Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, we take a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.
Kinshasa’s balancing act Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has been intensifying his diplomatic maneuvering ahead of a busy end-of-year calendar. With security tensions mounting in the east and international partners growing restless over the slow rollout of promised reforms, Tshisekedi has leaned on discreet back channels with Paris and Washington. His inner circle is also eyeing new openings with Gulf capitals, hoping to attract fresh investment into mining and infrastructure while keeping regional allies guessing.
Bangui’s quiet recalibration In the Central African Republic, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra is working behind the scenes to diversify his alliances. While Russia’s Wagner group has long been a central pillar of his security architecture, Touadéra has quietly opened the door to renewed European Union engagement, particularly in training and advisory support. His strategy, aides say, is to avoid overdependence on any single partner — a delicate task in a capital where foreign influence is as deeply entrenched as local politics.
Delhi’s strategic push In New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been turning his attention to Africa with renewed urgency. Following high-profile summits with leaders from across the continent, Modi has instructed his advisers to identify priority states where India’s blend of infrastructure projects, technology transfers, and defense cooperation could deliver maximum leverage. Energy security and rare minerals top the agenda, with East and Central Africa increasingly viewed as critical to India’s long-term geopolitical positioning.
From Kinshasa to Bangui and Delhi, the intrigues of power remain as much about perception as reality and the ability of leaders to keep allies, rivals, and citizens alike guessing.
