First Independent Mena Newspaper
Africa’s digital sovereignty hangs in the balance as AfriNIC, the continent’s sole internet registry, faces potential collapse under mounting legal pressure and governance failure, raising fears of cybercrime and loss of digital sovereignty. The crisis — escalating since 2022 — has reached a critical stage with Cloud Innovation Ltd. filing for judicial liquidation on 9 […]
The UK government is facing mounting criticism over its £30 billion agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, with lawmakers and human rights groups denouncing the deal’s financial and ethical implications. Under the controversial arrangement, Britain retains military access to Diego Garcia — a vital US-UK base — through a 99-year lease, […]
India and nine African nations have launched the sea phase of AIKEYME-25 — or Africa India Key Maritime Engagement — the first-ever joint naval drill aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean. Co-hosted by India and Tanzania, the six-day exercise marks a major step in strengthening strategic cooperation between India and nine […]
US president Donald Trump has unveiled a controversial new tariff policy, imposing sweeping duties on imports from over 180 countries, including 51 African nations. The tariffs, which include a baseline 10% on all imports and higher duties on certain countries, are part of Trump’s strategy to combat what he describes as unfair trade practices that […]
Namibia’s female vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah from the ruling SWAPO party leads — as widely expected — in early results in the presidential election marred by significant problems, amid rising tensions as opposition parties denounce its outcome, seeking legal action. Plagued by significant technical issues, including ballot shortages and other problems, Namibia’s presidential election was […]
Mauritius, one of Africa’s most stable democracies, conducted parliamentary elections Sunday as Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth’s ruling party sought to secure a second five-year term. The election follows recent controversy over the government’s temporary social media restrictions during a wiretapping scandal involving leaked conversations of prominent figures. Approximately one million registered voters participated in the […]
Mauritius has withdrawn its controversial decision to restrict social media access during its upcoming general election following widespread public opposition. The proposed ban, which would have affected major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, sparked significant controversy across multiple sectors of society. The initial restriction was implemented in the island nation in response to […]
Britain has announced an agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, resolving a long-standing dispute while preserving the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The deal allows for the resettlement of displaced Chagossians, addressing a historical injustice dating back to the 1970s. British Foreign Minister David Lammy emphasized that the agreement secures […]
Tanzania’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) figures went up almost twofold year-on-year to $1.05 billion between July and September against $524.4 million in the same period last year, a positive development that is widely attributed to growing investor confidence in the East African country. Released by the state-run Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) in its quarterly bulletin […]
Casablanca Finance City (CFC) has maintained its position as the leading African financial center in the half-yearly rankings of the 34th edition of the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) that has also included Mauritius, Kigali, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Cape Town, and Lagos on the list. Within the North Africa and Middle East region, the leading Moroccan […]