First Independent Mena Newspaper
The revival of the Lobito Corridor, a 1,300 km railway linking Zambia’s copper belt to Angola’s Atlantic coast, captures a profound change in Europe’s approach to Africa from development aid to transnationalism. Once a colonial-era route for mineral extraction, the line is now the centerpiece of the EU’s 2 billion euro investment under its Global […]
Morocco is advancing its direct social support system through enhanced data analytics and precision targeting, moving beyond category-based assistance toward household-specific assessments as authorities secure long-term funding for one of the nation’s largest social protection initiatives. Government officials detailed the program’s evolution in November parliamentary responses, outlining how the National Agency for Social Support implements […]
Egypt’s digital exports climbed to $7.4 billion in 2025, marking a 124 per cent increase from $3.3 billion in 2018, Communications and Information Technology Minister Amr Talaat announced on Monday, 22 December 2025. The minister said the surge has underpinned sustained annual growth of 14–16 per cent in the ICT sector, with outsourcing exports doubling […]
Morocco’s government has approved a five percent minimum wage increase effective January 1, 2026, for non-agricultural sectors, establishing new legal remuneration thresholds businesses must observe. The Government Council approved the related decree this December, continuing multi-year wage enhancement dynamics. According to the Employment Ministry, the minimum interprofessional guaranteed wage will have progressed 20 percent during […]
Morocco’s central bank detailed in a recent report its efforts to reduce reliance on cash- which has been dominating the economy- and promoting mobile payments to boost financial inclusion. In its 2024 annual report on financial market infrastructure and payment systems, Bank Al-Maghrib outlined regulatory and operational measures aimed to address entrenched habits relying on […]
The United Kingdom has launched a comprehensive new approach to African engagement, pivoting from traditional aid frameworks toward investment-driven partnerships emphasizing trade, climate action, and long-term collaboration. Baroness Chapman of Darlington, UK Minister for Development and Africa, unveiled the policy this week in London before African ambassadors, high commissioners, parliamentarians, civil society representatives, and private […]
Morocco’s government has prioritized public investment performance and its tangible impact on economic growth, job creation, and territorial equity, according to Budget Minister Fouzi Lekjaa. This orientation aligns with royal directives calling for transition from quantitative to qualitative approaches in public investment management. Speaking at the parliament question time, Lekjaa emphasized that sectoral studies demonstrate […]
Morocco is one of only two countries in the African sample, alongside Zimbabwe, where local education authorities work with clear, measurable learning goals and formal performance contracts with schools, according to a UNESCO education report. The report, relayed by Hespress news outlet, looks at how African countries are progressing on basic education completion and foundational […]
Policymakers and former officials from Africa, Europe, and Latin America who participated in the various panels held as part of 14th Annual International Conference “The Atlantic Dialogues”, organized by the Policy Center for the New South, have hailed the initiatives launched by King Mohammed VI which have strengthened Morocco’s Leadership in Africa. In this connection, […]
Morocco has called for a rebuilding of partnerships between the shores of the Atlantic, to the benefit of Southern countries, which need today, more than ever, renewed and balanced partnerships. The call was launched at the opening of the 14th edition of Atlantic Dialogues, held by The Policy Center for the New South, on Thursday, […]