First Independent Mena Newspaper
Libya’s Attorney General has ordered the detention of Ali Al-Abed, the Acting Minister of Education and head of the national curriculum centre, over allegations of irregularities and negligence in school textbook contracts for the 2025/2026 academic year. Prosecutors reported that investigations revealed violations in procurement processes that undermined the public interest and compromised the right […]
King Mohammed VI chaired a Council of Ministers on Sunday at the Royal Palace in Rabat to approve the general orientations of Morocco’s 2026 Finance Bill, which places territorial development and social investment at the heart of government priorities. The draft budget, presented by Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui, seeks to consolidate economic […]
King Mohammed VI chaired, at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Sunday, October 19, a Council of Ministers devoted, among other things, to examining the general guidelines of the draft finance bill for the year 2026 and the reform of electoral laws, the Royal Office said in a statement. Territorial development, the 2026 Finance Bill […]
Sub-Saharan African nations are facing mounting fiscal strain as they increasingly turn to domestic banks to fund government budgets, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned in its latest Regional Economic Outlook. With global capital markets still hesitant and aid flows uncertain, governments are borrowing more at home — paying higher rates and placing pressure on […]
In a renewed show of diplomatic and strategic alignment, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared the Republic of Congo a “reliable and time-tested friend,” highlighting the Central African nation as a key entry point for Moscow’s growing influence across the continent. The statement came during Putin’s recent meeting with Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso in […]
African students pursuing education abroad are facing heightened scrutiny as the United States and United Kingdom ramp up enforcement of immigration compliance, raising concerns about travel equity and academic opportunity. In the U.K., the Home Office has launched a campaign warning tens of thousands of international students — many from Africa — about overstaying visas. […]
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 […]
The cities of Casablanca and Toulouse have officially renewed their cooperation agreement, marking a significant milestone in Moroccan-French relations as both nations deepen bilateral ties across multiple sectors including sustainable development, education, and climate action. The partnership renewal was formalized on July 7, 2025, during a high-level meeting between Casablanca Mayor Nabila Rmili and Toulouse […]
Africa’s mounting debt burden — now standing at 64.3% of the continent’s GDP — is choking vital investments in health, education, and infrastructure, warns the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Speaking at a recent Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, UNECA executive secretary Claver Gatete painted a sobering picture: out of 144 Sustainable […]
Libya and Somalia have signed several Memoranda of Understanding providing for fostering cooperation in investments, educational exchanges, and training opportunities, which are crucial for building human capital and strengthening both nations’ socio-economic development. The deals were signed during talks in Tripoli between President of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed Younes El-Menfi and visiting Somali President […]