Robert Bourgi

Robert Bourgi the 79-year-old last éminence grise of Françafrique has revealed all – mostly – in a book about his 40-year-career first as a trusted lieutenant of Jacques Foccart and then after inheriting his mantle...

Karim himself seems to have taken a vow of silence since one of the lords of Françafrique French lawyer Robert Bourgi told the world about his desperate telephone request for French military intervention during June's riots...

During the rioting on 27 June Karim Wade fearing a revolution telephoned the uncrowned king of Françafrique the lawyer Robert Bourgi pleading for French military intervention (AC Vol 52 No 13 One day son)...

Guéant backed by the lawyer Robert Bourgi who has become a buffer between African leaders and Sarkozy has much more influence on policy than Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner...

In France he has amassed a network of supporters in the Elysée Palace including presidential Secretary Claude Guéant and lawyer and Special Advisor on Africa Robert Bourgi...

Rufin's replacement former Ambassador to Congo-Brazzaville Nicolas Normand may survive longer; he has strong support from Robert Bourgi...

Guéant (often referred to as ‘the other foreign minister’) and Joyandet together with diplomatic fixer and lawyer Robert Bourgi pushed for much greater pragmatism in dealing with putschists in Mauritania Niger Madagascar and Comoros...

Toubon is a member of the opaque and influential political Club 89 - as is Maurice Robert who worked with the Françafrique dinosaur Jacques Foccart and lawyer Robert Bourgi Sarkozy's current Africa go-between...

Intermediaries such as lawyer Robert Bourgi will remain important for back-channel communications with Elysée officials such as Claude Guéant and Bruno Joubert...

These oddities attracted no comment from a select group of French lawyers and magistrates brought in by Maître Robert Bourgi Bongo's lawyer and a friend of Chirac's...