First Independent Mena Newspaper
A Tunisian appeals court on Wednesday upheld a 22-year prison sentence against Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda Movement and former speaker of parliament, in the high-profile Instalingo case. The ruling confirmed convictions against 40 politicians, journalists, bloggers and business figures, while reducing the sentence of one defendant, Shatha Belhaj Mubarak, from five years to […]
Regulatory reforms implemented in Morocco to promote private sector activity—described as “deeper than expected”—could stimulate growth, reduce the informal economy, and create employment, according to the World Bank Group’s updated Global Economic Prospects report released in Washington. The international financial institution notes that favorable weather conditions contributed to agricultural production recovery in the Kingdom. Current […]
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has reiterated that Egypt’s water security is a matter of existential importance, directly intertwined with the country’s national security. Speaking on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, during a meeting in Cairo with US Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos, El-Sisi stressed that safeguarding water resources remains a top strategic […]
The World Bank forecasts economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa region will reach 3.6% in 2026 before accelerating to 3.9% in 2027. These estimates, featured in the updated Global Economic Prospects report, were slightly revised downward compared to the institution’s June projections. The downward revision primarily reflects larger-than-expected oil production increases from […]
Efforts to end Sudan’s protracted conflict resumed in Cairo on Wednesday, with Egypt and the United Nations urging the warring parties to agree to a nationwide humanitarian truce as the war approaches its third anniversary. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty underscored that Sudan’s unity and state institutions are “red lines,” rejecting any recognition of parallel […]
A British sports security delegation visited the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat on Wednesday as part of Morocco–UK security cooperation linked to preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, Moroccan security officials said. The visit coincided with security arrangements for a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal, allowing the delegation to observe crowd […]
Mauritania is considering a strategic collaboration with U.S.-based cybersecurity firm Cybastion to enhance the resilience of its digital infrastructure amid rising online threats. The initiative, discussed in a meeting between Cybastion representatives and Ahmed Salem Badh, Minister of Digital Transformation and Administrative Management, aims to establish a national Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) and […]
Morocco booked a spot for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals after defeating Nigeria 4–2 on penalties after a goalless semi-final in Rabat on Wednesday night, before 65,458 spectators, a figure representing the highest turnout recorded at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium during the tournament that started on Dec.21. After 90 minutes and extra […]
Morocco and Ethiopia have reviewed an action plan for military and defense cooperation between the two countries. This came during first meeting of the Joint Military Commission held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Addis Ababa. The meeting was dedicated to reviewing an action plan for military and defense cooperation between the two parties. The creation […]
Bilateral trade between Morocco and the United Kingdom has experienced remarkable growth since the Association Agreement’s 2021 implementation, confirming the post-Brexit partnership’s success. During a recent parliamentary session, UK Trade Minister Chris Bryant delivered figures demonstrating what he termed a genuine “surge” in economic relations between the two kingdoms. Official British government data reveals bilateral […]