World Bank

Palace Intrigues
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Guillaume Soro, Alassane Ouattara

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

Ivory CoastGuillaume Soro's old acquaintances in Gabon

GabonNguema kept in dark about World Bank arrears

SomaliaRabat mediates to keep coach Rachid Loustèque onside

Zambia
Samuel Munzele Maimbo starts Western tour for AfDB presidency votes

The Zambian candidate, in the running to take over the leadership of the African Development Bank in May, is having a series of meetings with France, Japan, Morocco and the UK.

Tanzania
Mission 300 electricity summit hit by geopolitical turmoil

African leaders and their partners reaffirmed their commitment at a summit last week to bring electricity to an extra 300 million people, with almost $50bn committed to the cause. But Donald Trump's freeze on US aid and shifting African power blocs brought a wind of uncertainty to the event.

Cameroon, Central African Republic
Behind the scenes of the chaotic delivery of Russia's oil donation

The story of Russia's fuel donation to the Central African Republic is far from over. After a difficult arrival at the port of Limbé in Cameroon, Bangui may decide to sell some of the goods locally.

Cameroon
Coris Bank in lead to buy local Société Générale

The government and the bank's Paris head office have agreed on a potential buyer for the subsidiary, which is the second-largest bank in the country.

Tanzania
Arbitration dispute for $500m starts between Tanzania and Mauritian firm Aqua Power

Aqua Power and Catalysis Capital have accused the Tanzanian authorities of blocking the operations of a gas-fired power station built in 2016 by their local subsidiary.

East Africa
From Ethiopia to Tanzania, the common electricity market sparks envy

The 13 Eastern Africa Power Pool countries have said they want to agree on common rules for trading electricity from this year onwards. Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda are already planning to reap the benefits of their energy exports.

Cameroon
Yaoundé throws in the towel for AfDB presidency

Cameroon has decided not to put forward a candidate for the presidency of the AfDB, despite two profiles emerging in recent months. This means that President Paul Biya will not find himself at odds with his Chadian counterpart.

Inner circles | Congo, Ivory Coast
Banker Ibrahim Magassa dispenses financial advice from Abidjan to Brazzaville

At the comparatively young age of 44, the French-Ivorian banker has established himself as a leading adviser to indebted states, initially to Ivory Coast and then to Congo and Ghana. He can rely on a solid network of contacts in Paris, not least at the investment bank Rothschild.

Madagascar
Ministry of Finance increases tax burden on businesses

In anticipation of future payments from the International Monetary Fund, which will be holding its next board meeting in March, the finance minister has tightened the conditions for companies facing a tax reassessment.

South Sudan
Juba launches programme to clean up public finances

The Canadian company FreeBalance has been awarded a two-year contract worth around $15m, financed by the World Bank, to improve the management of South Sudan's public finances.

Angola
Nuvibev seeks World Bank support for Refriango soft drinks subsidiary

The International Finance Corporation, the World Bank's private sector arm, is set to vote on whether to grant a credit facility to the Angolan group Nuvibev.

DRC
World Bank works on new budget support packages

The international financial institution is working on budget support for 2025 and 2026. One of its objectives is to implement a regulatory reform to make it easier for private investors to set up in special economic zones.

Ghana
Why IFC is supporting cocoa trade via local bank

The International Finance Corporation, the World Bank’s private investment arm helmed in Africa by the Franco-Portuguese Sérgio Pimenta, is due on 17 February to consider a $40m loan to Societe Generale Ghana, a 57%-owned subsidiary of the French bank Société Générale.

Cameroon
Brussels backs infrastructure projects

The European Union is planning to provide €50m in support of the Kikot hydroelectric dam project. It is also planning to back projects to renovate railway lines and factories.

Cameroon
Tussle between Camwater and World Bank over water prices

The international organisation is calling for the price of a cubic metre of drinking water to be raised to 270 FCFA. This has been rejected by the government, which doesn't want to provoke a fresh wave of social unrest.