First Independent Mena Newspaper
The European Union’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on steel imports beyond a reduced quota has sent ripples through global markets — and Africa is bracing for the fallout. While most African countries are technically exempt from the EU’s new tariff regime under WTO rules, the continent may still face serious indirect consequences. With major […]
Two major Africa-focused events — Global Africa Forum 2025 (GAF) and GABI 2025: Unstoppable Africa — held during the recent UN General Assembly in New York, showcased a bold shift in Africa’s global posture: from aid dependence to self-driven growth, investment, and innovation. At GAF 2025, convened by the Africa Prosperity Network, leaders rallied behind […]
The Trump administration has backed a one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) just as the two-decade-old trade agreement was set to expire on 30 September. While the move offers temporary relief, it has done little to dispel mounting fears over the future of U.S.-Africa trade. AGOA, first passed in 2000, provides […]
With the United States facing growing vulnerabilities in its critical minerals supply chain, a new Brookings Institution study urges Washington to forge stronger partnerships with Africa — home to an estimated 30% of the world’s proven reserves. Critical minerals, essential for sectors from defense to clean energy, are heavily concentrated in a few global regions. […]
South African Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has sharply criticized the 30% tariffs imposed by the U.S. on South African exports, calling them a symptom of a “declining empire” lashing out in desperation. “The danger with the US imposing the 30% tariffs is that it is the kicking of a declining empire,” Mantashe told industry […]
Japan is intensifying its African engagement ahead of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), with ambitious plans centered on youth employment, digital transformation, and climate resilience. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has already deployed $2.9 billion of a pledged $5 billion private sector investment package, signaling sustained commitment despite global economic […]
His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God Assist Him, delivered, on Tuesday, a Speech to His faithful people on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the Sovereign’s accession to the Throne of His glorious Ancestors. Here follows the full text of the Royal Speech: “Dear Citizens, Throne Day celebrations provide an annual opportunity to […]
A new report from the African Development Bank (AfDB) underscores Africa’s impressive economic recovery, highlighting the continent’s resilience, growth, and the impact of bold reforms. With a projected GDP growth from 3.2% in 2024 to 4.1% in 2025 and 4.4% in 2026, Africa is now the second-fastest-growing regional economy globally, trailing only Asia. This growth […]
A sharp restriction in off-continental irregular migration combined with escalating push factors will continue to shape governance and security priorities in Africa in 2025, according to a new report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS), which also highlights the urgent need for more regional cooperation to accommodate intra-continental population movements. The new analysis […]
The inaugural Senegal-Mauritania Economic Forum is scheduled for September 30 to October 1, 2024, at the Radisson Blu in Dakar. The event will center on the theme, “Economic Integration Amidst Energy Transition: The Role of the Private Sectors in Senegal and Mauritania.” Amidst a global shift toward energy transition, the Senegal-Mauritania Economic Forum seeks to […]