First Independent Mena Newspaper
More than 42 million people across six East and Horn of Africa countries are facing acute food insecurity in 2025, according to a grim new report from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The Regional Focus of the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, released Tuesday (16 September), reveals that Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, […]
Africa’s largest telecom operator, MTN Group, is in advanced negotiations with U.S. and European firms to build a network of AI-powered data centers across the continent — a strategic move to close the continent’s infrastructure gap and position it as a key player in the global digital economy. The initiative, led by MTN’s newly formed […]
Governments and businesses in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa are grappling with sharply rising borrowing costs, a trend that poses serious risks to economic growth across Sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new report by Moody’s Ratings. Over the past five years, debt servicing costs have surged in all three economies due to weak policy frameworks, […]
Despite mounting global economic uncertainties, East Africa remains on a steady growth path, driven by investments in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and digital innovation. According to a recent Deloitte’s 2025 East Africa Economic Outlook, the region is set to be the fastest-growing on the continent, even as high inflation, rising debt, and currency volatility pose significant […]
Kenya has become the latest African country that has hired lawyers or lobbying firms with ties to President Donald Trump’s associates to advocate for their interests in Washington, D.C. Kenya has signed a $175,000-a-month lobbying contract with Continental Strategy LLC, a U.S. firm led by ex-Trump official Carlos Trujillo, aiming to boost its influence in […]
Africa is emerging as a key manufacturing hub for Indian companies, as record-high U.S. tariffs — now up to 50% — threaten India’s export competitiveness, particularly in textiles, pharmaceuticals, and gems. The penalties, imposed largely in response to India’s continued oil trade with Russia, have forced Indian firms to pivot strategically toward Africa to maintain […]
In a growing diplomatic rift, Sudan is urging Somalia to help cut off what it calls a dangerous flow of foreign mercenaries and weapons — allegedly routed through Puntland with backing from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sudan’s intelligence chief, Lt-Gen Ahmed Ibrahim Ali Mufaddal, met Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu this week, […]
In a decisive counteroffensive, Kenyan-led forces in Haiti have recaptured a key telecommunications hub from the powerful “Viv Ansanm” gang, thwarting a dangerous plot to sever the country’s communications and paralyze its international airport. The operation, carried out under the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, saw specialized Kenyan units — alongside Haiti’s National Police […]
With the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) set to expire in September, Kenya has launched last-minute negotiations with the United States to secure a bilateral trade agreement that could reshape its economic future. A high-level Kenyan delegation, led by Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, held talks in Washington with U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson […]
In a historic move that redefines global diplomacy, the United Nations is relocating major operations from New York and Geneva to Nairobi, Kenya, signaling a shift in the center of global influence toward the Global South. By 2026, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UN Women will establish significant global offices in Nairobi — home to the UN’s […]