ORANGE

Madagascar
Rajoelina to select firm to manage Antananarivo's new cable car

Two French companies are vying for the contract to manage the new transport facilities in the Madagascan capital. The massive €150m project has been financed in part by a French government loan.

Kenya
Mombasa's controversial $8m shanty town rehab contract

Port city Mombasa has awarded a lucrative contract to a Chinese-Kenyan company whose current and former directors are mired in controversy.

Kenya, Somaliland
Somaliland lobbies in Nairobi to counter Mogadishu's diplomatic offensive

The separatist state wants to persuade people that its offer to lease land for an Ethiopian naval base in exchange for Ethiopia's recognition of its sovereignty could generate significant economic opportunities for Kenya and the region.

Kenya
Deputy in Raila Odinga's party dreaming of becoming opposition leader

A respected leader in his region, the former governor of Mombasa, Ali Hassan Joho, is struggling to win over the traditional opposition strongholds in western Kenya. He is seeking to unite the key leaders of the coast around his own possible party.

Central African Republic
Orange and telecoms minister at odds over digital banking reform

Orange's Central African Republic branch is in turmoil. The government, which instated a 1% tax on all digital transactions, accuses Orange of increasing its banking commissions without proper authorisation. Its finance director was questioned at the interior ministry last week.

Morocco
Morocco-France forum to host hundreds of business leaders

As bilateral relations continue to improve, the France-Morocco business forum scheduled for 26 April in Rabat will be punctuated by signs of goodwill.

Kenya
Why agrifood giant Del Monte kicked out 250 security guards

The company fired the guards amid accusations of human rights abuses against pineapple thieves. But it seems the guards themselves may have been behind the bulk of the fruit thefts.

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
Mali, Morocco, Kenya

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

Mali Mamadou Coulibaly aka Doums, Aya Nakamura's tour manager in Bamako

Morocco Aziza Chaouni, the architect going places

Kenya Collins Ouma, multi-tasking civic entrepreneur

Ethiopia
IMF considers backing new Ethiopian liberalisation plan

The IMF is understood to be ready to back a new Ethiopian economic reform plan, which, among other things, will open up the retail distribution sector to foreign investors.

Namibia
Embassies in SADC member countries to favour Riyadh's economic growth

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is counting on new embassies in Africa to facilitate the diversification of Saudi Arabia's economy.