First Independent Mena Newspaper
US Senator Ted Cruz told a Senate hearing on counterterrorism in North Africa and the Sahel that Iran is working to transform the Polisario Front into a regional proxy force, warning that the alleged cooperation between the separatist group and Iran‑backed networks represents a growing security threat to the US and its partners. “Iran is […]
The Algerian regime risks American sanctions for purchasing Russian military jets (SU35 and SU 57) under CAATSA law passed by the US Congress in 2017. The Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act imposes sanctions on Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The Algerian acquisition of Russian military jets “could trigger CAATSA sanctions”, said on Tuesday Mr. […]
French artificial intelligence operators are rapidly establishing presence in Morocco through significant partnerships spanning industrial transformation and digital innovation. OCP Group announced a strategic collaboration with Mistral AI within its “Bionic” program framework, aiming to transform operational models through agentic AI integration. The partnership, signed by OCP’s Rock Solutions strategic business unit under Managing Director […]
Sudanese officials have raised concerns with a United Nations panel of experts over the role of neighboring countries in violating a U.N. Security Council arms embargo on Darfur. Interior Minister Babaker Samra Mustafa and senior officials met the delegation in Port Sudan on Wednesday to discuss the implementation of Resolution 1591, which prohibits the supply […]
South Sudan introduced, on Wednesday, a new fiscal framework aimed at ending economic instability and repositioning the country for sustainable and inclusive growth. Speaking in Juba, Finance and Planning Minister Bak Barnaba Chol said the policy prioritises economic stabilization, fiscal discipline and essential public spending. The framework, developed through collective Cabinet deliberations with inputs from […]
Spain’s highest criminal court has refused an Algerian request to extradite former senator Abdelkader Djedia, ruling that the politician faces political persecution and insufficient guarantees for his safety if returned, according to court documents and rights-focused organizations. The Audiencia Nacional, which has examined the case since November 2025, issued its decision on January 27 after […]
The commander of U.S. Africa Command “USAFRICOM”, General Dagvin Anderson, highlighted on Tuesday the excellent level of cooperation with the Kingdom Morocco, which hosts each year the “African Lion,” the largest joint military exercise with the United States on the continent. Speaking at a digital press briefing organized by the U.S. Department of State’s Africa […]
Rabat is hosting the second plenary meeting of the Global Forum to Prevent Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism (Global FTPRNT), showing Morocco’s engagement to strengthening multilateral cooperation to counter radiological and nuclear (R/N) terrorism. The three-day meeting (feb. 3 to 5) is co-organized by Morocco and the United States, two partners committed to promoting global peace […]
An advanced civil-military cooperation course was held lately in Rabat by a specialized training team from Allied Joint Force Command Naples to strengthen interoperability with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. In a press release, the JFC Naples, a principal operational-level military command in the NATO Command Structure, said the training showed the importance of having […]
In a stark appeal from Juba on 3 February 2026, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that more than 450.000 children in South Sudan are now facing the threat of acute malnutrition as a result of escalating violence in Jonglei State that has disrupted essential health and nutrition services. The humanitarian crisis has forced […]