First Independent Mena Newspaper
Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) paints a bleak picture of corruption worldwide, with many African countries showing their worst results in over a decade. The report, released on Tuesday (11 February), reveals that 47 countries out of 180 surveyed scored their lowest marks since 2012, signaling an alarming global rise in corruption. On […]
Nigeria’s senate plans to pass legislation to criminalize the export of corn amid concerns over hunger and rising staple prices in Africa’s most populous nation. Nigeria has been grappling with a worsening food inflation which surged to 39.16% in October this year. This inflation has been exacerbated by climate conditions, currency devaluation and the removal […]
The 21st annual Marrakech International Film Festival concluded on Saturday with the awarding of the festival’s various prizes. The prize, the Golden Star, was awarded to“Happy Holidays” movie by Palestinian director Scandar Copti. The 123-minute feature film delicately examines the tension between emancipation and conservatism within the 1948 Palestinian society, reflecting a profound belief that […]
Morocco’s OCP group plans to issue an ordinary bond to raise 5 billion dirhams or 500 million dollars as it seeks funding for its ambitious green energy and desalination projects, financial markets regulator AMMC said. OCP, a market mover in phosphates and fertilizers production, plans to go green by 2040 as it forges ahead to […]
Africa needs further access to sustainable finance to achieve development goals and bolster growth, Moroccan finance minister Nadia Fattah said. “The long-awaited growth of our continent depends heavily on the ability of our countries to access the financing needed to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda […]
As the Horn of Africa is facing multiple and complex challenges, two important forums have recently brought together experts, politicians, diplomats and traditional leaders to discuss ways to strengthen regional stability and security. The Horn of Africa is currently experiencing high levels of instability and political violence, from the civil wars in Ethiopia and Sudan, […]
Russia has offered to construct spaceports on the territory of friendly African nations, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, and others, just as the competition among the great powers heats up as they jostle over who will control rocket launch sites projects across the continent. Russian state space corporation Roscosmos, which is one of the foreign investors […]
Senegal’s ruling PASTEF party has achieved a decisive parliamentary victory, securing 130 of 165 seats according to provisional election results. This overwhelming majority empowers newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to implement his comprehensive reform agenda targeting corruption, fishing industry revitalization, and natural resource management. The opposition coalition, led by former President Macky Sall, captured […]
Libya has been elected to chair the International Olive Council (IOC), formerly the International Olive Oil Council, for a one-year term. The election took place during the 120th session of the IOC, held this week in Spain. Libya competed against Uruguay and Israel for the position. Iran, the outgoing chair, had sought an extension of […]
Egyptian MP Essam Diab has urged Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Communications Minister Amr Talaat to ban TikTok, accusing the platform of undermining societal and family values. Diab described in a Facebook statement, the app as a source of “debauchery and obscenity” threatening Egyptian identity and ethics. Diab, who submitted a formal briefing request, argued […]