First Independent Mena Newspaper
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the latest front in the U.S.-China rivalry, as President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to secure critical minerals needed for electric vehicles and clean energy. Backed by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, U.S. firm KoBold Metals recently secured seven lithium exploration permits, including access to the coveted […]
In the shadow of official diplomacy, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a central — but often overlooked — force in Africa’s escalating conflicts, according to observers and experts on the region. “Most people blame the United States, while others are suspicious of China … however, … the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is […]
Africa is rapidly emerging as China’s most dynamic export market, fueled by a combination of shifting global trade dynamics, aggressive Chinese investment, and growing demand for infrastructure. As Bloomberg calculations based on China Customs data have revealed, in the first seven months of 2025 alone, Chinese exports to Africa soared 25% year-on-year to $122 billion […]
Interpol has announced the arrest of over 1,200 suspected cybercriminals across 18 African nations and the United Kingdom as part of a sweeping three-month operation targeting cyber fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and transnational crime. Dubbed Operation Serengeti 2.0, the crackdown ran from June to August 2025 and resulted in the dismantling of more than 11,000 cybercrime […]
South Africa is fast becoming the new battleground for global automakers, with Chinese and Indian car manufacturers racing to establish a stronghold in Africa’s most developed economy. Amid strained U.S. trade relations and shifting global dynamics, brands like Leapmotor, LDV, and Tata Motors are investing heavily in South Africa to access the broader African market. […]
Lower-income countries are paying private creditors nearly three times more than they repay China, according to new research by UK-based advocacy group Debt Justice, challenging dominant narratives around global debt. Between 2020 and 2025, 39% of the $354 billion in external debt repayments from 88 low-income countries and small island states will go to private […]
Niger’s military-led government has nationalized the country’s only industrial gold mine, Société des Mines du Liptako (SML), accusing its Australian operator, McKinel Resources, of “serious breaches,” including failure to fulfill a $10 million investment pledge. The junta, in power since a 2023 coup, framed the move as a strategic step toward national resource control. “In […]
South African Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has sharply criticized the 30% tariffs imposed by the U.S. on South African exports, calling them a symptom of a “declining empire” lashing out in desperation. “The danger with the US imposing the 30% tariffs is that it is the kicking of a declining empire,” Mantashe told industry […]
The United States has launched a sweeping reassessment of Kenya’s Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, raising alarm over President William Ruto’s growing ties with China, Russia, Iran, and links to extremist groups. Granted in June 2024, Kenya’s MNNA designation made it the first sub-Saharan African country to join an exclusive list of U.S. defense partners. […]
Kenya, a nation heavily reliant on agricultural exports, seeks to expand its commercial opportunities globally. The country now steps closer to a bilateral agreement with China that would scrap customs duties on several key agricultural exports, including tea, coffee, and avocados. President William Ruto announced this progress during a presidential round table with the private […]