First Independent Mena Newspaper
Morocco has uncovered 20 historic shipwrecks beneath its Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, marking a significant milestone in understanding the kingdom’s maritime heritage and prompting new legislative protections for underwater cultural assets. The National Center for Studies and Research in Underwater Cultural Heritage announced the discoveries across several coastal regions, including El Jadida and northern Morocco. […]
A new U.S. policy introducing a non-waivable $250 “visa integrity fee” for nonimmigrant visa applicants — particularly from African nations — has drawn sharp criticism for raising barriers to travel, education, and business. Part of the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, the fee applies to nearly all visa categories, including tourist […]
Somalia has intensified its campaign against terrorism financing, taking decisive action to dismantle the financial infrastructure sustaining extremist group Al-Shabaab. The National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), led by Finance Minister Bihi Iman Egeh, reported the deactivation of 575 mobile lines and the freezing of 21 bank accounts […]
In a major development for U.S. mineral strategy in Africa, KoBold Metals, a California-based company backed by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, has signed a landmark agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to explore and develop the Manono lithium project — one of the world’s richest untapped lithium deposits. The deal, witnessed […]
The Casablanca Stock Exchange achieved a historic milestone last week, crossing the one trillion dirham market capitalization threshold for the first time, confirming the Moroccan financial market’s growing maturity and investor confidence. The benchmark MASI index advanced 1.30 percent during the week, breaking through the psychological 19,000-point barrier. This achievement reflects sustained market consolidation driven […]
The African Development Bank has approved 100 million euros in financing for Morocco’s inclusive agriculture program targeting women and youth, aiming to enhance food security and climate resilience while creating sustainable rural entrepreneurship opportunities. The Support Program for Inclusive Solidarity Agriculture for Women and Youth (PAASIFEJ) will stimulate entrepreneurship in rural areas through adapted financing […]
Egypt’s Environment Minister, Dr Yasmine Fouad, has officially resigned to assume her new post as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Egyptian cabinet confirmed on Sunday, July 20. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly accepted her resignation and appointed Local Development Minister Manal Awad to temporarily oversee the Environment portfolio alongside […]
Sudan’s Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority has announced it will suspend voice and video call services on Meta’s WhatsApp platform beginning next Friday, citing threats to national security. The decision, described as a “precautionary measure,” comes as the war-torn country struggles with severely damaged communication infrastructure, particularly in Darfur and Kordofan. The restriction is expected […]
Authorities in eastern Libya have announced over the weekend that they have deported 700 Sudanese migrants back to their conflict-ridden homeland as part of a sweeping campaign against illegal migration and human trafficking. The deportees, some of whom were reported to have infectious diseases or criminal records, were sent by land to Sudan. This crackdown, […]
Tunisia’s natural gas resources have declined by 11% as of May 2025, totalling 809 kilotonnes of oil equivalent (ktep), according to the latest report from the National Observatory for Energy and Mines. This includes both domestic output and fiscal royalties from Algerian gas transit. Key gas fields such as Nawara, Hasdrubal, and Miskar experienced sharp […]