Ritz Paris

Palace Intrigues
Paul Biya, Lucy Tamlyn, Laurent Esso, Jean-Louis Billon

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

DRCUS ambassador Lucy Tamlyn's luxury refuge

CameroonLaurent Esso's absence quells reshuffle rumours

Ivory CoastBillon clan to stage classy Miami wedding

Angola, Mozambique
Portuguese president's nephew kick-starts trade relations with Africa

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is hoping Luis Rebelo de Sousa can breathe new life into Portugal's economic and trade links with Lusophone countries in Africa after the damage wreaked by Covid.

Africa
Saudis maintain Africa focus despite axing AU-Arab League summit

The African Union-Arab League summit planned for 11 November has been dropped because of internal divisions among African countries. The AU-Saudi Arabia summit on 10 November has been maintained, however, and should enable Riyadh to promote its agenda for the continent.

Africa
Patrice Talon, Nicolas Sarkozy, Félix Tshisekedi, Diego Aponte, 'Teodorin' Obiang

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

Palace Intrigues
Nicolas Sarkozy, Teodorin Obiang, François Beya and Thomas Boni Yayi

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

Congo/France Denis Sassou Nguesso invites Sarkozy to stay

Equatorial Guinea VP Teodorin Obiang holidays in Lisbon

Congo/DRC François Beya looked after by JDO

Benin/Guinea Thomas Boni Yayi enlists daughter in mediation

Chad
Behind the scenes of Erdimi's talks in Doha

The late Idriss Déby's main opponent has hinted negotiations may be possible with Kaka's regime. Timan Erdimi has been living in Qatar since 2009.

Morocco
Boulgoute attempts double bluff for 'diplomatic city', cites Marriott deal, Bourita approval

For his next luxury real estate project on the outskirts of Rabat, entrepreneur Rahal Boulgoute has been talking up a partnership with the hotel chain Marriott and a deal with the ministry of foreign affairs, though neither of these have confirmed their end of the bargain.

Morocco
Fondation Mohammed VI favours state workers as well as Tracom and HTTC

The Moroccan king's foundation has awarded more than 110m dirhams (€10m) in contracts to the public works company Tracom. HTTC will for its part develop a social centre in Rabat for 3m dirhams.

Morocco
CDG steps up its hotel portfolio restructuring to contend with Covid

La Caisse de dépôt et de gestion remet de l'ordre dans sa branche hôtelière, durement frappée par la baisse de revenus due à l'épidémie de Covid-19. Sa filiale Madaëf a ainsi absorbé la Société hôtelière d'Oued Negro.

Mauritania, Senegal
BP's attempts to save Tortue gas purchase deal

British major BP, which will be selling gas from the first phase of the field, is applying maximum pressure on Sall and Ghazouani.

Spotlight | Morocco
The Zenaguis expand from the Palace into luxury hotels

Royal adviser Yassir Zenagui, who was replaced in February as chairman of Ithmar Capital - formerly Moroccan tourism development fund FMDT - by finance minister Mohamed Benchaaboun, is continuing to focus his attention on the Moroccan tourism industry.

Morocco
Saudi group iCAD targets infrastructure security business

Despite the latest diplomatic clash between Rabat and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's iCAD (Innovative Contractors for Advanced Dimensions) group has set [...]

Tunisia
Marriott sets up local subsidiary to prepare for new projects

American hotel giant Marriott has just set up local subsidiary [...]

Gambia
Al-Amoudi still seeking blocks for Svenska despite sale

The Saudi-Ethiopian billionaire Mohammed Hussein al-Amoudi gives free rein to Fredrik Ohrn, managing director of his firm Svenska Petroleum, to [...]