First Independent Mena Newspaper
African nations are racing against time to renegotiate trade terms with the United States, as sweeping tariffs — initially set to begin 1 August — now loom for 7 August following a last-minute executive order by President Donald Trump. Trump’s latest executive order slaps a uniform 15% tariff on most African exports — threatening industries […]
Morocco’s unemployment rate declined marginally to 12.8% in the second quarter of 2025, down 0.3 percentage points from 13.1% in the same period last year, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP). While the improvement breaks recent upward trends, it masks deepening structural vulnerabilities in the labor market, particularly affecting youth, women, and rural […]
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 […]
Morocco’s foreign trade landscape has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, with Asian economies- led by China, Turkey, and India- emerging as key suppliers, gradually reshaping the Kingdom’s traditional reliance on European partners. According to data from the Moroccan Exchange Office, between 2015 and 2024, China’s exports to Morocco surged by 194%, rising […]
The Trump administration’s sweeping new tariffs on African exports have triggered a wave of mixed reactions across the continent, as governments, businesses, and civil society grapple with the implications of the United States’ evolving trade posture. Under an executive order signed on July 31, tariffs ranging from 15% to 30% were imposed on 20 African […]
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 […]
As Morocco is becoming a popular tourist destination, airline companies see an opportunity to increase flights and routes to meet the growing demand for the North African Kingdom. This is true for American Delta Air Lines and Transavia Airlines which have been attracted by the Moroccan destination. Delta has announced its decision to launch a […]
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 […]