First Independent Mena Newspaper
A legislative push in the United States Senate to formally designate the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization is gaining traction, with a fourth senator joining the initiative just ten days after the bill was first introduced. Republican Senator David McCormick formally endorsed the Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act of 2026 on March 23, […]
The United States’ newly declared strategic review of MINURSO, coupled with the Security Council’s Resolution 2797 renewing the mission with strengthened oversight, marks a decisive shift in the UN’s approach to the Sahara file, one that aligns increasingly with Morocco’s long‑standing call for a political solution based on autonomy under its sovereignty. A senior UN […]
U.S. Representative to UN Mike Waltz has announced that his country is conducting a comprehensive, performance-based review of several peacekeeping missions including the MINURSO within the frame of a new Trump policy to optimize effectiveness of UN bodies, streamline bureaucracy, reduce costs and restore accountability. Mr. Waltz made the announcement during his testimony at a […]
Former White House Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt has warned that the Iran‑backed strategy of empowering non‑state armed groups is expanding into North Africa through alleged ties with the Polisario Front. In an opinion piece published by Semafor, Greenblatt argues that while global attention remains fixed on crises in the Middle East, “another Iranian proxy […]
Morocco produced an average of 1.6 million tons of barley per year between 2021 and 2023, making it the top North African country, meeting 80% of its local demand, according to data released by UN Food & Agriculture Organization. Barley is Morocco’s second most widely grown cereal after wheat. It is primarily used as fodder […]
U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) have introduced the Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act of 2026. The move comes as the U.S. House of Representatives is considering a bipartisan bill tabled last June by Republican Joe Wilson (South-Carolina) and Democrat Jimmy Panetta (CA) for branding the Algeria-backed Polisario militia […]
Former United Nations envoy Christopher Ross has once again exposed his impartiality in his latest commentary on the Sahara conflict in which he put forward an assessment reflecting long standing positions aligned with Algeria and the Polisario separatists, instead of viewing the dispute from the lenses of a neutral mediator. In his recent analysis published […]
Two non‑governmental organizations raised serious concerns over the persistent human rights violations inside the Polisario-run Tindouf camps in southwestern Algeria, spotlighting the case of a 13‑year‑old boy reportedly subjected to torture and separate allegations involving violence against women and girls. Speaking at the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, the NGOs urged UN […]
The European Parliament hosts for the first time a debate on the right of the Kabyle people to independence from Algerian colonialism. This high-profile political event shows the momentum that is building around the Kabylia cause on the international scene. It also deals a hard blow to the Algerian regime. The debate, scheduled for this […]
US Congresswoman Claudia Tenney has joined a growing bloc of lawmakers backing legislation to formally classify the Polisario Front as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), becoming the tenth member of Congress to support the initiative. Her endorsement marks another step in a campaign that has accelerated since February and is increasingly framed in Congress as […]