First Independent Mena Newspaper
On Tuesday, European Union announced the removal of the United Arab Emirates from its “high-risk” list for money laundering. In addition to the UAE, the EU also delisted Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal, and Uganda. At the same time, Monaco was added to the list along with nine other countries. According to the […]
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, has emerged as the most powerful militant force in West Africa, now commanding up to 6,000 fighters and staging coordinated, high-impact attacks across the Sahel, experts warn. According new analysis titled ‘JNIM Expanding Geographic Reach and Staging Coordinated Attacks in the Sahel’, JNIM’s recent assaults in Timbuktu […]
The United States has outlined strict conditions for brokering a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), centering on the full withdrawal of Rwandan forces from eastern Congo. A draft agreement, verified by multiple diplomatic sources, requires Rwanda to remove its troops, weapons, and equipment before any deal can be finalized. […]
Human rights groups and Sudanese activists are calling on the United Kingdom to investigate Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for genocide and war crimes, after the recent submission of a 142-page legal dossier to Scotland Yard. The document, described as “compelling” by Sir Howard Morrison, a former judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC), details […]
Russia is intensifying efforts to boost its presence in Africa through expanded military and economic partnerships, even as its actual investments on the continent continue to lag behind lofty geopolitical ambitions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed this week that Russia’s presence in Africa is “growing,” with new emphasis on “sensitive areas such as defense and […]
At least 14 civilians were killed and numerous others wounded following artillery shelling by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Abu Shouk refugee camp in El-Fasher, North Darfur, a local emergency relief Committee reported on Wednesday, June 4. The attack has drawn sharp concern as El-Fasher remains a critical humanitarian lifeline for the […]
The United Nations Human Rights Office has expressed grave concern on Wednesday, 04 June over the discovery of dozens of bodies in a section of Libya’s capital, Tripoli, previously controlled by the Stabilization Support Authority (SSA), an armed militia whose commander, Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, was killed in factional clashes last month. The alarming findings include charred […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Liberia have been elected to serve two-year terms as of the United Nations Security Council, beginning January 2026. The two African nations secured overwhelming support in Tuesday’s (3 June) vote, with the DRC receiving 183 votes and Liberia 181 out of 193 UN member states. They will replace […]
The Trump administration has launched a bold new strategy to reshape U.S.-Africa relations, shifting focus from aid to aggressive commercial engagement. Announced in Abidjan on 14 May, the U.S. Commercial Diplomacy Strategy repositions diplomacy to prioritize trade, private investment, and strategic deal-making, aiming to counter China’s dominant economic presence across the continent. “From Washington we […]
Kenya has become a major transit hub for smuggled gold from conflict-ridden African countries, with illicit exports far exceeding official figures, according to a new SwissAid report. While the government declared only 672 kilograms of gold exports in 2023, the report estimates that over two tons — possibly far more — are illegally trafficked through […]