First Independent Mena Newspaper
Lower-income countries are paying private creditors nearly three times more than they repay China, according to new research by UK-based advocacy group Debt Justice, challenging dominant narratives around global debt. Between 2020 and 2025, 39% of the $354 billion in external debt repayments from 88 low-income countries and small island states will go to private […]
Morocco’s tax revenues rose by 19.1% in the first half of 2025, reaching 186.34 billion dirhams (MMDH), driven primarily by corporate income tax (IS) receipts, which soared 34.7% to 55.98 MMDH. This increase is largely attributed to payments linked to the 2024 fiscal year, the reference year for provisional installments. The rise comes despite a […]
South African Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has sharply criticized the 30% tariffs imposed by the U.S. on South African exports, calling them a symptom of a “declining empire” lashing out in desperation. “The danger with the US imposing the 30% tariffs is that it is the kicking of a declining empire,” Mantashe told industry […]
Finance and economy ministers from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have agreed to fast-track the launch of a new regional financial institution aimed at bolstering economic sovereignty and reducing dependence on external donors, following their exit from regional bloc Ecowas. In a recent meeting in Niamey, officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger reached […]
Misjudged risk assessments and persistent financial bias are costing African countries a staggering $75 billion annually in inflated borrowing costs and lost revenues, according to the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). AFC President Samaila Zubairu described the misperception as a “prejudice premium,” arguing that Africa’s default rates are “really, really exaggerated.” Research by Moody’s Ratings supports […]
Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has raised the red flag following revelations of $2.1 billion in suspicious cryptocurrency transactions across West Africa in 2024, according to a study by the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). SEC Director-General, Emomotimi Agama, speaking at the recent West Africa Compliance Summit in Cape […]
Morocco’s budget deficit remained within manageable limits during the first half of 2025, despite an increase in public spending, according to new figures released by the General Treasury of the Kingdom (TGR). As of the end of June, the deficit stood at 24.8 billion dirhams, a level consistent with the targets set in the 2025 […]
The International Monetary Fund’s 2024–2025 Executive Board report offers a nuanced view of Mauritania’s economic outlook, acknowledging strides in macroeconomic stability and reform while underlining persistent vulnerabilities. Security instability in the broader Sahel region remains a critical constraint, diverting public resources toward defense and deterring foreign investment. The fragile regional context, coupled with Mauritania’s reliance […]
The United States, which recognizes Morocco’s full sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory, is expected to release $5 billion funding for the development of the Moroccan Sahara, set to become a major regional economic hub, says Africa Intelligence news website. After years of being frozen under Joe Biden’s Democratic administration, the Trump administration will release […]
La Conserverie des 2 Mers, a French-owned anchovy processing company based in Tangier’s Moghogha industrial zone, has secured funding from MED TEST to modernize its production facility with advanced energy efficiency and environmental protection measures. The investment marks a significant step toward sustainable food processing in Morocco’s thriving seafood industry. The subsidiary of French seafood […]