First Independent Mena Newspaper
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the latest battleground in a deepening strategic rivalry between the United States and China over control of critical minerals, as a new US-brokered peace deal with Rwanda raises both hope and concern. Signed in June 2025, the agreement aims to end decades of conflict between the DRC […]
In a strategic move to reduce dependence on China, India is rapidly expanding rare earth element (REE) partnerships with five African nations — Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Côte d’Ivoire — amid escalating global concerns over China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains. China currently controls over 90% of the global REE market and has […]
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has approved nearly $297 million to fund major development projects in Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, and Mauritania. The funds aim to boost job creation, strengthen public services, and drive inclusive growth. The approval came during the IsDB’s 361st Board of Directors meeting held at the beginning of this week. The financing […]
Morocco is reportedly negotiating with some UAE companies wind energy projects in its southern provinces. The total investment of these projects is estimated between $8 and $10 billion, according to Arabic energy-focused Attaqa media platform. The Emirati companies engaged in talks are Masdar, AMEA Power, and Taqa. They are negotiating with the North African Kingdom […]
Morocco reopened its embassy in Damascus last Sunday, with all its administrative services resuming their activities. King Mohammed VI had announced in his speech to the 34th Arab Summit, held on May 17 in Baghdad, the Kingdom’s decision to reopen its Embassy in Damascus, which was closed in 2012. The Monarch had affirmed that this […]
Mauritania’s preparations to restore diplomatic relations with Israel has sent ripples across North Africa, with the most profound impact felt in neighboring Algeria, a country that has made antisemitism a tenet of its foreign policy. The Mauritanian-Israeli rapprochement, confirmed by news platform Semafor and Israeli media, marks a significant realignment in regional politics and further […]
Mauritania is preparing to reestablish diplomatic relations with Israel, according to a report by news platform Semafor, signaling a major diplomatic shift in North Africa and the broader Middle East. The announcement is expected to be made during a high-level summit hosted at the White House, part of a renewed US effort to expand normalization […]
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Namibia on Wednesday (9 July), marking the final leg of his five-nation tour with a visit focused on securing critical minerals and deepening digital and defense cooperation. This is the first visit by an Indian prime minister since Namibia’s independence in 1990. Namibia, Africa’s top uranium producer and […]
China has officially launched its first rail-sea logistics corridor to Morocco, marking a significant milestone in Sino-African trade connectivity. The new route begins in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, and travels by rail through Poland, Germany, and Spain, before containers are transferred to ships in Barcelona and shipped to Tanger Med, Morocco’s largest port, […]
The economic rivalry between the U.S. and China offers Morocco real market opportunities with complex challenges, said European news platform “Modern Diplomacy”. The North African Kingdom, a regional emerging economy strategically situated between Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic, is set to benefit from the divide, said the media outlet in its analysis on the impacts […]