First Independent Mena Newspaper
Massad Boulos, newly appointed senior advisor for Africa at the US State Department, is set to begin a diplomatic mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda. The trip, which starts on 3 March, aims to foster peace in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels continue their offensive, and encourage increased […]
The foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are set to visit Moscow this week to deepen their strategic partnership with Russia, marking a significant shift in the region’s diplomatic and security landscape. The visit, scheduled for 3-4 April, represents the first-ever AES-Russia consultations following the establishment of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) […]
The United Nations has raised alarm over the growing control of M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with fears that the group could seize additional provinces. Bintou Keita, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO), briefed the UN Security Council on Thursday (27 March), revealing that M23 rebels now […]
The 39th edition of the legendary Marathon Des Sables will take place in Moroccan Sahara from 4 to 14 April with the participation of nearly 1,000 athletes from 52 countries. The 250 km-long challenging desert crossing over seven days, roughly the distance of six marathons, enables participants to test their limits, meet local inhabitants and […]
Tensions in South Sudan have further escalated following the arrest of first vice president Riek Machar, raising fears of a return to civil war. A convoy of heavily armed vehicles reportedly entered Machar’s residence in Juba on Wednesday (26 March), where he was detained without clear charges, violating constitutional procedures. The arrest, which comes after […]
A new report warns of escalating rivalries among Tigrayan political leaders, raising fears that these tensions could derail the process of reintegrating the region into Ethiopia’s federal structure, ultimately spiraling into a broader conflict involving neighboring Eritrea and other regional powers. A fragile ceasefire, signed in November 2022 between Ethiopia’s government and the Tigray People’s […]
A human trafficking network operating between Bangladesh and Libya has been dismantled following a successful operation by the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA). The operation led to the arrest of three individuals—one Libyan and two Bangladeshi nationals—who are accused of preparing 17 Bangladeshi migrants for illegal transport to Europe. According to reports, the traffickers were arranging […]
A total of 956 Nigerians have been evacuated from Libya so far this year, with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Nigeria and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI). The returnees, which include 683 women, 132 men, 87 children, and 54 infants, were brought back in six […]
The fragile ceasefire between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed rebels in eastern Congo deteriorated Monday as M23 fighters reneged on withdrawal commitments from the strategic town of Walikale while accusing the army of violating agreed terms. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka claimed government forces failed to remove attack drones from the area, declaring this “a major obstacle […]
In a significant contribution to educational infrastructure, Atlantic Bank, a subsidiary of the Moroccan Central Popular Bank (BCP) Group, has provided two new classrooms to the Poun Nord public school in Burkina Faso’s Didyr district. The donation comes as part of Atlantic Bank’s ongoing commitment to education and social development in Burkina Faso. The bank […]