First Independent Mena Newspaper
Parts of Africa and the Middle East will likely feel the impacts of Russia’s latest decision to withdraw from a pact that allowed Ukrainian grains to leave Black Sea ports. The Black Sea grains deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, which has allowed more than 30 million tons to be exported […]
Dozens of fighters from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group have reportedly arrived in the Central African Republic (CAR) ahead of a constitutional referendum due on July 30 that could abolish the term limits and allow the current president, Faustin-Archange Touadera, to seek another term in 2025. A short-lived mutiny in Russia in June, led by the […]
The International Monetary Fund’s executive board has rubber-stamped a $271 million Extended Credit Facility meant to address the country’s protracted balance of payments needs, rebuild external buffers and support the government’s reform agenda. The Washington-based financial bilateral lender will disburse $62.6 million immediately. The loan is Burundi’s first Upper Credit Tranche-quality arrangement with the IMF […]
Andry Rajoelina, President of Madagascar, has defended his acquisition of French nationality in the interest of his children and doubled down that he will always defend the African country. Rajoelina has come under scrutiny since June after it was revealed that has dual nationality. His critics and the opposition questioned his integrity in claiming Madagascar’s […]
27 people have submitted their candidacies for 26 August presidential polls, Gabon’s Center of Elections (CGE) said Monday. Michel Stéphane Bonda, President of CGE did not unveil names of candidates but indicated that Center until July 16 -deadline for candidacies-, received 27 bids and 20 of them have been validated. 7 are left to be […]
There has been no disagreement thus far among various Group of 20 (G20) nations over India’s proposal to include the African Union (AU) into the global group, with the United States saying it will work closely with the Indian presidency on a joint communique at the 3rd Sherpa Meeting in Hampi, India. Since Indian Prime […]
The world’s largest producer of cocoa, Côte d’Ivoire, has suspended its 2023-2024 exports citing bad weather that has caused the death of at least 30 people since April 2023. Yves Brahima Koné, head of the country’s cocoa regulator, told media that the freeze will deal a blow to buyers who are big raw materials trading […]
France’s envoy to Benin Marc Vizy has denied the presence of a military in Benin to help curtail terrorism activities in the north. “No, there is no military base in the north of Benin. I can confirm that. If you find someone who tells you that, I am ready so that he takes me on […]
At least 11 people were killed Sunday in Democratic Republic of Congo’s province of North Kivu, in the attacks attributed to rebel group M23. The local population told the media the incident occurred in Rutshuru territory, dozens of kilometers from Goma, the provincial capital. “I’m at the scene, and there are 11 civilian corpses in […]
Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has led a peaceful protest after the authorities blocked a rally to publicly confirm he would run in next year’s presidential elections, as the country’s prosecutor has filed an international arrest warrant against Sonko’s French lawyer. The 49-year-old main opposition figure, dressed in red in a sign of anger, appeared […]