First Independent Mena Newspaper
Africa’s gross domestic product is projected to grow by 3.8% in 2025 and 4.1% in 2026, establishing the continent as the second-fastest growing global region, according to economic forecasts released during the 57th Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development in Addis Ababa. Economic experts acknowledge African economies’ remarkable resilience but caution […]
Russia significantly boosted its agricultural exports to Africa in 2024 by 19%, reflecting the country’s growing economic influence across the continent amid the continuing war in Ukraine. During the previous fiscal year, Russia’s agricultural exports to Africa surpassed $7 billion, according to a statement released by the Agricultural Export Center (Agroexport), with Egypt, Algeria, and […]
Chinese state-owned firms are playing a dominant role in port development across Africa, with a presence in 78 ports across 32 countries as builders, financiers, or operators, sparking concerns about China’s long-term geo-strategic aims. According to a new report by the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies, these Chinese firms are not only builders and […]
Morocco confirms its position amongst the continent’s major economic powers, Paris-based Jeune Afrique magazine stresses in a press release announcing its 26th exclusive ranking of the 500 largest African companies. While the overall sales of the Moroccan companies ranked amount to $55.9 billion, or 7.6% of the ranking total, their sectoral diversity constitutes “a real […]
Africa continues to bear the heaviest burden of malaria globally, with the disease slashing GDP growth by approximately 1.3 percentage points annually in the most affected nations. This economic drain, resulting from mounting medical costs, widespread absenteeism, and diminished productivity, compounds the public health crisis across the continent. Besides, climate change threatens to worsen the […]
Groundbreaking artificial intelligence technologies are dismantling longstanding language barriers across Africa, democratizing digital access for millions, previously excluded from the global information economy. LugandaGPT leads this transformation by enabling indigenous language speakers to engage with online content that has historically remained confined to dominant global languages. This technological revolution captured attention during the AI Summit […]
Following the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the collapse of the Wagner Group, Russia has recalibrated its strategy in Africa, maintaining influence through a mix of rebranding, expansion, and diversification, according to a new study by The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. The study by the Geneva-based organization notes that Moscow has quickly reassured […]
The French port city of Nantes is facing its complex historical role in the Atlantic slave trade through one of Europe’s most significant commemorative sites. As France’s largest slave-trading port in the 18th century and Europe’s fourth-largest overall, the city’s maritime prosperity came at an immense human cost. The Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery […]
Kenya is charting a bold path in climate action, transforming environmental challenges into opportunities for sustainable development and economic growth. Despite ranking 145th out of 187 countries in climate vulnerability, the nation has positioned itself as a regional leader in environmental innovation and policy reform. Under President William Ruto’s leadership, Kenya has made remarkable strides […]
Morocco has maintained its position at the 50th rank in the 2025 edition of the “Global Soft Power Index,” published by Brand Finance. The country ranks highly among African nations, coming in third in the continent, behind Egypt (38th) and South Africa (41st). Morocco rounds out Africa’s top three, securing the 50th position globally with […]