Author: Rodrigue Fénélon Massala

By Rodrigue Fenelon Massala Mahamadou Issoufou’s presence in major African events serves as a reminder that beyond his status as a former Nigerien head of state, he remains one of the personalities entrusted by the African Union with a major continental mission: to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. In a...

The Congolese subsidiary of the International Commercial Bank (BCI) is entering a new phase of its governance with the appointment of Ibrahim Dohia Traoré as CEO. This arrival comes at a time of accelerated transformation in the Congolese banking sector, driven by digitalization, evolving customer expectations, and strengthened prudential requirements. An experienced banker, Ibrahim Dohia...

Former Vice President of Liberia, Jewel Howard-Taylor, left the central prison of Monrovia on Friday afternoon, following a decision by the Criminal Court “C” granting her release for humanitarian reasons. This decision comes after a particularly eventful visit by former President George Weah to the prison where she was detained. Jewel Howard-Taylor returns to her...

An unprecedented controversy is shaking the presidential clan in Zimbabwe: Kelsea Tafirenyika, the daughter-in-law of current president Emmerson Mnangagwa, has been incarcerated in Harare. Accused of drug trafficking and money laundering amounting to 9.35 million dollars, the 22-year-old woman remains in detention awaiting her trial – a case that challenges the “zero tolerance” policy displayed by her stepfather. Everything changes in early August 2026, following a police search at the home of the suspect, wife of Collins Mnangagwa, son of the president. In her Greystone Park residence and inside her vehicle, investigators find a batch of strictly controlled substances: 154…

At first glance, the working visit of Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço to Kinshasa appears to be a classic diplomatic meeting: handshakes, bilateral talks, agreement signings, and declarations on strengthening cooperation between two neighboring countries. But behind this diplomatic façade, a much more important game is being played. João Lourenço’s presence in Kinshasa comes at a time when the Democratic Republic of Congo is seeking to secure its economic interests, strengthen its regional partnerships, and address the security impasse in the East of the country. For Luanda, it is also about preserving its role as a regional power and…

During his official visit to Paris on August 23 and 24, 2026, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, confirmed the strategic rapprochement between Riyadh and Paris. But behind the leader who is driving the spectacular transformation of the Kingdom is a figure still largely unknown in France: his mother,...

Aliko Dangote, CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss ways to enhance trade and investment between Canada and Africa. According to the Dangote Group, the discussions focused on opportunities to deepen economic cooperation between Canada and African countries, as well as developing partnerships to support industrialization, innovation, and...

The results published by CCEI Bank GE for the 2025 financial year reflect a clear improvement in its financial performance. Net profit increased from 1.55 billion to 4.336 billion CFA francs, in a context marked by the continuation of the restructuring initiated since the nationalization of the bank in 2021. By Rodrigue Fénelon Massala Following...

The Buenassa refinery has received a non-repayable grant of $3,385,000 from the U.S. Agency for Trade and Development (USTDA). For the first time, the U.S. government is providing direct support to a crucial mining project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a clear geopolitical harmonization perspective. By Rodrigue Fenelon Massala This is a step that Kinshasa already qualifies as historic. Buenassa, the bearer of an ambitious copper and cobalt refinery project in Lualaba, Democratic Republic of Congo, has received official approval for a non-repayable grant of $3,385,000 from USTDA to finance its pre-feasibility study (PFS). The information was made…

The six officially declared candidates to succeed António Guterres participated in a public debate at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Organized before the General Assembly, this exchange is part of the process of selecting the next Secretary-General. Broadcast live, the event aimed to present the visions of the contenders before the opening of a new phase of consultations at the Security Council, whose members will have to come to a consensus before transmitting a name to the General Assembly for approval. Gathered at the UN headquarters, the six candidates answered questions from member…

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Industry Promotion Fund (FPI) have initiated a new phase of their strategy to clean up the portfolio of claims of this public institution, estimated at nearly 808 billion Congolese francs (CDF), equivalent to approximately 350 million US dollars. The objective is to restore the...

The African tour of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ended in Bujumbura, Burundi, after stops in Ethiopia, Niger, and Mozambique. Officially focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Moscow and several African states, this diplomatic sequence also illustrates Russia’s desire to expand its political presence on the continent, particularly in the Great Lakes region. The choice...

Claude Owona, originally from Cameroon, has been appointed Regional Industry Director for the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) in Central and West Africa by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. Graduated in accounting and finance from Audencia Business School (France) and holding an MBA from Ohio State University (USA), Claude...

Claude Owona, hailing from Cameroon, has been appointed as the Regional Industry Director for the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) in Central and West Africa by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. A graduate in accounting and finance from Audencia Business School (France) and holding an MBA from Ohio State...

Claude Owona, originally from Cameroon, has been appointed Regional Industry Director for the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) in Central and West Africa by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. A graduate in accounting and finance from Audencia Business School (France) and holder of an MBA from Ohio State University...

Claude Owona, originally from Cameroon, has been appointed Regional Industry Director for the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) in Central and West Africa by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. A graduate in accounting and finance from Audencia Business School (France) and holder of an MBA from Ohio State University...

Claude Owona, originally from Cameroon, has been appointed Regional Industry Director for the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) in Central and West Africa by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. With a degree in accounting and finance from Audencia Business School (France) and an MBA from Ohio State University (USA),...

By Rodrigue Fenelon Massala South Africa is initiating a significant change in its migration policy towards the continent. By publishing a new list of African countries benefiting from a visa exemption, Pretoria aims to facilitate the movement of nationals from 32 states and reaffirm its commitment to African integration. However, this initiative comes at a...

African Rainbow Capital (ARC), the investment company founded by South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, was facing a $195 million complaint filed by the American group Pula in relation to a graphite mining project in Tanzania. The dispute revolves around an alleged breach of a confidentiality agreement signed in 2019 between Pula Group and African Rainbow...

The asylum request of Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo, a Central African journalist who exposed the propaganda system of the Wagner group in the Central African Republic (CAR), has been rejected by the French authorities. The Platform for the Protection of Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) announced on Thursday, July 9, that they have filed an appeal against this decision, which they consider contrary to France’s commitments. According to PPLAAF, Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo was allowed to come to France in 2024 after an intervention by President Emmanuel Macron, as he faced threats in the Central African Republic. The rejection of his asylum request would now…

By Rodrigue Fénelon Massala, senior reporter When an African state today wishes to create or relaunch a national airline, one name almost systematically comes up at the table: Ethiopian Airlines. The continent’s leading carrier no longer just transports passengers; it now exports an industrial model. In Togo with ASKY Airlines, in Malawi with Malawi Airlines,...

The industrial group of Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is taking a new step in its strategy to integrate the fertilizer value chain in Africa. The company has obtained an operating permit for a potash deposit in Congo-Brazzaville, with estimated reserves of nearly 350 million tons. Securing the upstream of the fertilizer sector This acquisition is part of the Dangote group’s desire to secure its supply of raw materials for fertilizer production, a sector that has become strategic for the continent’s food security. Already the owner of one of Africa’s largest fertilizer plants in Nigeria, the group is looking to strengthen…

Rodrigue Fenelon Massala For many years, public debt has been steadily increasing in many African countries. Senegal, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, and Zambia are facing growing financing needs, increasing budget constraints, and difficult negotiations with their creditors. In this context, debt restructuring appears as a necessary remedy to prevent insolvency, in other words, default. However, the experience of several countries shows that International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance programs, aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability, can sometimes lead to a cycle of financial dependence. Indeed, it should be noted that over the past two decades, many African countries have increased their…

Botswana and Namibia, in a resolutely pan-African dynamic, have just reached a major milestone in their economic cooperation with the conclusion of an agreement for the construction of a refinery estimated at $4 billion. This structuring project aims to strengthen the energy capacities of both countries, while accelerating their industrialization and stimulating job creation on...

On the occasion of the celebration of Africa Day set on May 25th, the date of the creation of the OAU, the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, announced a historic measure aimed at strengthening African integration. In his official speech delivered on May 25th, on the eve of the opening of the...

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...