First Independent Mena Newspaper
Russia is intensifying its involvement in West Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, as military governments in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso seek to distance themselves from Western influence. Following talks with three of his counterparts from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Moscow on Thursday (3 April), Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov accused […]
Moroccan banking activity improved in 2024 with major banks reporting record profits totaling $2.3 billion, a 21.3% increase compared with the previous year. The net profit attributable to shareholders rose by nearly 20% to 19.2 billion dirhams ($2 bln). The growth was spurred by the recovery in banking activity, cost reduction, and contained risk cost. […]
African nations are investing billions in airport infrastructure as passenger traffic across the continent is projected to double to 300 million annually by 2040, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which forecasts average growth of 5.7% per year through 2034. Ethiopia leads this transformation with plans for Africa’s largest airport near Bishoftu, 40km […]
Military governments in the Sahel are steering their nations toward greater control over mineral extraction as part of a broader strategy to diversify economies and reduce reliance on foreign companies. In Niger, a draft decree adopted by the Council of Ministers has recently granted to Niger-owned Compagnie Minière de Recherche et d’Exploitation (COMIREX SA) a […]
Trump has imposed a 31% reciprocal trade tariff on Algeria, the highest levy in north Africa. Algeria, which charges a tariff to the US at 59%, was part of a long list of countries hit by import taxes, which Trump imposed via executive order. Tunisia was targeted with 28%, while it charges the US 55%. […]
French Minister of Industry and Energy Marc Ferracci and the Special Envoy of President Emmanuel Macron for energy partnership Gérard Mestrallet will travel to Ouarzazate to take part in a major energy event scheduled for April 23 with the participation of Moroccan ministers of energy transition and Equipment, Ms. Leila Benali and Nizar Baraka. As […]
The IMF has approved a flexible credit line worth $4.5 billion to help Morocco cushion against external shocks. The two-year arrangement will be treated by Moroccan authorities as precautionary, the IMF said in a statement. “The Moroccan economy has shown a sustained track record of implementing very strong policies and remarkable resilience to recent shocks, […]
The President of the Andean Parliament, Gustavo Pacheco Villar, praised, on Thursday in Laayoune, Morocco’s socio-economic development momentum, particularly in the southern provinces, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. “Morocco represents a miracle in terms of development at the continental level and serves as a model for African nations,” Pacheco Villar told the press […]
President of the Andean Parliament, Gustavo Pacheco Villar, has expressed his support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its Sahara, and praised the Kingdom’s commitment to upholding international law. In a statement to the press following a meeting in Rabat Wednesday with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, the President of the Andean […]
A clear divide has emerged in Africa’s public-private partnership (PPP) landscape, with five nations, including Morocco and Egypt, establishing themselves as continental leaders while others face significant challenges in attracting and managing private investment for public infrastructure. Morocco, which is part of the leaders’ tier, has developed a holistic strategy centered around landmark achievements in […]