First Independent Mena Newspaper
Russia has offered to build a nuclear power plant in Niger, signaling a bold move to displace France’s decades-long dominance in the uranium-rich West African nation. The proposal, announced in July, comes amid escalating tensions between Niger’s military government and Paris, and as Niamey seeks greater control over its natural resources. Despite producing 4% of […]
Women and girls across the Sahel region are facing unprecedented and systemic threats as political instability, environmental degradation, and dwindling international support converge to erode their rights and safety, senior UN officials told the Security Council. Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, painted a grim picture of life for women in countries such as […]
Morocco’s centuries-old rotating savings system, known locally as “daret” or tontine, is undergoing a digital transformation aimed at addressing the financial exclusion affecting 53 percent of the country’s adult population. The new mobile application, developed by former French banking executives Nabil Chakir and Mourad Chokeir, seeks to modernize this informal financial practice while preserving its […]
With the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) set to expire in September, Kenya has launched last-minute negotiations with the United States to secure a bilateral trade agreement that could reshape its economic future. A high-level Kenyan delegation, led by Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, held talks in Washington with U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson […]
Libya’s Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, met on August 26 with winners of the second round of municipal elections, which saw strong youth representation and notable participation by women, according to preliminary results. He congratulated the new leaders, reminding them that their victory carries a weight of responsibility in serving citizens and managing local affairs. […]
The Sudanese Government has convened in Khartoum on Tuesday, August 26, for the first time since the outbreak of war in April 2023, with Prime Minister Kamil Idris and 22 Cabinet members focusing discussions on launching an inclusive national Dialogue and restoring stability. The meeting also addressed foreign relations, peacebuilding efforts, and strategies to rebuild […]
Morocco reached the final of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 after overcoming holders Senegal 5-3 on penalties following a tense 1-1 draw after extra-time at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Tuesday night. With the match still locked at 1-1 after extra-time, penalties decided the contest. Morocco converted all five of their […]
The political storm surrounding French LFI MEP Rima Hassan has laid bare a long-obscured truth among European leftists: Algeria is the principal architect and enforcer of the separatist narrative in the Sahara conflict. Rima Hassan, once hailed as the voice of Palestine in European politics and an echo of Algerian positions on the Sahara, now […]
Japan has decided to expel Polisario’s representatives from its territory and banned them from engaging in any political activity outside the African Union delegation that took part in the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) held from 19 to 23 August. The decision confirms Tokyo’s firm position of not recognizing the Polisario separatist […]
The latest report by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the Sahara conflict marks a decisive shift in favor of Morocco’s autonomy plan. Covering developments from July 2024 to June 2025, the report- submitted to the UN General Assembly- abandons the decades-old fixation on a referendum and instead highlights growing international support for Morocco’s autonomy […]