First Independent Mena Newspaper
Fierce battles broke out on Tuesday April 1 between the Sudanese army and the rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state in southern Sudan. Military sources reported that the army inflicted significant losses on the RSF, targeting their troops and equipment, which forced the RSF forces […]
Niger’s military junta, which took power in a coup in July 2023, has released around 50 individuals, including former government ministers and soldiers linked to past coup attempts, following recommendations from a national conference in February. Those freed include high-profile figures such as former oil minister Mahamane Sani Issoufou, ex-defense minister Kalla Moutari, and former […]
In recent years, the Gulf monarchies have pivoted towards a more geo-economic strategy in Africa, diversifying their engagements from security and political interests to economic development, says a new report by the European Council on Foreign Relation (ECFR), noting that the Gulf expansion could also exacerbate the ongoing decline in European involvement in the continent. […]
A recent report by the Mauritius Commercial Bank Group has highlighted the significant barriers posed by Africa’s inadequate transport and logistics infrastructure, which continue to hinder the region’s trade potential. Despite Africa’s growing economy, intra-Africa trade still accounts for a mere 16% of the continent’s total trade. The report, entitled ‘Harnessing Africa’s Trade Potential: Strategies […]
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have introduced a 0.5% tariff on goods imported from third countries, a move aimed at financing their activities within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This new tax, named the “AES confederal levy,” will apply to products entering the three countries but will exclude goods from other AES members, as […]
A group of Tigrayan survivors has filed a groundbreaking criminal complaint in Germany, accusing senior Ethiopian and Eritrean officials of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 2020-2022 conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. The complaint, lodged with the German Federal Public Prosecutor, targets 12 individuals, including high-ranking military officers and government officials, and is […]
At least nine civilians have been killed and 17 wounded following artillery shelling by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur state, on Sunday, according to a statement released by the Sudanese army on Monday March 31. The violence is part of the ongoing clashes between the […]
Guinea’s rulers have pardoned former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the 2009 massacre in Conakry, raising controversy and questions about the country’s commitment to accountability and justice. The pardon, announced by junta leader General Mamadi Doumbouya on national television, was granted on the […]
Somalia has extended an offer to the United States for exclusive control over strategic airbases and ports in the Gulf of Aden, thus adding a new geopolitical twist to great-power competition in the Horn of Africa. In a letter from president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to U.S. president Donald Trump, Somalia proposed granting the U.S. operational […]
Morocco’s chairmanship of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the month of March was an opportunity to reaffirm the Kingdom’s strong commitment to peace and stability in Africa. In line with the vision of King Mohammed VI, who has consistently advocated for an Africa that believes in its ability to shape […]