Author: Rodrigue Fénélon Massala

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has granted a royal pardon to several Senegalese supporters who were convicted following the incidents that occurred during the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) between Morocco and Senegal. This decision, announced a few days before Aid El Adha (Tabaski festival), comes after several weeks of diplomatic tensions and calls for calm between the two countries. By Rodrigue Fenelon Massala The CAN final, held in Rabat on January 18, 2026, was marked by violent clashes in the stands and around the stadium after an extremely tense match between the Lions of the…

In its latest report on the DRC, the World Bank delivers a harsh indictment against Congolese state-owned enterprises. Massive losses, politicized governance, deteriorating infrastructure, and increasing indebtedness: the institution believes that SNEL, REGIDESO, and several mining companies are permanently weakening public finances and hindering the country’s economic potential. By Rodrigue Fenelon Massala In its report...

Kinshasa, May 11, 2026 — Veron Mosengo, candidate for the presidency of the Congolese Football Association (FECOFA), presented the main lines of his governance project during a meeting with the media and several stakeholders in Congolese football. In front of club leaders, former players, coaches, and observers of the national football scene, he outlined his...

By a ruling of the South African Constitutional Court, the parliamentary opposition against the Phala Phala report has been overturned, thus opening the possibility of impeachment against President Ramaphosa. If this process goes through to completion, he would be the third president in history, after Mbeki and Zuma, not to finish his last term. In...

During the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, discussions between the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) and representatives of restructuring funds did not lead to a compromise. Despite several working sessions and frank exchanges between the parties, no common ground could be found on the terms...

The Democratic Republic of Congo has obtained a partially favorable arbitral decision in the dispute with the Australian company AVZ Minerals regarding the Manono lithium project, located in the Tanganyika province. The Manono deposit is considered one of the largest in the world for lithium, a strategic metal used in the production of electric batteries....

After a sequence marked by uncertainty and speculation, Veron Mosengo-Omba finally officially announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa) on Tuesday evening, putting an end to several hours of waiting in the Congolese football world. By Rodrigue Fenelon Massala A prominent figure in African football and former executive director of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), he had been raising expectations for several weeks about a possible entry into the race. His candidacy is seen as likely to bring a new dynamic to the federation, particularly in terms of governance and structural development. Speaking at…

Facing a multidimensional crisis that continues to worsen, Sudan is now at a decisive turning point in its history. Armed conflicts, economic collapse, major humanitarian crisis, and political paralysis make up an alarming picture. In this context, an important initiative recently emerged in Berlin, where the contact group on Sudan and the SICG (Sudanese International Civilian Group), representing Sudanese civil society, brought together various actors on February 16 to coordinate efforts towards a sustainable crisis resolution. By Rodrigue Fénelon Massala, Special Envoy to Berlin A deep and complex crisis Since the escalation of violence between rival armed forces, Sudan has…

Following the dismissal of Alain Lungungu for mismanagement within the Financing Execution Unit for Fragile States (CFEF), Djena Bassiala is now serving as interim director. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance, the CFEF team aims to give a new direction to the institution. This appointment comes at a time marked by the suspension...

The meeting on April 1, 2026 between Félix Tshisekedi and Tamim ben Hamad Al Thani takes place in a particularly tense geopolitical context, marked by escalating tensions between Iran and a coalition led by the United States and Israel. Far from a simple protocol meeting, this discussion reflects a convergence of strategic interests between Kinshasa and Doha, at the crossroads of security, diplomatic, and economic issues. Presented also as a gesture of solidarity, the visit of the Congolese head of state aims to express the support of the Democratic Republic of Congo to Qatar, perceived as a collateral victim of…

Organized on the sidelines of the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States) summit held from March 27 to 29, 2026 in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), the Business Summit brought together public officials, business leaders, investors, and representatives of international institutions to discuss economic cooperation among member countries. During this meeting, Gabon Day presented the country’s economic priorities. President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema outlined the Gabonese authorities’ focus on investment, economic diversification, and structural transformation. In his speech, the Gabonese head of state emphasized the conditions deemed necessary for the country’s attractiveness: institutional stability, transparency, improvement of infrastructure, and support…

With his experience in sports management and international environments, the current candidate for the Congolese Football Federation and current Secretary General of CAF proposes an approach focused on professionalization, transparency, sustainable performance, and the economic development of football as a true driver of growth. By Rodrigue Fenelon Massala The added value of his project lies first in better organization of national competitions. He emphasizes well-structured, regular, and attractive leagues, capable of revealing local talents while attracting investments. For him, Congolese football must become a true economic ecosystem, generating jobs and wealth. Furthermore, Verone Mossengo values grassroots development. He believes that…

The signing of mining agreements between the United States and Burundi must be interpreted on several levels: economic, geopolitical, and security, throughout the Great Lakes region. The agreement announced in March 2026 notably concerns the development of Burundian nickel with American companies such as Lifezone Metals and KoBold Metals. By Rodrigue Fenelon Massala According to...

Sonangol, the Angolan national oil company, announced on Wednesday that it is in discussions with Chinese financial entities to obtain a $4.8 billion loan. This financing is intended to cover part of the construction cost of a new refinery at the Atlantic port of Lobito. During a press conference, Sonangol’s CEO, Sebastião Gaspar Martins, stated...

The Central Bank of the DRC and DRC Gold signed a strategic partnership on February 19, 2026 in Kinshasa in the presence of Minister of Portfolio Julie Shiku focused on replenishing the monetary gold reserves of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in order to strengthen the official reserves of the DRC’s scriptural institution. By Rodrigue Fénelon Massala According to the information we have, the agreement will allow the BCC to acquire gold from DRC Gold Trading SA, a company responsible for the collection, certification, and traceability of gold extracted in the territory. This quantity of gold will then be…

By Rodrigue Fenelon Massala, senior reporter, special envoy to Addis Ababa The Ethiopian state is gradually withdrawing from certain sectors, opening controlled breaches, inviting private, domestic, and foreign capital to enter the game. In the streets of Addis Ababa, this fresh wind of renewal whips the face of the visitor. Ethiopia continues its shift from a dirigiste economy to a liberal economy initiated in 2018 with the accession to power of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the chief reformer. In ministries, there is now talk of “competitiveness,” “sovereign rating,” and “project bankability.” Words that, just ten years ago, would have seemed…

By Rodrigue Fénelon Massala, senior reporter / special envoy in Addis Ababa Gathered on February 14 and 15, 2026 in Addis Ababa, African heads of state and government are participating in the 39th Summit of the African Union, focused on the central theme of water, climate, and development. In a context marked by climate urgency, security tensions, and geopolitical realignments, this continental meeting aims to reaffirm the ambition to “ensure sustainable availability of water and safe sanitation systems,” in line with the goals of Agenda 2063. The challenge is immense. Over 400 million Africans still do not have access to…

For Mining Indaba 2026 (Cape Town, February 9-12, 2026), one of the most important mining forums in Africa bringing together governments, mining companies, investors, and international specialists, Gécamines SA stands out among the participants and major sponsors. It is listed as a Diamond Sponsor of the event, reflecting its significant position in the continental mining...

By Rodrigue Fénelon Massala, Senior Reporter During the World Economic Forum in Davos, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, defended a clear ambition: to move his country away from the narrow prism of perpetual crisis and position it at the heart of global balances, particularly in climate, mining, and geostrategic...

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has finalized a $553 million financing package for the modernization of the Lobito Atlantic Railway, the backbone of the Lobito Corridor in Angola. This loan aims to rehabilitate, modernize, and operate approximately 1,300 km of railway connecting the Atlantic port of Lobito to Luau, on the border with...

Under the auspices of the African Union, the 9th Pan-African Congress opened on December 8th in Lomé, bringing together delegations from across the continent, members of the African diaspora, and Afro-descendants from various backgrounds for five days of discussions on themes aimed at maintaining the flame of Pan-Africanism that has transcended generations for 125 years. The opening ceremony, presided over by Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Council, highlighted the founding role of the Pan-African movement in the struggle for the emancipation of black peoples and in the decolonization struggles in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Inheriting a history…

Geneva, December 5. The Congolese mining giant Gécamines SA and the Swiss company Mercuria Energy Trading have formalized the creation of a joint venture aimed at transforming the marketing of copper, cobalt, and other strategic minerals from the mining industry in the DRC. This alliance marks a major step in the quest for transparency, valuation, and integration of Congolese production into global value chains. This partnership stems from a memorandum of understanding signed earlier in the year. At the heart of this collaboration, Gécamines now intends to set prices based on clear and competitive international indices, while taking back control…

Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, the new African Union Commissioner in charge of economic development, tourism, trade, industry, and mining, succeeds Albert M. Muchanga at a time when the Union is seeking to convert the institutional reforms initiated under the presidency of Paul Kagame into concrete achievements. A major political figure in Equatorial Guinea, former Minister of Economy, former Second Vice President of the National Assembly for the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), and the first woman to hold the vice presidency of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), she brings a strategic political and diplomatic experience to a…

By Rodrigue Fénelon Massala, special envoy to Luanda. In Luanda, the 54 leaders of the African Union and the 27 heads of state of the European Union held a meeting focused on the theme: “Promoting peace and prosperity through effective multilateralism”. This formulation reflects the willingness of both continents to rely more on multilateral mechanisms...

France and Togo are co-organizing an International Conference on Peace and Prosperity in the Great Lakes region on October 30, 2025. The backdrop: the war in Eastern DRC, the persistent rivalry between Kinshasa and Kigali, and Paris’s diplomatic repositioning in a file where mediations follow one another without lasting results. A Franco-African initiative under the...

France and Togo are co-organizing an International Conference on Peace and Prosperity in the Great Lakes region on October 30, 2025. The backdrop includes the war in eastern DRC, the persistent rivalry between Kinshasa and Kigali, and Paris’ diplomatic repositioning in a file where mediations are ongoing without lasting results. A Franco-African initiative under the...

An agreement of a strategic partnership estimated at $1.5 billion has been signed between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the American energy company Hydro-Link LLC, on the sidelines of the DRC-USA Investment Forum held in Washington on October 14, 2025. This agreement involves the construction of a 1,150-kilometer cross-border electricity...

By Rodrigue Fénelon Massala, special envoy in Washington In Washington, the October drizzle mixes with the subdued hustle and bustle of preparations. In three days, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank will open their annual Assemblies, this modern ritual where nations come in turn to confess their debts, plead their case, and negotiate...

By Rodrigue Fenelon Massala From the podium of the Global Gateway Forum on October 7, 2025 in Brussels, Félix Tshisekedi surprised his audience. Where some expected a vindictive speech, the Congolese president chose a tone of peace. Without calling for sanctions against Kigali, he directly addressed Paul Kagame, asking him to embrace “the path of dialogue” and to “put peace above differences.” A calculated diplomatic offensive This speech, delivered on a European stage, goes beyond protocol. Tshisekedi combined personal conviction and political strategy, seeking to reposition the Democratic Republic of Congo as a constructive player in a region of constant…

France will host a humanitarian conference at the end of October 2025 dedicated to the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with the goal of mobilizing 10 billion dollars. Already, 1 billion dollars have been pledged in advance, according to the announcement made on September 23 by President Emmanuel Macron, on the sidelines...