2Rivers, oil trader Coral Energy has transferred its activities to a new entity, Safira Global Trading. Coral Energy was sanctioned in December for selling Russian oil below the floor price.

New defence and business intel think tank launches in Abidjan

The creation of a new think tank in Ivory Coast called the Institut de Guerre Économique d'Abidjan is due to be announced at an artificial intelligence, defence and space trade show in Abidjan this week.

Ouattara seeks to raise €600m on sub-regional markets

The forthcoming bond issue is a crucial transaction for the Ivorian government, which is under pressure from its own treasury as well as its creditors.

The New Guard
Kenya, Morocco, Ivory Coast

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

KenyaDeraso Dokhole, defender of refugees

MoroccoYoussef Agoumi, leading figure in cybersecurity

Ivory CoastKimany Tayoro, up-and-coming Abidjan influencer

Ivorian justice investigating Ping brothers

A-One Technology, the group founded by Franck and Jean-François Ping, is at the centre of an inquiry by the Ivorian judiciary for "unfair competition" and "use of fraudulent information". It follows a complaint from the Ivorian group Impact Palmarès R&D.

Abidjan to acquire three Thales military radars

The Ivorian army is due to take delivery of a first Ground Master 200 radar by March. Abidjan plans to order three in total from the French group.

Heineken tops up its share of Brassivoire

Against a backdrop of differing views, the French-Japanese group CFAO has reduced its shares in the joint venture it formed with Heineken for the management of the Ivory Coast firm. This move puts the Dutch brewer in a strong position.

Ouattara has discreet dinner with Macron in Paris

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara was discreetly received for dinner by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on 30 January. This private meeting was not on Macron's official agenda.

Tullow Oil may jettison assets to steady the ship

It is shaping up to be a decisive year for the British junior, which is set to sell off various assets to reduce its substantial debts.

Abidjan removes JP Morgan from fund-raising round

The US bank JP Morgan had been selected to support the Ivorian government in a syndicated loan estimated at €800m. In the end, however, it was judged to be too expensive.

Inner circles
Banker Ibrahim Magassa dispenses financial advice from Abidjan to Brazzaville

At the comparatively young age of 44, the French-Ivorian banker has established himself as a leading adviser to indebted states, initially to Ivory Coast and then to Congo and Ghana. He can rely on a solid network of contacts in Paris, not least at the investment bank Rothschild.

Ouattara to dine with Macron at Élysée Palace on 1 February

The Ivorian and French presidents will dine together at the Élysée Palace on 1 February. On the agenda of this luncheon is the handover of the base housing the French forces stationed in Ivory Coast and possibly this year's presidential election.

Macron's Africa envoy Jean-Marie Bockel expected in London

He will be presenting France's vision for its future military presence in Africa to the British government.

Tycoon Tiemtoré fails in bid to buy Novamed hospital group

Lilium Capital, headed by Burkina Faso businessman Simon Tiemtoré, failed to convince Novamed's co-founders that it had sufficient financial backing.