East Africa : East Africa scrambles to obtain waivers after US aid pause – Africa Intelligence

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Amid tensions in the run-up to the presidential election, Abidjan has been looking to cyberintelligence specialists for help in boosting the capacities of its security services. As part of this drive, the gendarmerie recently procured two IMSI-catcher surveillance systems from an Israeli supplier.
As part of the so-called ill-gotten gains case, a team of French police paid a visit to the Congolese First Lady’s apartment in February. This could jeopardise the visit to France planned for the end of the month by the Congolese leader Denis Sassou Nguesso.
USAID’s East African partners, from Ethiopia to Tanzania, have been trying to secure waivers following the US foreign assistance freeze. The abrupt cancellation of almost all contracts is only adding to the prevailing chaos.
Experiencing financial difficulties, Forafric Maroc has decided to sell several major assets in the kingdom. Initially limited to semolina and pasta production around Casablanca, this divestment plan has now been extended to flour production in Marrakech.
The Equatorial Guinean president is backing a close ally for the post of commissioner for economic development, tourism, trade, industry and mining at the African Union. The Central Africa region is also set to make nominations for the two posts to which it is entitled.
Even before the row over Western Sahara, there had been an increasing number of disagreements between Emmanuel Macron and Abdelmadjid Tebboune. One of them was over education and, as a result, the number of Algerian schools accredited by France has never taken off.
Funds that Berlin pledged to pay in recognition of the genocide of the Herero and Nama peoples in Namibia in the early 20th century have not yet been released. German and Namibian domestic politics have further slowed an already complex process.
Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has been pulling out all the stops to buy time since Rwandan-backed rebels captured swathes of territory in eastern DRC. He hopes that offering mining projects will win him support from the US and the United Arab Emirates.
The sole gateway to President Paul Biya’s eldest son, this duo of discreet intermediary and business provider garners as much praise as it causes concern.
Although the dam has been operational for years, its operator, Electricity Development Corporation, has still not carried out any impact studies. A complaint from locals was lodged with the European Investment Bank, which published recommendations at the end of last year.
New nationality rules are likely to prevent several political heavy hitters from standing in this year’s general elections in the Central African Republic. Calls for pre-poll dialogue, meanwhile, appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
Ivory Coast speaker Adama Bictogo has been ordered to pay €9.5m to Africa Global Logistics’ Martine Coffi-Studer in the final episode of their lengthy legal dispute over a plot of land.
Several members of the Groupement des Négociants Ivoiriens are refusing to sell the volumes of beans contracted with the Belgian-Swiss and Singaporean groups unless the latter pay them more than the regulated price. This practice is prohibited by law.
With the freeze on US funding being felt on both the economic and security fronts, Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s government is worried about a possible reversal of the IMF’s position, spurred on by the new US president.
The signing of a charter between RSF and its allies and a constitution is the result of several trips to Nairobi by a small team. Various factions are still discussing their future institutions.
Mahmoud Youssouf is off to Addis Ababa to serve as president of the African Union Commission, leaving a coveted vacancy back in Djibouti. With just over a year before the country heads to the polls, several hopefuls want to capitalise on the imminent reshuffle.
The Ethiopian PM has appointed the former Addis Ababa mayor and minister of mines, whom he dismissed last year, to revitalize the struggling railway. An early supporter of Abiy, Takele has surrounded himself with loyalists, which risks raising some hackles.
Despite Raila Odinga’s failed attempt to secure the position of AU Commission Chair, the former opposition leader is still seen as a key player on the Kenyan political scene. The presidential camp and the opposition are manoeuvring to attract him to their side.
A troop provider since the creation of AMISOM in 2007, Burundi will not be taking part in the next African Union mission in Somalia, much to Gitega’s dismay. This decision has been heavily influenced by the Somalian presidency.
Unlike TotalEnergies on Mozambique LNG, US major ExxonMobil intends to accelerate its development of Rovuma LNG despite many challenges.
Former president Marc Ravalomanana and his wife have both served as mayor of Madagascar’s capital. Now their son Tojo is going for the job. He made good use of his famous surname and his parents’ political connections while on the campaign trail.
Despite its optimistic pronouncements of late, the French major is standing down hundreds of employees based in the Afungi area, where its future liquefaction trains will be located.
After tensions with locals living near its South African mineral sands deposit on the shores of the Indian Ocean, the Anglo-Australian mining giant is this year set to finally go ahead with plans to expand its Zulti South concession.
Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider sets its sights on Western Sahara. The firm is relying on the support of Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, who is supervising the project with the royal cabinet.
French security company Amarante International has been told to leave the country after the FSA opened an investigation into its operations. The group is accused of failing to comply with the law over the conditions for awarding contracts to foreign firms.
Algeria’s state-owned energy firm has steadily increased gas production since the easing of the Covid-19 pandemic. But it is worried about reserves and hopes that exploiting the country’s vast shale gas resources will resolve the problem.
During his trip to France, the head of government spoke out in favour of the Kingdom’s agricultural production, at a time when the issue of its tomatoes is causing concern among French producers.
The president is using all his diplomatic resources to try to secure the post of Commissioner for Economic Development at the African Union for his personal choice: Amine Idriss Adoum. He’s aiming to rally the Central African states behind this sole candidate.
A diplomatic scouting team is due to leave Qatar to set up representation in the Congolese capital. The Emirate is still trying to play the role of mediator in the M23 crisis.
The Central African president is trying to sell a 178-carat diamond that was found in the southeast of the country but, three months after the lifting of the diamond embargo, it’s proving quite the challenge.
Yonca Shipyard has offered to supply the Ivorian navy with a 60m transport ship.
Despite the dismantling of USAID, the Liberian president is hoping the Trump administration will help develop his country’s rice industry.
From Monday to Friday at 04:40 GMT.
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