First Independent Mena Newspaper
The Atlas Lions have ended their second match in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, taking place in Morocco, with 1-1 draw against Mali, leaving qualification for the Round of 16 to be decided on the last day. Both teams scored from penalties after VAR reviews. Brahim Diaz put host Morocco ahead from the spot […]
The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 is proving to be more than a sporting spectacle for Morocco, with projected economic benefits reaching 12 billion dirhams (about $1.2 billion), the tournament is acting as a powerful engine for growth, Moroccan media said. Between 600,000 and one million visitors have joined the host cities, driving unprecedented demand […]
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Sudan’s Sovereignty Council leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan held talks in Ankara on Thursday, December 25, to review bilateral relations and discuss Sudan’s protracted conflict, Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications said in a statement. In the statement posted on X, the Directorate said the talks covered cooperation between Türkiye and Sudan, […]
The joint anti-terror force recently set up by the Alliance of Sahel States, made up by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, is primarily meant to respond to the destabilizing operations of the Algerian regime in the region. The establishment of the joint military force, dubbed the “United Force of the Alliance of Sahel States” and […]
The revival of the Lobito Corridor, a 1,300 km railway linking Zambia’s copper belt to Angola’s Atlantic coast, captures a profound change in Europe’s approach to Africa from development aid to transnationalism. Once a colonial-era route for mineral extraction, the line is now the centerpiece of the EU’s 2 billion euro investment under its Global […]
Torrential rains failed to dampen the first five days of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, as Morocco delivered world-class playing conditions and flawless organization. Stadiums equipped with advanced SubAir technology and hybrid turf ensured perfectly playable surfaces, with no waterlogging or disruption to the matches, drawing praise from players and fans. International media hailed […]
The UN Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) through 2026. AUSSOM, which replaced a previous transition mission in January, continues to support Somali security forces in the fight against Al Shabab. In August, Somali forces and AUSSOM recaptured the strategic […]
The legal battle surrounding Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has entered a pivotal new phase. His lawyers filed this week a request for a review of his July 2025 defamation conviction, which had rendered him ineligible to contest the 2024 presidential election. The appeal targets the case brought by former Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang […]
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday called on eligible voters in the Central African Republic to participate fully in the country’s nationwide elections scheduled for December 28, urging authorities to guarantee a peaceful, orderly, inclusive and credible process. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Farhan Haq, Guterres appealed to all stakeholders to refrain from […]
The 2022 Qatar World Cup scenario repeats itself once again during the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, as fans struggle to get match tickets due to networks illegally selling them. Moroccan police have opened a judicial investigation into the illegal sale of AFCON tickets under the supervision of the relevant public […]