First Independent Mena Newspaper
In a strategic move to reduce dependence on China, India is rapidly expanding rare earth element (REE) partnerships with five African nations — Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Côte d’Ivoire — amid escalating global concerns over China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains. China currently controls over 90% of the global REE market and has […]
A new commentary by Italy’s Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) warns that European Union migration policies risk failure unless they begin to meaningfully include African perspectives — especially from West Africa. Since the 2015 refugee crisis, the EU has heavily securitized migration, investing in border surveillance, readmission deals, and deterrence measures across the Sahel. […]
Russia has officially transitioned its military operations in the Sahel from the shadowy Wagner Group to a state-controlled force known as Africa Corps, according to a new report by the Dakar-based Timbuktu Institute. Following Wagner’s formal withdrawal from Mali on 6 June 2025, Africa Corps was deployed the next day by Russia’s Ministry of Defense. […]
Morocco’s leading telecommunications operator Maroc Telecom has crossed a significant milestone, reporting over 80 million subscribers in the first half of 2025, marking a 2.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The growth comes despite what the company described as a “highly competitive and regulated market environment,” with subsidiary operations driving expansion […]
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 […]
Mali’s junta leader General Assimi Goïta has officially secured an indefinite grip on power after signing a law granting himself a renewable five-year presidential mandate without the need for elections. The law, made public Thursday (10 July), follows recommendations from a junta-led national dialogue widely boycotted by political groups. Initially celebrated as a reformist after […]
Less than two years after seizing power, Niger’s junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani is struggling to contain a growing jihadist insurgency that threatens both his authority and national stability. Despite bold promises to restore security and sovereignty after the 2023 coup, Tiani’s regime faces escalating attacks from al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic […]
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 […]
China’s long-held strategy of “regime-agnostic” engagement in Africa is under strain as mounting instability in Niger threatens billions in Chinese investments, says a new study. A new report by the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies warns that China’s transactional diplomacy — prioritizing control over constitutional legitimacy — has left its state-owned enterprises (SOEs) vulnerable […]
Ukraine is reportedly deepening its presence in Africa, offering military training, humanitarian aid, and diplomatic support to counter Russia’s growing influence, particularly in the Sahel region. As Moscow-backed mercenaries spread across conflict zones like Mali, Ukraine has launched a strategic push to win allies on the continent and undermine Kremlin-backed operations. Kyiv’s latest initiative includes […]