First Independent Mena Newspaper
Somali security forces have successfully ended a 24-hour siege at a hotel in Beledweyne, central Somalia, killing all attackers from the U.S.-designated terrorist group, al-Shabab. The siege, which began with a car bomb and was followed by a gun battle, left at least 10 dead, including military officers and clan elders. The attackers, from the […]
Sierra Leone’s president Julius Maada Bio has fired Alusine Kanneh, the country’s head of immigration, following the publication of a video showing Kanneh with Johannes Leijdekkers, a notorious Dutch drug kingpin. The footage, which emerged on 7 March, shows Kanneh receiving a birthday gift from Leijdekkers, who is wanted across Europe for drug trafficking and […]
Uganda has deployed special forces to South Sudan’s capital as tensions between president Salva Kiir and first vice-president Riek Machar threaten to unravel the fragile power-sharing peace deal signed in 2018. The Ugandan military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, confirmed the deployment to the country’s capital, Juba, on Monday (10 March), emphasizing that the troops were sent […]
A new report by Drone Wars UK has highlighted the alarming rise of military drone strikes across Africa, resulting in nearly 1,000 civilian deaths over the past three years. The report, titled ‘Death on Delivery’, warns that the uncontrolled spread of armed drones, primarily imported from countries like Turkey, China, and Iran, is exacerbating civilian […]
A new report from the African Development Bank (AfDB) underscores Africa’s impressive economic recovery, highlighting the continent’s resilience, growth, and the impact of bold reforms. With a projected GDP growth from 3.2% in 2024 to 4.1% in 2025 and 4.4% in 2026, Africa is now the second-fastest-growing regional economy globally, trailing only Asia. This growth […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United States are engaged in preliminary talks over a potential minerals-for-security agreement, which could reshape global supply chains for critical minerals. It comes as U.S. president Donald Trump recently vowed to take “historic action” to “dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths.” Under the proposed […]
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has met with Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in high-level talks aimed at enhancing regional stability and fostering deeper economic partnerships. The discussions, held in Ouagadougou on Monday (10 March), covered a range of issues, with a particular emphasis on improving relations with the Economic Community of West […]
South Sudan’s fragile peace process faces a severe setback as escalating violence between government forces and armed groups threatens the 2018 power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. The recent clashes, particularly in the Upper Nile state, have prompted the United Nations to warn of an “alarming regression” that could unravel […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has offered a $5 million reward for the capture of three M23 rebel leaders, just as its fighters keep pushing deeper into the country’s mineral-rich eastern region, eyeing the strategic town of Walikale. The M23 leaders, including Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa and Sultani Makenga, were convicted of treason last […]
The East African Community (EAC) is grappling with a severe financial crisis, with member states failing to remit over $62 million in contributions for the 2024/25 financial year. The bloc, which comprises Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, has seen its programs delayed, while salaries for staff […]