First Independent Mena Newspaper
Italy and the European Union have announced €1.2 billion in new investments across Africa, aimed at boosting infrastructure, digital connectivity, and climate-resilient agriculture, though many question the true motives behind the ambitious investment plan. The deals, co-led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, form part of Meloni’s […]
The Trump administration is considering a dramatic expansion of its travel ban, potentially targeting 36 additional countries — 25 of them in Africa — with full or partial visa restrictions, according to a leaked State Department cable. Signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the memo cites a 60-day deadline for affected nations to meet […]
Africa, home to one-third of the world’s critical mineral reserves, stands at a crossroads: remain a source of raw exports or become a central player in the global energy transition. Despite abundant resources — including cobalt, lithium, copper, and rare earth elements — Africa received just 10.4% of global mineral exploration investment in 2024, down […]
African Union (AU) mediators have arrived in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, to try to urgently address rising tensions in the country and prevent a return to civil war. The arrival of the so-called “Council of the Wise” follows the recent house arrest of first vice president Riek Machar, a move that has deepened the political […]
The United Nations has raised alarm over the growing control of M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with fears that the group could seize additional provinces. Bintou Keita, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO), briefed the UN Security Council on Thursday (27 March), revealing that M23 rebels now […]
A new report warns of escalating rivalries among Tigrayan political leaders, raising fears that these tensions could derail the process of reintegrating the region into Ethiopia’s federal structure, ultimately spiraling into a broader conflict involving neighboring Eritrea and other regional powers. A fragile ceasefire, signed in November 2022 between Ethiopia’s government and the Tigray People’s […]
The African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) have further deepened their 25-year-old partnership with the recent signing of the €20 million EU-African Union Partnership Performance Acceleration Programme (AUPPAP). This agreement, marking the 25th anniversary of AU-EU relations, aims to accelerate integrated development and strengthen institutional capacities across Africa, aligning with the AU’s Agenda […]
Sudan has imposed a complete ban on Kenyan imports in response to Kenya’s role in hosting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allies, who recently formed a parallel government in Nairobi. The decision, issued by Sudan’s Ministry of Trade, halts the entry of Kenyan goods, including essential items like tea, food, and pharmaceuticals, […]
Direct peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the M23 rebel group are scheduled to begin in Angola’s capital city Luanda on 18 March, as announced by Angola’s presidency. This marks a significant development after months of escalating conflict in the volatile eastern DRC, where the M23 rebels, widely believed to […]
South Sudan’s fragile peace process faces a severe setback as escalating violence between government forces and armed groups threatens the 2018 power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. The recent clashes, particularly in the Upper Nile state, have prompted the United Nations to warn of an “alarming regression” that could unravel […]