First Independent Mena Newspaper
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is reportedly seeking its own version of the minerals-for-security deal that has been offered by the Trump administration to Ukraine. Reuters reported that a Congolese Senator had written to the US State Department offering a similar deal that would help the war-torn country address its security challenges, notably in […]
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced a phased withdrawal of its peacekeeping troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following a year of escalating conflict with M23 rebels. This decision, made during an extraordinary summit held on Thursday (13 March), reflects the regional bloc’s shift towards pursuing a political solution after […]
Ethiopia and Eritrea could be headed toward renewed warfare, regional officials warn, threatening another humanitarian disaster in the Horn of Africa. Such a conflict would involve two of the continent’s largest military forces and potentially draw in additional regional powers. The alarming developments would effectively destroy the historic peace agreement that marked a significant diplomatic […]
Prices of cobalt, a key mineral for energy transition, began to rise following an export ban by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to balance the market. On China’s Wuxi Stainless Steel Exchange on Monday, cobalt trading was paused after prices jumped nearly 12%, the highest since October. Last month, DRC said it will stop […]
Chocolate manufacturers are preparing for yet another challenge in cocoa supply after Cote D’Ivoire reported significant damage to its crop following heavy rainfall. Cote D’Ivoire, which supplies 40% of the World’s Cocoa, said warehouses are still empty with expectations of a harvest 3 to 4 times due to bad weather. Cocoa represents 50% of Cote […]
President of the Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadéra has sent a written message to King Mohammed VI. The message was handed over by CAR foreign minister Sylvie Baïpo-Temon to Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita at a meeting held Wednesday in Rabat. In a press statement following the meeting, Baïpo-Temon thanked Morocco for its support during her […]
Africa’s Sahel region has become the global epicenter of terrorism, with extremist groups now responsible for over half of all terror-related deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI). This marks a significant shift from previous years, as the region’s death toll rose to 3,885, accounting for 51% of the global […]
Somali security forces have successfully ended a 24-hour siege at a hotel in Beledweyne, central Somalia, killing all attackers from the U.S.-designated terrorist group, al-Shabab. The siege, which began with a car bomb and was followed by a gun battle, left at least 10 dead, including military officers and clan elders. The attackers, from the […]
Morocco won the presidency of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in an event that highlights the Kingdom’s clout and leadership within the continent. The one-year-term presidency will feature the chairmanship by Morocco’s industrial minister Ryad Mezzour of the Confederation of African Ministers for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development. Algeria, as was expected, attempted […]
Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa was re-elected to the FIFA council as Africa representative, underscoring the status of Moroccan football in the continent. Lekjaa beat his rival Hani Abou Rida with 49 votes to 35, in a vote held during the 14th African Football Federation (CAF) assembly. Lekjaa is also head of the 2030 World Cup organizing […]