First Independent Mena Newspaper
The long awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Algeria and the European Union, expected to enter into force Sept.1, risks to be botched up as Algerian political leaders, businessmen and economists continue to criticize the deal as imbalanced, warning it will undermine the country’s economic sovereignty. Despite years of preparations, the free trade deal is […]
The Algeria-backed Polisario front has suffered another major diplomatic setback as Suriname reaffirmed on Monday its non-recognition of the self-proclaimed “SADR”. In a joint statement released following a phone conversation with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita, the Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin affirmed that the authorities of the south American country stand by the decision […]
Returning to diplomatic normalcy in relations with Israel is not on the agenda of the Moroccan government, that is what can be deduced from the remarks of Saad Dine El Otmani, head of the Moroccan government. Speaking in the name of the state at a meeting of the youth section of his party, Saad Dine […]
A new field hospital was set up in Casablanca as coronavirus cases spike in the economic capital, one of the worst hit cities in the Kingdom. Moroccan authorities have built field hospitals and extended existing ones such as in Marrakech where a surge of cases strained health infrastructure. Both Casablanca and Marrakech as well as […]
As Moroccan hospitals are flooded by an increasing number of Covid-19 patients requiring intensive care, medics are complaining of a lack of equipment including ventilators and oxygen. This came as a surprise to Moroccan public opinion who is asking about the fate of the Moroccan-made ventilators that made headlines last April, showcasing Morocco’s industrial capacity […]
Libyan rebel warlord Khalifa Haftar Sunday tossed away the proposal made by the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) for truce between the two warring sides as he blames Turkey for preparing assaults on key cities of Sirte and Jufra. Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj’s cease-fire call was an attempt to “throw dust in the eyes,” […]
At the end of a weekend of discussions, ECOWAS and the putschists in power in Bamako agreed to turn the page on Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Discussions will continue on the three-year transition as proposed this Monday, August 24 by the putschists. The junta, which has been in power in Mali since it overthrew President Ibrahim […]
Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara was officially sworn in on Saturday, 22 August, in Abidjan as his party’s candidate in the 31 October presidential election. He will seek a third term at the head of the country and will defend the colors of the “Houphouétistes Rally for Democracy and Peace” (RHDP) after the brutal death of […]
The UNSMIL has welcomed the appointment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet of the three-member independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya (FFML). The FFML will be chaired by Moroccan former Minister of Justice Mohamed Auajjar and includes Tracy Robinson of Jamaica and Chaloka Beyani of Zambia and the UK. “This appointment comes at […]
A grim milestone was reached in Morocco when cases surpassed 50,000 with 1556 cases on Saturday and 1.537 on Sunday, putting a strain on the country’s health system. Deaths rose by 30 Sunday to 888 people while total recoveries stood at 36,343, leaving some 15,118 cases still active with a recovery rate dropping to 69%. […]