First Independent Mena Newspaper
The US Defense and Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the approval of a sale of 25 F-16C/D Block 72 fighter jets for a cost of $3.8 billion to Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces. The deal will further bolster Morocco’s air force supremacy in the region as the North African country plans to revamp its operating fleet […]
Recent constitution change maneuvers to expand President Fattah al-Sisi’s stay in power beyond 2022 and the unprecedented crackdown on criticism must wake up US policymakers, the Carnegie Endowment Center notes warning that the totalitarian regime in the most populated Arab country may not last long in front of growing discontent and anger. In a paper […]
The Moroccan football association and its Argentine counterpart have signed a secret deal allowing Lionel Messi not take part in the March 26 friendly match in Tangiers. FC Barcelona’s legend Messi will not play the international match over alleged injuries. Reports in Morocco and Argentina however suggest that the player’s absence was decided under a […]
The limbo in Algerian politics is throwing its weight on the oil and gas industry in the country, which represents 95% of the North African country’s revenues. After reports of strikes in some oil and gas field, ExxonMobile halted talks with Algeria’s hydrocarbon giant Sonatrach as protests continue to simmer across the country, Reuters reported. […]
The United States Tuesday promised to prop up the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli with $500,000, earmarked to improve security in the oil-rich country that has descended into lawlessness. The US pledge was made by US ambassador to Libya Peter Bodde and AFRICOM Commander Gen. Thomas Waldhauser during meetings with GNA leader […]
The United States will grant Angola around two million dollars in ongoing assistance for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, the US Deputy Secretary of State has announced. John Sullivan made the announcement in Luanda Monday at a joint press conference with Angolan Foreign Minister Manuel Augusto at the end of a meeting of the […]
The Morocco-US sponsored exercise “African Lion 2019” takes place from March 16 to April 7, 2019, in the region of Agadir, Tifnit, Tan-Tan, Tata and Ben Guerir, with the participation of thousands of military personnel. The annual exercise involves various types of training including command, maneuvering, peace-keeping and aerial refueling, said a statement from the […]
Both Algeria and Egypt are run by a military-dominated elite that gave protesters, thirsty for freedom and democracy, the illusion of change. The military regimes in both countries proved adept at adapting to social change by offering time-buying measures and superficial reforms to keep the ruling circles intact while containing unrest. In a recent article […]
Morocco’s royal navy frigate “Mohammed V” takes part in the multinational “Obangame Express 2019” (OE19), conducted by US Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF), with the participation of several African countries. The Moroccan frigate has docked at the autonomous port of Abidjan for this regional African maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order […]
Morocco has been re-elected for the third consecutive time to the co-Chairmanship of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), which seeks to reduce the vulnerability of people worldwide to terrorism by preventing, combating, and prosecuting terrorist acts. During its third mandate, Morocco will co-chair this international forum with Canada from 2020 to 2022, after it co-chaired […]