First Independent Mena Newspaper
Algerian Islamist extremist Djamel Okacha has become the new commander of operations of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in Northern Mali, replacing Abu Zeid who was killed in a French-led military campaign in the impoverished African country. The confirmed death of Abu Zeid, who raised millions of dollars from kidnapping of Western hostages, […]
At the end of the 17th session of the mixed Mauritano-Algero commission, both countries have hailed the achievements they were able to do together as milestones which will contribute to strengthen their bilateral cooperation and relations. Agreements under the development of water resources, animal health and marine fisheries were agreed upon and signed by the […]
Mauritania and Morocco were the only two Maghreban countries that took part in the international maritime security cooperation exercise organized lately off the Mauritanian and Senegalese coasts. This regional naval drill, dubbed “Saharan Express 2013”, aims to enhance maritime security and improve communication cooperation between the U.S., West African countries and their key European partners. […]
Interpol and the European Union have agreed with Libyan authorities to set up a real-time passport control capacity at Tripoli International Airport to help Libyan government improve border security. The project, that costs about € 2.2 million, is funded by the EU’s Instrument for Stability. It will enable the Libyan law enforcement and control authorities […]
The U.S.A has released a quarter of a billion dollar in economic aid to Egypt and has pledged more if Egypt implements economic and political reforms.U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry described the gesture as a “good-faith effort.” After holding meetings in Cairo during the weekend, Kerry said the United States would provide the first $190 million […]
In the past ten years, North African countries progressed in liberalizing their trade relations with the EU as well as Korea. As part of the Euro-Mediterranean (Barcelona Process) Partnership, North African nations and the EU entered association agreements with provisions for free trade in industrial goods. This opened doors for European manufacturers to new export and investment markets. Most recently, North African nations and the EU launched initiatives to extend their agreements to trade in agricultural products, trade in services, government procurement, and trade harmonization. Trade between North Africa and Korea also exploded in the past five years. As latecomers to North Africa, […]
The Arab Contractors (AC), one of the leading construction companies in Egypt and the MENA region, has won a $30mln contract for the extension and modernization of the Abidjan International Airport cargo facilities. The project, funded by the Islamic Development Bank, will enable the Ivory Coast authorities to replace the old airport by a new […]
The European Union has decided to resume fully its development cooperation with Mali and will mobilize some €250 million for this purpose. “The swift adoption by the Malian authorities of a transition roadmap to restore democracy and stability has opened the door for lifting the precautionary measures taken after the coup d’état of March 2012 […]
A Turkish company will invest $700 million in an Iraqi steel plant to upgrade its production capacity to 1 million tons per year. Under the 18-year deal with the Iraqi ministry of Industry and Minerals, the Turkish company will rehabilitate and develop the iron and steel plant located in the Khor Al-Zubair, in Basra, that […]
Pope Benedict XVI announced this Monday that he would be stepping down from office by the end of the current month, in an unexpected and unprecedented move in modern times. In a speech he delivered Monday before a church council, the Pope, 85, announced that he made his decision, which he described as “a decision […]