First Independent Mena Newspaper
The Kremlin has announced the expansion of the list of “friendly and neutral” African countries whose banks may now trade currencies and derivatives in Russia. By adding Nigeria, Tunisia and Ethiopia to the list, “the number of friendly and neutral countries whose credit institutions and brokers will be allowed to trade on the Russian foreign […]
At least 20 Nigerian soldiers, including a commanding officer, have been reportedly killed as suspected Islamist militants targeted an army base in the remote Malam-Fatori town in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state. The attack that is believed to have been carried out by fighters from the ISIL-affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP) occurred on Friday (24 […]
At least 67 journalists have been jailed across Africa for their work, reflecting the continent’s ongoing struggle for a free press, according to a recent report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). According to the CPJ’s report on jailed journalists in Sub-Saharan Africa, this record number of journalists languishing in jail highlights the growing […]
Preparations are well underway for the African Heads of State Energy Summit that will take place in Tanzania’s capital Dar es Salaam on 27-28 January. The event aims to advance an ambitious plan to deliver electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. The so-called Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit is a landmark event that will […]
At least 70 people have died in north-central Nigeria after a gasoline tanker overturned in the early hours of Saturday and exploded as locals attempted to salvage its fuel. According to eyewitnesses, community members rushed to the scene once the tanker crashed, hoping to collect leaking gasoline for personal use. A generator was then started […]
Brazil, the BRICS chair, said that Nigeria has been admitted as a partner country in the group. The decision was based on the role of Nigeria in “strengthening cooperation in the Global South and reforming global governance”, Brazil said in a statement. “As the 6th largest population in the world and the 1st on the […]
Nigerian naira, Malawian kwacha and Rwandan franc have been named the worst-performing African currencies against the US dollar in 2024, according to a latest report, having faced an array of challenges, from persistent trade imbalances, dwindling foreign reserves, to political instability. Some African nations strengthened their currencies, while others faced worsening exchange rates in 2024. […]
Start-ups in Africa cumulatively raised $2.2 billion in equity, debt, and grants (excluding exits) in 2024, and though it is a significant figure in absolute terms, it represents a 25% drop compared to the $2.9 billion that were raised on the continent in 2023, ‘Africa: The Big Deal’ has revealed. According to the funding report […]
China’s top diplomat has embarked on his traditional New Year tour of Africa that will take him to Namibia, the Republic of Congo, Chad, and Nigeria, aiming to further advance Beijing’s already sizable influence across the resource-rich continent amid dwindling Western influence. The week-long tour by China’s foreign minister Wang Yi marks 35 consecutive years […]
West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS has thrown its weight and support behind Nigeria after Niger’s accusations that Abuja was plotting to destabilize its northern neighbor, notably by harboring members of the former Bazoum administration and collaborating with foreign powers. The Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) has come to Nigeria’s defense as its diplomatic […]