First Independent Mena Newspaper
Three Chadian journalists remain in pre-trial custody after being arrested earlier this month on charges of colluding with Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group, prompting warning about the government’s “broader crackdown” on critical voices in the landlocked Sahel country. The journalists, including Radio France Internationale’s Chad correspondent Olivier Monodji, are accused of espionage, conspiracy, and undermining Chad’s […]
The United States has vowed to use “overwhelming lethal force” against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, following a series of airstrikes that killed at least 53 people over the weekend. The Pentagon emphasized that while the strikes are meant to deter the Houthis from resuming attacks, they do not aim to create an “endless offensive” or bring […]
Angola’s presidency confirmed that peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the M23 rebel group will proceed as planned in Luanda, despite the rebels’ withdrawal from the negotiations. The M23 announced on Monday (17 March) they were pulling out due to sanctions imposed by the European Union on several Rwandan officials, […]
Civil society groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are calling for a fresh review of the country’s mining agreement with Chinese companies, citing substantial financial losses and continued imbalances despite a 2024 renegotiation. The “Congo Is Not For Sale” coalition (CNPAV) claims that the revised deal, originally signed in 2008 by the then-president […]
Sudan has imposed a complete ban on Kenyan imports in response to Kenya’s role in hosting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allies, who recently formed a parallel government in Nairobi. The decision, issued by Sudan’s Ministry of Trade, halts the entry of Kenyan goods, including essential items like tea, food, and pharmaceuticals, […]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling for an investigation into a brutal massacre in Burkina Faso, where dozens of civilians were reportedly killed by government-aligned militias. The attack occurred in the western city of Solenzo, with video footage circulating on social media showing bodies of ethnic Fulani civilians, including women, children and elderly, bound and […]
South Africa has expressed disappointment following the United States’ expulsion of its ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, calling the decision “regrettable” but reaffirming its commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic ties with Washington. The expulsion, announced by U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio, comes amid escalating tensions over Rasool’s outspoken criticism of U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding the […]
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a 5,000-member counterterrorism force in response to the escalating security crisis in the Sahel and wider West Africa. Announced during the 43rd meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja, this force is designed to confront the growing influence of jihadist […]
Russia significantly boosted its agricultural exports to Africa in 2024 by 19%, reflecting the country’s growing economic influence across the continent amid the continuing war in Ukraine. During the previous fiscal year, Russia’s agricultural exports to Africa surpassed $7 billion, according to a statement released by the Agricultural Export Center (Agroexport), with Egypt, Algeria, and […]
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced a phased withdrawal of its peacekeeping troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following a year of escalating conflict with M23 rebels. This decision, made during an extraordinary summit held on Thursday (13 March), reflects the regional bloc’s shift towards pursuing a political solution after […]