First Independent Mena Newspaper
Algeria’s economic foundations are showing serious cracks, including an unsustainable fiscal system, rigid economic structure, dependence on oil and mounting external vulnerabilities, the IMF warned in a new report. The budget deficit expanded to 13.9% of GDP in 2024, one of the highest in the region, the IMF said, noting that this sharp deterioration stems […]
Morocco’s tourism sector is experiencing unprecedented growth and is expected to surpass the milestone of 20 million tourist arrivals this year, tourism minister Fatima Zahra Ammor said. With 7.2 million visitors recorded during the first five months of 2025, a 22% increase compared to the same period last year, the performance of the tourism sector […]
The Senegalese government has officially ditched a land deal with American-Senegalese singer Akon, effectively halting his ambitious plan to build a futuristic, cryptocurrency-powered city dubbed “Akon City.” The project, first announced in 2018, promised a $6 billion “real-life Wakanda”, a high-tech utopia powered by renewable energy and using Akon’s own digital currency, AKoin. The city […]
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) said it is working with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Nigeria’s EbonyLife Media to study the feasibility of launching a pan-African investment vehicle targeting the continent’s film sector. The initiative aims to unlock fresh private and institutional capital to help African producers create and distribute stories for global audiences, […]
Morocco has signed a major defense agreement with U.S. aerospace company L3Harris to modernize its fleet of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The deal, signed on July 3, marks a significant step in the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s (FRA) strategy to extend the operational life of its C-130H aircraft while preparing for the eventual acquisition of […]
Ecuador inaugurated on Friday an Embassy in Rabat, its first diplomatic mission in the Maghreb region, at a ceremony attended by Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Gabriela Sommerfeld, and her Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita. During the inauguration ceremony, Sommerfeld stated that the opening of the embassy marks the beginning of a new era of dynamism in Morocco-Ecuador […]
Rabat is hosting Africa’s largest gaming expo, which positions Morocco as a regional leader in the video game industry. The event, which wraps up on July 6, has drawn major international attention, with participation from global gaming companies, investors, and educational institutions. It also featured high-profile guests such as Japanese game design legend Yoshiki Okamoto, […]
Ecuador reaffirmed that the Morocco-proposed Autonomy Initiative represents “the basis” to resolve the regional dispute over the Sahara. This position was voiced by Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Gabriela Sommerfeld, during a joint press briefing with her Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita, following talks in Rabat on Friday. Ecuador, aligning with the majority of UN member states, also […]
Morocco has recently welcomed two high-profile international film and television productions, reinforcing its status as a preferred destination for global filmmakers. In Tangier, the American television series The Agency, produced by George Clooney for Paramount and Showtime, is currently in production. The series, which centers on espionage and intelligence operations, utilizes Tangier’s urban landscape to […]
The European Union has announced a new €13.5 million initiative in Mauritania aimed at strengthening food and nutrition security through sustainable and inclusive food systems. Known as SYSALIM (Systèmes Alimentaires Durables et Inclusifs), the five-year program will be implemented by the Belgian development agency Enabel across seven interior regions (wilayas) of the country. SYSALIM seeks […]