First Independent Mena Newspaper
Morocco has maintained its position at the 50th rank in the 2025 edition of the “Global Soft Power Index,” published by Brand Finance. The country ranks highly among African nations, coming in third in the continent, behind Egypt (38th) and South Africa (41st). Morocco rounds out Africa’s top three, securing the 50th position globally with […]
The violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to escalate as several members of the Congolese police force have defected to the M23 rebel group, which recently captured the key cities of Goma and Bukavu. The defections have fueled local concern, as officers jubilantly joined the rebels, further destabilizing the region. The M23, […]
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has partnered with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to enhance efforts in fighting financial crime and corruption across Africa. The two organizations signed a Letter of Intent last week to strengthen their collaboration in tackling illicit financial flows, cybercrime, and money laundering. This partnership is the first for a […]
Sudan’s military achieved a significant victory on Sunday, breaking a nearly two-year-long siege of the crucial city of Obeid by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The city located in the country’s southern-central region, which serves as the capital of North Kordofan province, had been under siege by the RSF since the war broke out […]
Mali’s military government has initiated an investigation into the alleged ‘cold execution’ of at least 24 civilians, including women and children, in the volatile northern part of the Sahel country. The accusations were made by the Tuareg separatist group, the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which is battling the Malian government in the same region. According […]
Tunisia has taken the decision to sever all communication with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following claims from President Kais Saied that the IMF is overstepping its role and interfering in the country’s economic sovereignty. This move reflects rising tensions between the Tunisian Government and the global financial institution, which has been a key partner […]
Syria’s newly appointed President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has received an invitation from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi to attend an emergency Arab League summit in Cairo on March 4, as confirmed by a statement from the Syrian presidency on Sunday February 23. This marks a significant development in Syria’s efforts to rebuild its relationships with the […]
The European Union’s Ambassador to Libya, Nicola Orlando, reiterated the EU’s commitment to improving primary healthcare services across Libya. His comments followed a meeting with Ramadan Abu Janah, the Minister of Health in the Government of National Unity, in Tripoli, held on Sunday February 23. Orlando took to social media to share his optimism regarding […]
Atlantique Finance, a subsidiary of Morocco’s pan-African Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) group, has emerged as the leading investment and brokerage firm in West Africa’s economic and monetary union, achieving a remarkable 25% market share and transaction volume of 235 billion CFA francs (approximately $358 million) in 2024. The firm’s ascent to market leadership among 36 […]
President Kais Saied urged lawmakers to end the independence of the monetary policy in the country by adopting a law that would allow the treasury to borrow directly from the central bank. The move is the latest in a series of moves to concentrate all powers in his firm grip, after he sapped the democratic […]