STAR

Africa, France
Who will be France's new head of defence cooperation?

In October General Régis Colcombet is expected to take over as head of France's Directorate for Security and Defence Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Egypt
Sisi protégé Mohamed Badran makes bold political comeback

Six years after leaving Egypt, Mohamed Badran has returned to his homeland to take part in Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's "National Dialogue". After the 2013 military coup, the former student leader had a meteoric rise with the help of the presidency and the intelligence services.

Spotlight | Africa
ExxonMobil, Chevron, Marathon... US giants start mass exodus from the continent

With the exception of Namibia and Mozambique, Africa has ceased to be attractive to US oil companies, which are gradually withdrawing from the market. This strategy is the opposite of that adopted by the Chinese and Russians, which are continuing to push ahead.

Kenya
Berlin sends its star consultant to boost Kenyan start-ups

The German agency for international cooperation GIZ wants to create a centre dedicated to innovation in Kenya. It has recruited the Hamburg-based experts of the GFA Consulting Group to lead this 21-month project.

Angola, Senegal
Angolan President Lourenço Macky Sall's guest star at Dakar Forum

Angolan head of state João Lourenço will travel to Dakar on 24 October.

Morocco
The four candidates in the running to be French ambassador in Rabat

Emmanuel Macron must appoint in the coming days the future French ambassador to Morocco, against the backdrop of a major bilateral crisis. Four candidates with very different profiles are currently in the running.

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

Botswana
Diamonds: Tycoon Atang Makgekgenene steps away from the BK11 mine

On 27 July, the Canadian firm Pangolin Diamonds Corp announced that it had acquired Amulet Botswana, which owns some of the BK11 diamond mine equipment and infrastructure. Yet doubt hangs over the company that owns the site.

South Africa
Oppenheimer family sees opportunity in VIP terminal's uncertain future

Faced with the withdrawal of Denel, Fireblade Aviation - owned by Oppenheimer Generations - needs to negotiate a new lease with the South African Airports Company. At stake is the continued use of the luxury private-jet owners terminal in Johannesburg.

Botswana
Mining services tycoons snap up prized property near Gaborone Dam

Best known as the owners of the mining services company Bothakga Burrow, which subcontracts for major Botswanan companies Debswana and Morupule Coal Mine, two businessmen are now investing in real estate in the capital's southwestern suburbs - a sector that is booming.

Cameroon, France
4-star general to take over as French ambassador in Yaoundé

Even as Emmanuel Macron was undertaking an official visit to #Cameroon on 26 July, the Elysée was deciding on its next ambassador to the country.

Botswana
Jwaneng MP angles for Debswana business

State-owned diamond producer Debswana's promise that more than $1.5bn in contracts this year will go to Botswana-owned companies is attracting interest even among opposition MPs.

Palace Intrigues
Emmanuel Macron, Tidjane Thiam, Mohammed VI

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

France/Cameroon Emmanuel Macron's agenda in Yaoundé

Ivory Coast Ex-banker Tidjane Thiam soon in Abidjan

Morocco/France Mohammed VI and Macron fail to meet

France, Sahel
Special forces general Bruno Baratz set to take over helm of Barkhane

The three-star general Bruno Baratz, the head of France's special forces and former leader of the Eléments français au Sénégal (EFS), looks set to take charge of French operations in the Sahel in the coming days.

East Africa
Rivalry between hotel chain Accor and US competitors switches to Horn

Neither Covid-19 nor regional instability have so far dampened the ambitions of top-end hotel groups in East Africa and the Horn, where the Big Four (Accor, Radisson, Hilton and Marriott) are continuing to prospect for business.

The New Guard
Morocco, Guinea, Zimbabwe and Libya

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

MoroccoMakhzen keeping tabs on Obaid Amrane's rising star.

GuineaMamadou Diallo, from the embassy to the World Bank.

ZimbabweJohn Paradza, a key player in Mnangagwe's battle for the youth vote.

LibyeKhalid Chaouki, former Italian MP growing his Tripoli business network.