First Independent Mena Newspaper
Moroccan and French Ministers of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit and Laurent Nuñez, held, on Tuesday in Marrakech, a meeting that provided the opportunity for the two parties to review different issues of mutual interest, with focus on security and migration matters. The French official is visiting Morocco to attend the 93rd INTERPOL General Assembly, currently […]
The 12th annual meeting of the Morocco-European Union Joint Parliamentary Committee opened Wednesday in Rabat, under the co-chairmanship of Moroccan MP Lahcen Haddad and MEP Ruggero Razza, to discuss cooperation ties between the EU and its Southern partners for a more stable, prosperous, and interconnected region. Speaking on the occasion, Haddad said the meeting takes […]
Somalia’s government has firmly denied allegations that it entered into a secret agreement with Sweden to accept deported Somali nationals in exchange for redirected development aid. In an official statement, the Office of the Prime Minister rejected claims that Somalia received $9 million in Swedish aid as part of a covert deal. There is “no […]
Morocco has defended its vision of a solidarity-based approach to migration offering alternatives that steer away from the security approach gaining ground in the global north amid a surge of populism. Speaking during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita presented a migration strategy grounded in the vision of King Mohammed […]
Libya and Malta have agreed to begin discussions on maritime borders, with the possibility of expanding the talks into multilateral negotiations if they involve third countries. The agreement was reached during a meeting on Wednesday, September 10, in Valletta between Libya’s Acting Foreign Minister, Al-Taher Al-Baour, and his Maltese counterpart, Ian Borg. The talks also […]
Uganda has confirmed a temporary agreement with the United States to accept third-country nationals denied asylum in the U.S., marking a significant shift in migration policy that has sparked controversy both at home and across the continent. The deal, confirmed last week (21 August) by Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, excludes individuals with […]
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to Libya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, underscoring support for a nationally owned political process and national reconciliation. In a communiqué issued after a high-level meeting, the Council called for inclusive and transparent presidential and parliamentary elections to be held without delay. It also […]
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. […]
As the European Union fast-tracks reforms under its New Pact on Migration and Asylum, critics warn that the bloc’s externalization strategy — outsourcing migration control to third countries, notably in North Africa — risks deepening distrust and failing to address root causes. The reforms prioritize returns and border controls, expanding concepts like ‘safe third country’ […]
Morocco has secured the top position in North Africa for economic freedom, ranking 101st globally out of 196 countries in the 2025 Nomad Capitalist Freedom Index, though structural obstacles continue to limit its full economic potential. The tax and migration advisory firm’s index evaluated countries across five pillars: financial freedom (30 percent), asset protection (25 […]