MBZ mediates Horn talks | Elbit builds Uganda's Air Command Centre | Who is Libya's new spymaster?

Power Brokers and their Connections

Daily issue Wednesday 19 May 2021 SPOTLIGHT  LIBYA _ _   Why Gaddafi spymaster associate Ayeb became head of intelligence   The new Libyan intelligence chief's past has drawn the wrath of his predecessor. Hussein al-Ayeb, a former Gaddafi loyalist close to the ex-Mukhabarat boss Abdallah Senoussi, does however have the support of some militias.  [...] CENTRAL AND WEST AFRICA  CONGO _ _   A new government sponsored by the president's family   Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso, who was appointed on 12 May, is close to both first lady Antoinette Sassou Nguesso and the president's youngest son, Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso.  [...]      AFRICA _ _   French grand lodge faces pushback from 'regular' Masons in Africa   The trip to Benin by Jean-Pierre Rollet, one of France's most senior Freemasons, has riled African affiliates of his French grand lodge who take increasing exception to his tutelage and look with envy to so-called 'regular' lodges with loose ties to the United Grand Lodge of England.  [...]      DRC _ _   Belgian-Turkish go-between Lokman Sever builds mining and tourism ventures   Belgian businessman Lokman Sever, who made a name for himself acting as an intermediary between Turkish groups and African heads of state, has created a new mining entity and a travel agency in the DRC.  [...]  BURKINA FASO _ _   World Bank wants to raise $450m from private sector to fund solar projects EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA  HORN OF AFRICA _ _   MBZ dominates fence-mending efforts between Abiy and Hamdok   Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has emerged as UAE Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan's envoy to Sudan to speed up reconciliation with neighbouring Ethiopia.  [...]    FREE  _ _      UGANDA _ _   Elbit's high tech Air Force centre helps tighten Uganda-Israel ties   Israeli defence giant Elbit Systems is leading the construction of a Ugandan Air Force air traffic control centre. The arrangement is a sign of how security cooperation is being integrated into the close diplomatic ties between Tel Aviv and Kampala.  [...]      MOZAMBIQUE _ _   Mauritian ETG hungry for cashews after Olam's exit   Export Trading Group, an agricultural conglomerate registered in Mauritius and owned by the Patel family, is making moves on Mozambique's cashew nuts, up for grabs since the departure of agrifood giant Olam.  [...] NORTH AFRICA  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.  [...] OIL & GAS  CONGO _ _   WNR launches arbitration against Brazzaville after its Marine XI ousting   Furious at having lost its shares in the Marine XI oil block, World Natural Resources has decided to bring its dispute with the Congolese state before the World Bank's ICSID tribunal.  [...]      MOZAMBIQUE _ _   TechnipFMC to make ENI cover cost of Pemba departure   The Italian major ENI will have to pay for the cost of relocating its subcontractor TechnipFMC's activities from Pemba to Maputo.  [...] MINING SECTOR  LIBERIA _ _  GUINEA _ _   Guinean iron taken hostage by Liberian politics   President George Weah's political opponents say they are concerned about the deal between the governments in Monrovia and Conakry on the transportation of Guinean iron via Liberia. Their concern is partly motivated by domestic issues.  [...] Discover our subscription offers

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