What We Do
Discreet intelligence for complex African situations
Understanding the realities behind a business relationship, counterparty, senior appointment, or operating environment in Africa often requires more than public records and desktop research.
AfriIntel advises clients on sensitive reputational, relationship, and counterparty questions across African markets. The firm combines investigative research, regional expertise, and discreet local enquiries to provide grounded intelligence where documentary sources alone reveal only part of the picture.
This work typically supports decisions in transactions, disputes, strategic partnerships, market entry, and other situations where clarity matters and uncertainty carries real consequences.
Where AfriIntel helps
AfriIntel is typically engaged where clients need a clearer view of:
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Counterparties, partners, and local relationships
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Reputational or integrity concerns around individuals or companies
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Ownership structures and hidden affiliations
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Local stakeholder dynamics and operating realities
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Sensitive issues arising in transactions, disputes, or strategic decisions
Who we work with
Typical clients include:
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Investors and deal teams active in African markets
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Legal and disputes teams handling sensitive matters
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Advisory firms seeking discreet Africa-focused intelligence support
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Boards and senior decision-makers facing difficult reputation or relationship questions
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Companies entering, expanding, or assessing risk in-country
How we work
AfriIntel is a specialist Africa-focused practice, led by Theo Stainer and supported by a small team and high-quality network. The firm works selectively and prioritises depth, discretion, and sound judgment over volume.
Case Studies
Pre-acquisition integrity check, Kenya
A global advisory firm instructed AfriIntel ahead of a client's planned acquisition of a Kenyan retail business. The target company had a well-regarded public profile, but the client had concerns about the integrity and judgment of its senior management.
AfriIntel conducted targeted source enquiries with former counterparties, sector contacts, and individuals with direct knowledge of the management team. Sources described several material concerns regarding the conduct and judgment of key individuals - none of which had surfaced in previous due diligence exercises conducted over prior years, and none of which were visible in online media or public records.
The client used the findings to restructure the commercial terms of the deal and introduce additional protections before proceeding.
Reputational due diligence, Zambia
An investor was evaluating a significant stake in a Zambian energy infrastructure project and needed independent comfort on the local ownership structure and the reputations of key local partners.
Public records provided limited visibility. AfriIntel engaged sources within the energy sector, the legal community, and government-adjacent circles to build a grounded picture of the local partners' backgrounds, political affiliations, and track record on previous projects. The enquiry identified a close association between one partner and a politically exposed individual whose involvement had not been disclosed in the project documentation.
The investor sought further disclosure before committing capital.
Background enquiry, Southern Africa
A C-suite executive instructed AfriIntel to conduct a background enquiry on a prominent businessman across Southern Africa ahead of a proposed senior appointment at a financial services firm.
The subject carried a low public profile: an extensive open-source review, including a thorough search of court records, regulatory filings, company records, and media, returned no adverse findings and no obvious red flags.
AfriIntel then conducted structured source enquiries with former colleagues, professional counterparties, and individuals with direct knowledge of the subject's career at various stages. Sources were broadly consistent in verifying his career history and added substantive colour to his professional reputation and character - the kind of qualitative picture that public records and desktop research cannot provide. The enquiries also identified a dispute with a former employer that had not surfaced through any prior research channel.
The appointing firm was able to proceed with a significantly fuller picture of the candidate than open-source work alone would have provided - and with the confidence that the absence of adverse findings in public records reflected a genuine picture rather than an incomplete one.