First Independent Mena Newspaper
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 […]
Morocco’s AFCON 2025 is rapidly transforming into a national festival, well beyond the boundaries of its world-class stadiums, thanks to a network of fan zones designed to bring the tournament to every corner of the host cities. These zones are drawing thousands of supporters daily, offering free entry with a simple FAN ID from the Yalla […]
In the early hours of Sunday, 21 December, a group of armed men attacked KwaNoxolo tavern in Bekkersdal, 46 km west of Johannesburg, killing nine people and injuring at least ten others. Around 12 gunmen in a white minibus and a silver sedan opened fire on patrons and continued shooting randomly as they fled. Some […]
Morocco’s central bank, Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), has issued a MAD 250 silver commemorative coin and a MAD 100 commemorative banknote to celebrate the 35th Africa Cup of Nations – AFCON Morocco 2025. The silver coin features a portrait of King Mohammed VI, with the inscription “Kingdom of Morocco” and Mohammed VI” in Arabic, the Tifinagh […]