First Independent Mena Newspaper
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have introduced a 0.5% tariff on goods imported from third countries, a move aimed at financing their activities within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This new tax, named the “AES confederal levy,” will apply to products entering the three countries but will exclude goods from other AES members, as […]
Niger withdrew from a joint military force formed by countries bordering Lake Chad to fight terrorist groups. The move aims to free-up forces to reinforce oil installations at home, which has been targets of terrorist attacks. The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) was established in 1994 and has been reactivated in 2015 to counter Boko […]
Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger and Mali- which have experienced coups in recent years and have been sanctioned by the African Union- welcomed the informal talks led by Morocco’s presidency of the African Union Peace and Security Council to facilitate dialogue on their political transition issues. In separate letters to Morocco’s foreign minister, the four countries […]
Niger has declared three days of national mourning after a brutal terrorist attack on a mosque in the southwestern town of Kokorou left at least 44 people dead and 13 others wounded. The attack, which occurred during Friday (21 March) prayers in the holy month of Ramadan, was attributed to the Islamic State in the […]
Africa’s Sahel region has become the global epicenter of terrorism, with extremist groups now responsible for over half of all terror-related deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI). This marks a significant shift from previous years, as the region’s death toll rose to 3,885, accounting for 51% of the global […]
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has met with Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in high-level talks aimed at enhancing regional stability and fostering deeper economic partnerships. The discussions, held in Ouagadougou on Monday (10 March), covered a range of issues, with a particular emphasis on improving relations with the Economic Community of West […]
The recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has placed significant pressure on Nigeria’s military, especially its Air Force. Air marshal Hassan Abubakar, Nigeria’s chief of air staff, highlighted at a recent meeting in Abuja that the departure of these countries from the regional security […]
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to launching the Eco currency by 2027, a key step in advancing regional economic integration and financial stability. The ambitious currency project, which aims to unify the economies of 15 West African countries, was discussed at the recent 11th ECOWAS Convergence Council meeting […]
Uganda’s High Court has ordered the renaming of streets, roads, and landmarks in the nation’s capital city Kampala that honor British colonial figures, marking a significant step in the country’s ongoing decolonization efforts. Justice Musa Ssekaana ruled that Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) must take measures to rename these public spaces, ensuring that the new […]
Following the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the collapse of the Wagner Group, Russia has recalibrated its strategy in Africa, maintaining influence through a mix of rebranding, expansion, and diversification, according to a new study by The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. The study by the Geneva-based organization notes that Moscow has quickly reassured […]