First Independent Mena Newspaper
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 […]
US president Donald Trump reiterated his country’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and described autonomy as the only solution to the dispute. “I also reiterate that the United States recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and supports Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic Autonomy Proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting […]
France has officially ended its 65-year military presence in Senegal, handing over its last two bases in a ceremony Thursday (17 July) attended by high-ranking French and Senegalese officials. The withdrawal marks a symbolic conclusion to decades of military cooperation rooted in colonial legacy. Camp Geille in Dakar and its adjacent airfield were transferred to […]
Equatorial Guinea has filed an urgent appeal at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), demanding France halt the sale of a luxury mansion in Paris seized from Vice President Teodorin Obiang, son of the African nation’s long‑serving president. The property was confiscated following Teodorin’s conviction for embezzlement in a French court. Representing Equatorial Guinea, Minister […]
On Monday, July 14, 2025, Mali has issued a strong diplomatic protest against the Czech Republic for denying entry visas to its U19 women’s basketball team, preventing their participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup held in Brno, from 12 to 20 July. The Foreign Ministry labelled the move as an “unfriendly act” and […]
The French Embassy hosted a vibrant celebration on the occasion of France’s National Day, marking not just a historic date but a renewed chapter in French-Moroccan relations. Held at the French Residence, the event welcomed some 2,500 guests, including high-ranking Moroccan officials, diplomats, business leaders, and members of the French community in Morocco. The evening […]
King Mohammed VI has reaffirmed Morocco’s willingness to advance the implementation of the reinforced exceptional partnership with France and to reshape the two countries’ cooperation in order to better meet the requirements of of the present. This came in a message of congratulations the Monarch addressed to President Emmanuel Macron on France’s National Day In […]
Mali’s military government has formally granted junta leader General Assimi Goïta a five-year presidential term, renewable indefinitely and without elections, marking a sharp turn away from democratic governance in the Sahel nation. The new law, adopted unanimously by 131 members of the National Transitional Council last week, states Goïta’s power may be extended “as many […]
The Royal Air armed forces and French Air Forces have conducted lately a joint exercise to reinforce tactical proficiency, coordination and interoperability amid recent geopolitical tensions. Dubbed “Marathon25”, the exercise saw the participation of Moroccan F-16 fighter jets and Puma helicopters for transport and medical evacuation missions, while France contributed five Rafale B jets from […]
Morocco’s National Police Services and France’s Directorate General of National Police inked on Tuesday in Rabat a Joint Action Plan, establishing a joint roadmap to fight cross-border organized crime in the two countries, bolster security cooperation and strengthen mutual assistance mechanisms in the numerous fields of police cooperation. The Joint Action Plan was initialed by […]