Emmanuel Macron

Ivory Coast
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.

Morocco
French Justice Minister Darmanin to visit the kingdom

Gérald Darmanin, France's justice minister, will travel to Morocco in mid-February for a two-day visit. A meeting with Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi has already been confirmed.

Palace Intrigues
Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Lalla Hasnaa

Intrigues big and small – every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

CongoGabon's Freemasons let Sassou play host

GabonOligui Nguema's half-brother offers Fally Ipupa concert for festive season

MoroccoMohammed VI's sister, Lalla Hasnaa, offended by French absences at diplomatic gala

Nigeria
Paris AI summit on Digital Economy Minister's agenda

At the Paris Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, Abuja will be represented by Economic Minister Bosun Tijani, whom French President Emmanuel Macron's teams know well.

Morocco
French Senate president due in disputed Western Sahara in February

"Friend of Morocco" Gérard Larcher will visit the contested territory in the south of the kingdom next month to check on the progress of development projects.

Ivory Coast
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.

Morocco
Parisian PR firm MGH Partners launches in Casablanca

A subsidiary of MGH Partners is due to be set up in the Casablanca Finance City business park, situated in the kingdom's economic capital.

West Africa
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.

Morocco
Paris and Rabat honour each other at respective agricultural trade fairs

Designated as guest of honour at the Salon International de l'Agriculture in Morocco, to be held from 21 to 27 April, France will in turn be showcasing Morocco at this year's Salon International de l'Agriculture and Sommet de l'Elevage.

Ivory Coast
Paris and Abidjan speed up handover of French military base

The barracks housing the French forces stationed in Abidjan are due to be officially handed back to Ivory Coast on 22 January. President Alassane Ouattara is also due to meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris this month.

South Africa
South African delegation will head to Paris's February AI summit

South Africa's deputy minister of communications and digital, Mondli Gungubele, from the ANC party, will be in Paris on 10 and 11 February for the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit organised by the Élysée Palace.