First Independent Mena Newspaper
A diplomatic crisis has erupted between France and Mali following the arrest of Yann Vezilier, a French embassy employee accused by Mali’s military government of plotting to “destabilize” the Sahel country. Malian authorities allege Vezilier, whom they claim is linked to French intelligence, was recruiting military and civil society figures to orchestrate a coup. The […]
Despite “significant efforts” by Qatari mediators, peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and M23 rebels have missed key deadlines, as violence intensifies across eastern regions. A draft peace agreement — based on a Declaration of Principles signed in Doha on 19 July — was shared with both sides, according to a […]
The Sahel has experienced a sustained high level of lethality tied to militant Islamist groups in recent years. The nearly 10,500 average annual deaths over the past 3 years are more than double the 4,900 annual fatalities experienced between 2020 and 2023, according to a recent study by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. This […]
In a landmark move to boost its influence in Africa, Russia last week hosted its first official military consultations with the defense chiefs of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — members of the recently formalized Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The high-level talks in Moscow, led by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, concluded with the […]
The African Union (AU) is calling for a global map correction, challenging the centuries-old Mercator projection that drastically shrinks Africa’s size and influence in global perception. Backed by advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, the ‘Correct The Map campaign urges the adoption of the 2018 Equal Earth projection to accurately reflect the […]
In a historic move that redefines global diplomacy, the United Nations is relocating major operations from New York and Geneva to Nairobi, Kenya, signaling a shift in the center of global influence toward the Global South. By 2026, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UN Women will establish significant global offices in Nairobi — home to the UN’s […]
Mali’s transitional government says it has thwarted an attempted coup, arresting two high-ranking military generals and a suspected French intelligence agent in what it describes as a plot backed by foreign powers to destabilize the state. Security Minister General Daoud Aly Mohammedine announced the arrests Thursday (14 August), confirming speculation that had been circulating for […]
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is making one of its largest military hardware acquisitions in recent years, securing over 160 armored vehicles from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to reinforce its fight against armed groups in the troubled eastern provinces. The vehicles, including the Kasser II mine-resistant ambush-protected units, are designed to withstand […]
Africa’s long-fragmented cross-border payment systems may be on the cusp of transformation, driven by emerging alternatives to Western-dominated networks like SWIFT. The launch of BRICS Pay — a decentralized platform aiming to settle transactions in local currencies — signals a broader push to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar and challenge the geopolitical sway it […]
Burkina Faso has received a significant shipment of Chinese-manufactured military equipment, marking a notable step in its armed forces’ modernization and further consolidating Beijing’s growing defense footprint across Africa. The delivery, unveiled via social media and confirmed by defense analysts, includes VN22B wheeled fire support vehicles, PLL-05 120mm self-propelled gun-mortars, and SR5 multiple rocket launch […]