First Independent Mena Newspaper
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 […]
The European Commission has designated seven countries — including Morocco, India and Colombia — as “safe countries of origin,” paving the way for accelerated deportations of failed asylum seekers, despite some ongoing concerns over human rights conditions. Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia have been major departure points for irregular migration to Europe, particularly across the central […]
A sharp restriction in off-continental irregular migration combined with escalating push factors will continue to shape governance and security priorities in Africa in 2025, according to a new report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS), which also highlights the urgent need for more regional cooperation to accommodate intra-continental population movements. The new analysis […]
In a sharp departure from the general migration policy across the European Union, Spain has announced its plan to legalize about 300,000 undocumented migrants per year, starting next May and through 2027, the country’s migration minister said Wednesday (20 November). With about 600,000 undocumented migrants, one of the highest rates in the bloc, Spain aims […]
Hungarian far-right president Victor Orban said he plans to send 200 soldiers to Chad to help curb migration. He made the remark following a meeting with Chad’s president Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno in Budapest. Chad plays a vital role in the campaign against migration, Orban said on Facebook. “Migration from Africa to Europe cannot be […]
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez agreed with Mauritanian president Mohammed Ould Ghazouani to stem migration flows, as part of a West African tour that will lead him to Gambia and Senegal. The Canary Islands, located close to the African coast and used as a stepping stone for migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe — […]
The recently endorsed EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum “is going to run into political and possibly also legal challenges and a largely hostile international setting,” says a new study by the Elcano Royal Institute, while especially left-wing organizations denounce it as “the result of a deliberate EU policy aimed at creating a deterrent effect […]