Emmanuel Macron

Niger
How Paris is negotiating the partial withdrawal of its troops

Since August, the head of the French Forces in the Sahel and the chief of staff of Niger's army, Moussa Salaou Barmou, have been holding confidential talks about how the first French troops might be withdrawn.

Palace Intrigues
Ali Bongo, William Ruto, Nasser Bourita

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

Gabon the untold story behind Ali Bongo's distress call

Kenya Kenyatta's confidant's support for Ruto goes down badly

Morocco Bourita resumes talks with the French ambassador

DRC, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia
Critical minerals: EU deepens ties with Windhoek and woos Kinshasa

The European Commission and Namibia have approved a raft of joint projects, 10 months after signing a framework cooperation agreement in mining and industry. In addition, the EU is also in talks with further countries.

Algeria
'Amir DZ' still struggling to get political refugee status in France

The presence in France of the Algerian cyber-activist "Amir DZ", who has been condemned to death in his own country, would appear to be an embarrassment for the French government, as the prospect of a historic reconciliation between Paris and Algiers becomes increasingly remote.

Gabon, Ivory Coast
Gabonese presidential campaign strains Abidjan-Libreville relations

An audio recording, purportedly of a discussion between Gabonese opposition politicians Albert Ondo Ossa and Alexandre Barro-Chambrier, led to Libreville's foreign minister asking the Ivorian ambassador to explain himself.

Ghana
The secrets of Open Society's African network seeking to secure the restitution of looted heritage

The US billionaire George Soros's organisation will bring together a cross-section of key players involved in the restitution of looted artworks and artefacts at a summit in Accra. In its work on this issue, Open Society has built a network of political influence across the continent.

Spotlight | Morocco
French giants shiver as Rabat-Paris relations remain icy

French companies such as Veolia, Alstom and BNP Paris are struggling in Morocco against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions and have been forced to cut back their activities.

North Africa
Macron holds on to North Africa adviser Durel for another year

Patrick Durel, French President Emmanuel Macron's adviser on North Africa, to stay on for another year.

Congo
'Ill-gotten gains': Sassou clan braces for fresh charges

The Congolese so-called 'ill-gotten gains' case will gather pace in the next months. President Denis Sassou-Nguesso is irked that his granddaughter, Yacine Queenie Bongo, has been summoned by the French courts, who may follow suit with his son, Denis Christel Sassou-Nguesso, in late August.

Madagascar
Closed-door negotiations continue over second convicted coup plotter

While President Andry Rajoelina agreed to Philippe François' transfer to France last month, he is taking a much tougher stance on his co-convict, French-Madagascan national Paul Rafanoharana.

Madagascar
French soldiers excluded from independence day parade

Present in Antananarivo for a week, the French military contingent was only informed at the last minute that it would not be taking part in the parade to mark the 63rd anniversary of Madagascan independence.