First Independent Mena Newspaper
The United States has launched a sweeping reassessment of Kenya’s Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, raising alarm over President William Ruto’s growing ties with China, Russia, Iran, and links to extremist groups. Granted in June 2024, Kenya’s MNNA designation made it the first sub-Saharan African country to join an exclusive list of U.S. defense partners. […]
The United Nations has confirmed that at least 319 civilians — including 48 women and 19 children — were brutally killed by M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 9 and 21 July, marking one of the deadliest episodes since the group’s resurgence in 2022. According to UN Human Rights Chief Volker […]
Humanitarian aid sent by Morocco under the direct orders of King Mohammed VI has arrived in Gaza and is currently being distributed to displaced populations across the region, according to Mohamed Salem Cherkaoui, Director of the Rabat-based Bayt Mal Al-Qods Al-Sharif Agency. The shipment, totaling 180 tons, includes essential food supplies, medical equipment, and infant […]
Sudan’s government has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of recruiting and financing foreign mercenaries — including Colombians and fighters from unnamed African countries — to support the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in its ongoing civil war against the Sudanese Armed Forces. In a statement Monday (4 August), Sudan’s foreign ministry said it possesses […]
A training session for women involved in UN peacekeeping military operations kicked off on Monday at the headquarters of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) Southern Zone in Agadir, as part of a triangular partnership between Morocco, France, and the United Nations. This three-week training session brings together 23 female military personnel from 14 different countries, […]
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged African governments to take decisive action to strengthen the continent’s aviation sector, describing it as a vital engine for economic growth, connectivity, and job creation. Currently contributing $75 billion to Africa’s GDP and supporting 8.1 million jobs, the aviation industry is projected to grow at 4.1% annually, […]
Kenyan President William Ruto has pledged a record-breaking 600 million Kenyan shillings (approximately $4.6 million) to the national football team, Harambee Stars, should they clinch the 2025 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN). Addressing the players during a breakfast meeting in Nairobi over the weekend, Ruto described the moment as historic, noting that Kenya is hosting the […]
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 […]
Tanzania’s decision to bar foreign nationals from operating small businesses has ignited sharp backlash across East Africa, particularly from neighboring Kenya, with fears that it could fracture regional economic ties. The new directive, announced by Trade Minister Selemani Jafo, prohibits foreigners from engaging in 15 grassroots sectors such as salons, eateries, mobile money kiosks, and […]
Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are set to make continental football history as the first countries to jointly host the African Nations Championship (c), with the tournament kicking off Saturday in Dar es Salaam. The 19-team competition, running through August 30, represents a milestone in regional cooperation and serves as preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup […]