First Independent Mena Newspaper
As the African space economy accelerates toward an estimated $22.64 billion in 2026 — up from $19.49 billion in 2021 — Morocco is consolidating its position within the continent’s top tier of space-capable nations. Alongside Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, the Kingdom is classified in Africa’s first circle of space powers by multiple international assessments […]
A papal visit to Algeria aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue and reconciliation unfolded against two powerful and contrasting backdrops: renewed concerns over terrorist attacks and mounting criticism from rights groups over the treatment of the country’s Christian minority. A visit the authoritarian regime in Algeria hoped to use for whitewashing purposes has unveiled to the […]
Morocco and Mali have fostered their bilateral ties with a watershed decision announcing Bamako’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and its withdrawal of recognition of Algerian separatist proxies the Polisario. This takes place at a time Mali complains of Algerian bullying through manipulating terrorist groups and Tuareg separatists in its north. Morocco has […]
Mali’s decision to withdraw its recognition of the self-declared separatist entity SADR and to support autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty in the Sahara under represents a major diplomatic development in the Sahel, carrying regional, historical and geopolitical significance. The announcement was made on April 10 by Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop during an official visit by […]
Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to Algeria risks being used by the authorities to whitewash an authoritarian system that persecutes Christians, closes churches and curtails religious freedom, diplomats and rights advocates say. The April 13–15 trip, the first by a pontiff to Algeria, has been presented by Algiers as a historic moment of dialogue and […]
Morocco and France are moving to consolidate a renewed strategic partnership, including preparations to activate a high‑level committee tasked with shaping the long‑term future of bilateral ties, even as a handful of far‑left pro-Algeria political and media circles in France step up unfounded criticism of the rapprochement. This comes as the two countries are finalizing […]
France’s national anti‑terrorism prosecutor has publicly identified Algeria as one of three foreign states under investigation for suspected acts of “state terrorism,” a move that casts renewed scrutiny on the North African country’s authoritarian political system and its treatment of opponents beyond its borders. Olivier Christen, head of the National Anti‑Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT), told […]
An agreement reached between Algeria and Belgium on migration returns and visa exemptions came to underscore Algeria’s growing regional and European isolation and its increasing reliance on transactional diplomacy amid strained ties with key partners such as France. The deal was concluded during a visit by Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf to Brussels end of […]
Doping scandals have rocked the world of sports for years, casting shadows over achievements and challenging the very ethos of fair play. Football, has not remained untouched. Following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final held in Morocco, 24 players of Senegal football team refused anti-doping tests, according to press reports, saying that the behaviour […]
Leaked internal documents detail how a Russian-linked network sought to expand Moscow’s political influence across Africa, particularly within the Sahel alliance- Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso- through coordinated propaganda, lobbying and pressure campaigns, according to a cross-border investigation led by the pan-African media outlet The Continent and the journalism network Forbidden Stories. Forbidden Stories is […]