First Independent Mena Newspaper
As Africa moves to the center of global economic and strategic importance, a new Brookings Institution policy brief urges the Trump administration to craft a bold, forward-looking U.S.-Africa strategy that aligns American interests with Africa’s rapid transformation. The report highlights four key pillars — power, prosperity, peace, and principles with soft power — through which […]
Nigeria’s seaports have come under renewed international scrutiny as the European Union released a report identifying the country as a major gateway for counterfeit goods entering West Africa and beyond. In its 2025 Report on the Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Third Countries, the EU classified Nigeria among eight “Priority 3” countries […]
Amid a surge in insurgent activity across Africa, the U.S. military is recalibrating its strategy, stepping back from its traditional focus on governance and development to emphasize burden-sharing and self-reliance among African partners. At the recent African Lion 2025 military exercise — the continent’s largest — Gen. Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), […]
Thanks to its strategic alliance sealed with Washington, Beijing, and Brussels, Morocco has become an important partner in global trade and the new geopolitical shifts taking place in the world. In an analysis published Wednesday on Morocco’s rising economic power, The New York Times recalled the brief visit paid latest November to Morocco by Xi […]
In a resounding display of military synergy and diplomatic recalibration, Egypt and China have concluded on May 6 their first-ever joint air force exercise—Eagles of Civilization 2025—signaling a transformative turn in defense alignments across North Africa. Against the backdrop of Egypt’s desert, Chinese fighter jets, helicopters, and transport aircraft soared alongside Egyptian squadrons, marking a […]
China and Kenya have upgraded their bilateral relationship to a new level, pledging to create an “all-weather” China-Africa community during Kenyan President William Ruto’s first state visit to Beijing, the countries announced on Thursday. Meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, both leaders committed to “injecting more stability into the world with the certainty of China-Africa […]
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Zeekr has officially entered the Moroccan market through a strategic partnership with Tractafric Motors Morocco, introducing two premium electric models with a third planned for later this year. Founded in 2021 by Geely Holding Group, Zeekr aims to meet growing demand for high-end sustainable mobility solutions in the North African kingdom. […]
Amid a deepening U.S.-China trade war, Beijing has issued a stern warning to nations — particularly in Africa — not to strike trade deals with the United States “at the expense of China’s interests,” raising the stakes for countries already grappling with economic strain. China’s Ministry of Commerce declared it “will never accept it and […]
As tensions surge between the world’s two largest economies, China is ramping up its global diplomacy, holding strategic talks with Saudi Arabia and South Africa to counterbalance the United States’ sweeping new tariffs. China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao recently held virtual meetings with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and South Africa, focusing on responses to […]
The Trump administration has reaffirmed its commitment to the $4 billion Lobito Corridor rail project in Africa, aiming to strengthen United States-Africa economic ties while countering China’s growing influence in the region. The initiative, which connects Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is seen as a vital trade route for transporting minerals […]