First Independent Mena Newspaper
A diplomatic crisis has erupted between France and Mali following the arrest of Yann Vezilier, a French embassy employee accused by Mali’s military government of plotting to “destabilize” the Sahel country. Malian authorities allege Vezilier, whom they claim is linked to French intelligence, was recruiting military and civil society figures to orchestrate a coup. The […]
Upon instructions of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of Al-Quds Committee, Morocco is sending an additional 100 tons of emergency humanitarian assistance to the inhabitants of Gaza, said a press release issued Monday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The additional relief consists mostly of foodstuffs and medicines for children and infants. In early August, Morocco […]
Despite “significant efforts” by Qatari mediators, peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and M23 rebels have missed key deadlines, as violence intensifies across eastern regions. A draft peace agreement — based on a Declaration of Principles signed in Doha on 19 July — was shared with both sides, according to a […]
Morocco’s handicraft sector posted a 14% year-on-year increase in exports during the first seven months of 2025, driven by surging demand for traditional garments and a sharp rise in shipments to Turkey and the United States, according to government data. Total exports reached 737 million dirhams ($72 million) between January and July, up from 648 […]
The Sahel has experienced a sustained high level of lethality tied to militant Islamist groups in recent years. The nearly 10,500 average annual deaths over the past 3 years are more than double the 4,900 annual fatalities experienced between 2020 and 2023, according to a recent study by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. This […]
Tunisia was flagged among four other African nations by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for prolonged delays in completing their mandatory Article IV consultations. The other African nations are: Sudan, Eritrea, Liberia, and Senegal, among 13 member states globally. Article IV consultations are annual economic assessments conducted by IMF staff to evaluate a country’s macroeconomic […]
A U.S. delegation composed of diplomats and military officials from the American Embassy in Rabat reportedly arrived on Monday in the Moroccan Saharan city of Laayoune for talks with MINURSO leadership, including Head of UN Mission Alexander Ivanko and Commander of MINURSO Force, Major Gen. Fakhrul Ahsan. According to press reports, talks are expected to […]
A joint counterterrorism operation between Spain and Morocco has led to the arrest of two individuals suspected of jihadist activity in Catalonia, underscoring the role of Morocco’s security services in pre-emptive action against terrorist cells. On Thursday, Spanish National Police, with critical support from Morocco’s General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), detained two men aged […]
When a 21-year-old bus plunged off a bridge into the Oued El Harrach on August 15, killing 18 and injuring 24, it didn’t just crash into a river, it sank into a lake of sewage that has been left untreated since the country’s independence. The site, long known for its toxic pollution and foul stench, […]
In a landmark move to boost its influence in Africa, Russia last week hosted its first official military consultations with the defense chiefs of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — members of the recently formalized Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The high-level talks in Moscow, led by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, concluded with the […]