Sherpa

Chad
Abakar Manany preferred as Mahamat Idriss Deby's sherpa in Washington

Mahamat Idriss Deby's special adviser, Abakar Manany, made extensive use of his connections to prepare the Chadian president's December visit to the United States. He got the upper hand over the president's step-brother, Abdelkrim Deby, who took a more guarded approach.

Malawi
Global Sovereign Advisory, discreet architect of Lilongwe-IMF agreement

To obtain its $88m emergency financing support, Malawi called on the small French firm Global Sovereign Advisory to help it negotiate with the International Monetary Fund.

DRC
Despite Tony Blair's insistence, GIP finally says no to the Grand Inga project

The US-based Global Infrastructures Partners, owned by Nigerian businessman Adebayo Ogunlesi, has finally decided not to get involved in the scheme to build vast dams on the mighty Congo river.

Africa, France
Lobbyists battle hard in French overseas constituencies

As French citizens abroad prepare to vote in the second round of the French parliamentary elections, a number of lobbyists and PR execs with good connections within Africa's presidential palaces are working hard alongside the remaining candidates.

Central Africa, France
"Congo Hold-up" : France's financial prosecution service has begun investigating the BGFI

Gabon's BGFIBank group is being investigated by the French national financial prosecution service. The investigation concerns "suspect" movements of funds between its subsidiaries in the DRC and France.

Kenya
Britain's Atkins unveils plans for Nairobi train station mega-project

Atkins Global consulting firm has beaten off competitors from Korea and the Arabian Peninsula with its plans for Nairobi's giant new train station, which were unveiled last month with great fanfare.

DRC
Global Sovereign Advisory acts as sherpa for Tshisekedi in Washington

Global Sovereign Advisory, a small French boutique bank, is helping Kinshasa in its talks with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

The New Guard
Kenya, South Africa, Congo, Guinea, Morocco

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence reveals the next generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

KenyaSolomon Kuria, the link between Kenyatta and Odinga.

South AfricaNonceba Mhlauli, President Ramaphosa's youth champion

CongoSteven Moussala, Prime Minister Anatole Makosso's Franco-Congolese sherpa

GuineaMohamed Lamine Solano, Conakry's voice in Washington.

MoroccoOmar Chraibi, the man behind Voltalia's solar victory.

Libya
Haftars make their mark on Bashagha's government

The ministries of foreign affairs, defence and finance were the subject of bitter negotiations between Fathi Bashagha and Khalifa Haftar's entourage. Belkacem Haftar, the general's son and political adviser, has been at the helm of this.

Guinea
Simandou, SMB, William Bourdon... UMS served a full plate

As it adjusts to post-coup Guinea, the local mining logistics provider UMS, headed by Fadi Wazni, is also facing an arbitration where the firm of French lawyer William Bourdon is representing a client who wants to regain control of a plane both parties are claiming ownership of.

Qatar, Tunisia
No helping hand from Emir Al-Thani ahead of Tunisia's fraught IMF meet

Finance minister Ali Kooli's attempt to negotiate a new loan from the Qatar National Bank, with the backing of the Islamist leader Rached Ghannouchi, floundered when Doha set the interest rate at 5.5%.

France, Rwanda
Rwandan civil war crops up in dispute between BNP Paribas and security company Ronange

Marc Le Loeuff, head of security company Ronange, is to challenge the banking group's decision to end his company's contract at its office complex in the Paris suburbs before the Paris Court of Commerce. The activities of his former boss, Paul Barril, in Rwanda in the 1990s could be behind BNP Paribas's decision.