First Independent Mena Newspaper
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 […]
Kenyan authorities have dismantled a human trafficking ring accused of luring citizens to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war under the guise of employment opportunities in Moscow. In an intelligence-led raid on the Great Wall Apartments on the outskirts of Nairobi, police rescued 22 Kenyans who were reportedly being “processed” for travel to Russia. Authorities seized […]
Kenya’s President William Ruto has called for stronger international backing for the Kenya-led mission in Haiti, as the United States pushes to expand the operation into a more robust Gang Suppression Force under new United Nations’ frameworks. Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Ruto revealed that the Multinational Security Support (MSS) […]
The Kenyan government has launched a formal investigation into reports that several of its citizens were trafficked to Russia and forced to fight in the ongoing war in Ukraine, where they are now held as prisoners of war (POWs). Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei confirmed on Saturday (20 September) that authorities are closely monitoring […]
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 […]