First Independent Mena Newspaper
The closure of three key banks in the United States has taught Nigeria tough lessons, prompting Africa’s biggest economy to launch a $672 million fund to support its tech startups. Nigeria wants to cushion its startups against the kind of situation that Chipper Cash, a victim of the fall of SVB and the bankruptcy of […]
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who has just wrapped up his visit to Ethiopia, is historically the first US secretary of state due to arrive in Nigeria this March 16, amid concerns over Sahel security and growing Russian and Chinese influence. Top diplomat Antony Blinken has embarked on his latest official trip to the […]
Spanish and Portuguese Prime Ministers Pedro Sánchez and Antonio Costa have hailed Morocco’s joint bid with Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup as a “very good message” of collaboration between the two shores of the Mediterranean, and between Europe and Africa. “This bid has a very positive charge and sends a very […]
American and European navies are teaming up with their counterparts from eight West African countries to conduct joint training operations off the coast of Senegal this week that are mainly aimed at combating illegal fishing off the West African coast. As unreported and unregulated fishing has spread along West Africa’s coasts, scooping up an estimate […]
Gabon authorities have detained several state officials in connection with the ferry disaster in which at least 21 people have died. A ferry known as Esther Miracle carrying 161 people from Libreville to Port-Gentil sank when it capsized in calm waters on March 9 close to the coastal village of Nyonie. Authorities launched rescued operations. […]
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, has sentenced three Chinese to death for the murder of another Chinese businessman residing in the mineral resources-rich town Kolwezi, the capital of Lualaba province. The ruling came Tuesday, Anadolu news agency reported. The court charged Wang Yon Xu, Cheng Zing Dan and Whang Hui […]
Maurel & Prom, an oil company based in Paris, has announced it will invest $85 million to develop its activities in Gabon this year after spending $67 million in the African country last year. Maurel CEO Olivier de Langavant indicated that planned investment in Gabon is a chunk of the company’s total 2023 investment put […]
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is in advanced discussion with Senegal’s oil refiner to raise $500 million in syndicated finance, a senior official of the bank told Reuters. The funds will be used to upgrade the company’s old refinery. Société Africaine de Raffinage (SAR), is the oldest refinery of West Africa. The company has recently […]
A delegation of US Congressmen highlighted the longstanding partnership between their country and Morocco and reiterated Washington’s support for Morocco’s position on the Sahara conflict. Speaking following talks with Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita, New York representative Adriano Espaillat of the Democratic party underscored Morocco’s leadership in the region, noting that the US will continue […]
Trade in services is critical for improving the competitiveness of African economies and improved trade in services with African countries could help the European Union diversify its supply chains, strengthening resilience and reducing dependencies on China and other Asian countries, according to a new policy brief published by the Brussels-based European Council on Foreign Relations […]