First Independent Mena Newspaper
France’s National Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution calling on the government to repeal the controversial 1968 agreement with Algiers that facilitates Algerian immigration to France. The text, tabled by the far-right National Rally (RN) was approved by 185 votes to 184. It is the first legislative victory for Marine Le Pen’s party. The non-bidding […]
In a landmark meeting at the Élysée Palace, French President Emmanuel Macron and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye launched a renewed phase in Franco-Senegalese relations, signaling a shift from military presence to partnership grounded in respect, transparency, and shared development goals. The summit followed France’s withdrawal from its last military bases in Senegal, which was, […]
In a landmark move, the French government has unveiled a new bill aimed at simplifying the return of cultural artifacts taken during the colonial period. Introduced by Culture Minister Rachida Dati, the legislation would allow items looted between 1815 and 1972 to be returned by government decree, bypassing the need for time-consuming parliamentary votes. The […]
France faces a significant challenge to its influence in West and Central Africa as Chad, Senegal and most recently also Ivory Coast have announced the end to traditional military cooperation with their former colonial master, experts say, adding that this would unravel France’s remaining logistics and military footprint in the region. In recent months, six […]
France has been asked by Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to close all its military bases in the West African state because these were “incompatible” with Senegal’s national sovereignty. Faye made this call in an interview with the AFP on Thursday (28 November), just as Senegal was preparing to mark the 80th anniversary of a […]
The Guardian has warned that more demonstrations could erupt in Algeria as the authorities are not acting fast to address the water shortage and as people continue struggling to find drinking water. On 8 June, anger over months of water rationing spilled over in the drought-stricken central Algerian town of Tiaret, where demonstrators barricaded roads […]
Russian President Vladimir Putin has zoomed in on his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and his vocal criticism of Moscow’s war on Ukraine, arguing that this “emotional reaction” by the French president is due to “resentment” at losing allies in Africa to the Kremlin. In an interview published on Wednesday (13 March), Putin said heightened Russian […]
France has said it will keep its 1,000 troops in junta-run Chad amid waning French influence after it was ousted from several African countries over the past few years, just as apparent calm has returned to Chad’s capital N’Djamena following the assassination of an opposition leader. “Of course we will stay” in Chad, said Jean-Marie […]
The first road convoy of French troops that were withdrawn from Niger following the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum arrived in Chad’s capital on Thursday (19 October), according to French military authorities. The convoy arrived in N’Djamena “without any particular problems “after spending 10 days on the road in coordination with Nigerian forces, French army […]
France has begun pulling out its troops from Niger after being ordered out of the West African nation by the military junta that ousted the pro-Paris president in a July coup, the military said Tuesday (10 October). “The first troops have left,” the spokesman of the French chief of staff said, confirming an earlier announcement […]