First Independent Mena Newspaper
The process of designating representatives for Morocco’s regional electoral lists reserved for women remains tightly controlled by party leaderships, conducted behind closed doors and shielded from public scrutiny. As election season approaches, the names of those who will represent these so-called “rent lists” — seats widely seen as virtually guaranteed without the need for grassroots […]
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an emergency proclamation lifting temporarily countervailing duties (CVD) on phosphate fertilizers imported from Morocco for eight months. The move will bring immediate relief to producers who rely on these critical inputs with an estimated 22% reduction in phosphate fertilizer prices, and $1.82 billion in annual savings for producers. Global […]
American technology leader Oracle, specializing in enterprise software, cloud computing, and database systems, has opened its second Research & Development center in Morocco. Located in Agadir, the new facility builds on Oracle’s R&D hub launched last year in Casablanca. The two centers support Morocco’s drive to advance world-class AI and cloud technologies to serve global […]
Attijariwafa bank and the Moroccan Association for the Automotive Industry and Trade (AMICA) have signed a strategic partnership agreement aimed at strengthening financial and operational support for companies within the kingdom’s automotive ecosystem. The accord was formalized on the sidelines of the Industrial Automotive Competitiveness Show in Kénitra last week. The agreement was signed by […]
The Sudanese Army announced on 29 June 2026 in Ed Damazin that it has recaptured two areas in Sudan’s Blue Nile region following clashes with an alliance of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). According to the Fourth Infantry Division, government forces retook Magaja and Sarkam after direct engagements […]
Morocco’s progression to the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, sealed with a well-deserved victory over the Netherlands in Monterrey, has reinforced how football has become one of the vehicles for the country’s growing soft power and international visibility. Morocco defeated the Netherlands on penalties after a 1–1 draw on June 29, advancing […]
Mauritania and China have signed a MoU in Nouakchott on 29 June for the partial cancellation of Mauritania’s debt, marking a fresh step in bilateral economic cooperation. The agreement was signed by Mauritanian Minister of Economic Affairs and Development Abdallahy Ould Souleymane Ould Cheikh Sidiya and Chinese Ambassador Tang Zhongdong. Speaking at the ceremony, the […]
Algeria and Austria faced mounting criticism over sportsmanship after their dramatic 3-3 draw at the 2026 World Cup, a result that sent both teams into the knockout stage while eliminating Iran. The match unfolded under unusual circumstances, with both sides aware that a draw would guarantee qualification. That context shaped the contest and has since […]
Morocco is moving ahead with a 6-billion-dirham ($600 million) investment program to expand fuel storage capacity and improve supply security, as authorities seek to strengthen the resilience of the country’s liberalized petroleum market despite the continued absence of domestic refining capacity. Energy Transition Minister Leila Benali told parliament on Monday that the program aims to […]
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region should treat its current wave of geopolitical, economic, and technological shocks as an opportunity to rethink growth models and accelerate structural reforms, according to Jihad Azour, director of the International Monetary Fund’s Middle East and Central Asia department. Speaking Monday in Rabat at the opening of the […]