First Independent Mena Newspaper
Militant Islamist violence continues to escalate in the Sahel, shifting southward and westward to increasingly threaten security of coastal West African nations, according to a new report by Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS). Countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger remain at the epicenter of this violent surge, with fatalities and militant activity hitting […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has decided to terminate its six-month $5 million lobbying contract with the U.S. public relations firm Earhart Turner, instead preferring to pursue direct negotiations with the Trump administration. The lobbying contract, signed in March 2025, aimed to enhance Congo’s image in Washington, particularly in the context of a mineral […]
The Trump administration has reaffirmed its commitment to the $4 billion Lobito Corridor rail project in Africa, aiming to strengthen United States-Africa economic ties while countering China’s growing influence in the region. The initiative, which connects Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is seen as a vital trade route for transporting minerals […]
The opposition faction in South Sudan, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), has firmly rejected a directive from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) requiring its forces to gather in government-controlled territories. This rebuke was issued on Tuesday April 8 by Lam Paul Gabriel, the spokesperson for the opposition group, which is led by […]
The Trump administration has reiterated its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and reaffirmed that the autonomy plan represents the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute. This came in a State Department statement following talks in Washington between foreign minister Nasser Bourita and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “The […]
Terrorism continues to devastate Africa, with the Sahel and Somalia remaining epicenters of violent extremism, according to the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 report. The Sahel region, which is sometimes referred to as the “coup belt” of Africa, comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and surrounding areas, now accounts for more than half of the […]
Moroccan state-owned phosphate OCP Group and Maersk, a global leader in integrated logistics, have agreed to strengthen their long-standing collaboration and jointly advance innovative, resilient, and sustainable supply chain solutions. The alliance opens new chapter in the longstanding partnership between both companies, with a focus on delivering agile, digitalized, and sustainable logistics solutions to support […]
The already fragile economic and financial conditions in Algeria are expected to worsen as oil, the country’s main export, drops below $60 per barrel. Oil markets plunged following Trumps tariffs that triggered fears of a global slowdown and reduced demand for oil and gas, whose prices have also declined. Oil and gas represent the bulk […]
Thirty representatives from various Libyan political parties have expressed deep concerns over the ongoing political deadlock in the country during an introductory meeting with Hanna S. Tetteh, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya. The representatives underscored the urgent need to unify state institutions, accelerate the political process, and better manage resources, as […]
Morocco has reaffirmed unwavering commitment to the UN-led political process engaged to find a lasting and peaceful resolution to the Sahara regional conflict. Rabat’s firm stand was expressed by Speaker of the House of Councillors, Mohamed Ould Errachid, during the 150th assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU), convened in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, April 5-9. “Certain […]