Gertler's oil assets sidesteps | Lourenço stung by adviser probe | Libya's army Russia problem

Power Brokers and their Connections

Daily issue Tuesday 4 May 2021 SPOTLIGHT  DRC    Why is Dan Gertler transferring his oil assets to new firms?   The Israeli diamond dealer is trying to counter the effects of US sanctions on his Congolese companies and is hoping to get a new extension on his oil permits.  [...] CENTRAL AND WEST AFRICA  ANGOLA    Lourenço tainted by anti-corruption probe into top adviser dos Anjos   João Lourenço's anti-corruption record has taken another blow after one of his closest advisers, Isaac dos Anjos, was charged with misusing funds from the state-owned Sonango oil firm to build luxury property.  [...]      GABON    Traditional Ndjobi order gains new master after death of "Papa Andjoua"   On 18 April, Fidel Andjoua Ondimba, the brother of Gabon's former president Omar Bongo and Ndjobi grand master, died and was buried shortly after in Franceville. His son, a presidential advisor, has replaced him at the head of this traditional ritual widely practised in Haut-Ogooué, the Bongo family stronghold.  [...]  CAPE VERDE    Boa Vista luxury tourist developments continue despite pandemic      ANGOLA    Aenergy takes Angolan authorities to court in Luanda and in New York      SENEGAL    Arezki Group overtakes Sinohydro to win road contract EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA  SOUTH SUDAN    Barnaba Marial, Kiir's new yes man   The key presidential affairs ministerial portfolio has been given to Barnaba Marial Benjamin, one of President Salva Kiir's staunchest loyalists. He partly owes his plum post to a pair of powerful patrons, who may well call in the favour down the line.  [...]      MADAGASCAR    Sipromad's big cigarette sales catch tax authority's attention   A recent tax audit of Ylias Akbaraly's Sipromad highlighted the group's strong tobacco sales and that these had been undervalued for three years in a row.  [...] NORTH AFRICA  LIBYA    Russia's support for LNA dampens Haddad's ambitions as national army head   It may be up to the Presidential Council to appoint Libya's military chief of staff, but the legitimacy of Mohamed Al Haddad, whom the previous government put in that post, is being questioned by eastern authorities.  [...]    FREE       CHAD   LIBYA    Mahamat Idriss Déby extends an olive branch to Toubou in northern Chad, southern Libya   Mahamat Idriss Déby, the new strongman of N'Djamena, wants to prevent rebel forces forming an alliance with the Toubou tribes whose homeland straddles Chad and Libya.  [...]      TUNISIA    Specs row delays armoured vehicle procurement   Technical disagreements between Tunisia's interior minister and The Armored Group have delayed the delivery of vehicles destined for the police and national guard.  [...] MINING SECTOR  CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC    Comigem state counter still desperately awaiting privatisation   In March 2020, a decision was made to privatise the Central African Republic public gem buying office Comigem declared bankrupt years ago. A buyer was found but since then everything has gone quiet.  [...]      BURKINA FASO    Transparency may shed harsh light on Burkina Faso's politicians   Ouagadougou is determined to disclose the identities of minor shareholders in Burkina Faso's mining companies, much to the dismay of the political class.  [...] Discover our subscription offers

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