Abiy Ahmed

Somalia
Doha regains foothold in Mogadishu

Qatar is taking advantage of a lull in relations between Somalia and the United Arab Emirates to move its pawns into play. Its diplomats are already starting to take the lead in upcoming talks with Al-Shabaab.

Madagascar
Roland Kobia to take over as EU ambassador in Antananarivo

Brussels has chosen a replacement for Isabelle Delattre-Burger, the EU ambassador that Andry Rajoelina indicated in April he wanted removed. Roland Kobia, who is currently the EU ambassador in Addis Ababa, should take up his new post in September.

Spotlight | Ethiopia
How Meridiam's $2bn geothermal project ran out of steam

Work on the vast scheme in the Oromia region has been at a standstill for almost a year and is now set to be abandoned for good. Africa Intelligence dissects a far from isolated case of project failure as attacks in the region call into question the government's security strategy there.

Ethiopia
Abdi Ilay, Abiy's providential ally against Mogadishu

Amid renewed tensions with its neighbour, Addis has rehabilitated the former president of the region bordering Somalia and may now confer on him responsibilities in the federal government.

Ethiopia
Deloitte helps Ethio Telecom prepare IPO on future Ethiopian stock exchange

The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority and the consultancy firm Deloitte have been working together for weeks on the public operator's planned IPO.

The New Guard
Morocco, Kenya, Ethiopia

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

Morocco Brahim Yacoubi Soussane, at helm of naval industry

Kenya Dorcas Owinoh, hard-wired into tech ecosystem

Ethiopia Berhan Taye, from Mozilla to Algorithmic Justice League

Ethiopia
Agew rebels split in Amhara after failed mediation bid

The breakdown of an attempt at reconciliation between the insurgent Agew Democratic Movement and the Amhara regional government has led to a split within the armed movement.

Ethiopia, Somalia
Abiy-Bihi memorandum of understanding puts Paris in awkward position

Landlocked Ethiopia is counting on France to speed up the training of its currently fleetless navy. But the prospect of an Ethiopian naval base being established in the secessionist territory of Somaliland risks upsetting the two countries' military cooperation.

Somalia
AfDB finances upgrade of Somaliland's second busiest road

On 12 February, a Tunisian-Somaliland duo will begin a feasibility assessment for the renovation of a 183km stretch of road between Hargeisa and Burao.