First Independent Mena Newspaper
The government of Japan has reportedly signed again on the participation of the Algeria-backed Polisario militia’s in its summit with African countries due in Yokoham from 20 to 22 August 2025. This is not the first time that Japan takes such a risky move with serious political implications. It is very likely to strain relations […]
China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI), launched in 2022 by President Xi Jinping, is increasingly shaping Africa’s security architecture, drawing both support and scrutiny across the continent. According to a new analysis by the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the GSI is rapidly reshaping security partnerships across Africa, embedding Chinese norms into military, policing, and […]
African nations are racing against time to renegotiate trade terms with the United States, as sweeping tariffs — initially set to begin 1 August — now loom for 7 August following a last-minute executive order by President Donald Trump. Trump’s latest executive order slaps a uniform 15% tariff on most African exports — threatening industries […]
Somaliland’s new president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, is offering the United States access to a strategic military base near the Red Sea and critical mineral resources, including lithium, in exchange for formal diplomatic recognition. The breakaway region, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has yet to receive international recognition despite decades of stability and democratic […]
Kenya has been ranked the world’s top user of ChatGPT, surpassing digital powerhouses like the United States, Japan, and China in a surprising shift in global AI adoption trends. According to the July 2025 Global Digital Report by DataReportal and Meltwater, a staggering 42.1% of Kenyan internet users aged 16 and above used ChatGPT in […]
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Pharmaprom is set to invest 75 million dirhams in expanding its production facility in Lissasfa near Casablanca, signaling growing confidence in Morocco’s pharmaceutical sector. The expansion, led by CEO Naoual Benyezzar, aims to significantly increase the company’s industrial and logistics capabilities as it targets 150 million dirhams in revenue within three years. The […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the latest battleground in a deepening strategic rivalry between the United States and China over control of critical minerals, as a new US-brokered peace deal with Rwanda raises both hope and concern. Signed in June 2025, the agreement aims to end decades of conflict between the DRC […]
In a strategic move to reduce dependence on China, India is rapidly expanding rare earth element (REE) partnerships with five African nations — Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Côte d’Ivoire — amid escalating global concerns over China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains. China currently controls over 90% of the global REE market and has […]
Morocco maintained a trade surplus with Africa in 2024, though it declined significantly to 7.2 billion dirhams from 12.6 billion dirhams the previous year, according to the Foreign Exchange Office’s annual report on Morocco’s foreign trade. The deterioration stems primarily from an increased trade deficit with Egypt, which widened by 3 billion dirhams, combined with […]
A sweeping shift in the European Union’s migration policy is drawing fierce criticism across Africa, as the EU proposes linking development aid to countries’ cooperation on border control and deportations. Under the revised Global Europe instrument, nations that fail to prevent irregular migration or refuse to accept deportees could see vital funds slashed. Critics say […]