First Independent Mena Newspaper
The military-led governments of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have unveiled plans to fund a new regional investment bank with a portion of their national tax revenues, signaling a deepening break from traditional financial partners and regional bodies. Each country will contribute approximately 5% of its annual tax revenues to the bank, which aims to […]
Russia and Mozambique reaffirmed their longstanding defense partnership during a diplomatic visit to Moscow by Mozambican Foreign Minister Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas. The talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted both countries’ commitment to strengthening military cooperation and expanding economic ties, particularly in the energy sector. Lavrov pledged continued Russian support for enhancing […]
Russia has officially transitioned its military operations in the Sahel from the shadowy Wagner Group to a state-controlled force known as Africa Corps, according to a new report by the Dakar-based Timbuktu Institute. Following Wagner’s formal withdrawal from Mali on 6 June 2025, Africa Corps was deployed the next day by Russia’s Ministry of Defense. […]
A sweeping shift in the European Union’s migration policy is drawing fierce criticism across Africa, as the EU proposes linking development aid to countries’ cooperation on border control and deportations. Under the revised Global Europe instrument, nations that fail to prevent irregular migration or refuse to accept deportees could see vital funds slashed. Critics say […]
France has officially ended its 65-year military presence in Senegal, handing over its last two bases in a ceremony Thursday (17 July) attended by high-ranking French and Senegalese officials. The withdrawal marks a symbolic conclusion to decades of military cooperation rooted in colonial legacy. Camp Geille in Dakar and its adjacent airfield were transferred to […]
North Africa’s wheat import landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation, with Black Sea suppliers now controlling 75 percent of the market as European Union share plummets to 25 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest analysis. The region, comprising Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, represents 15 percent of global wheat imports. During […]
Mali’s junta leader General Assimi Goïta has officially secured an indefinite grip on power after signing a law granting himself a renewable five-year presidential mandate without the need for elections. The law, made public Thursday (10 July), follows recommendations from a junta-led national dialogue widely boycotted by political groups. Initially celebrated as a reformist after […]
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is reviewing a confidential legal brief accusing the Russia-linked Wagner Group of committing war crimes in West Africa — not only through acts of extreme violence but by promoting them online. The brief, submitted by legal experts from UC Berkeley, contends that Wagner’s dissemination of graphic content — showing beheadings, […]
Ukraine is reportedly deepening its presence in Africa, offering military training, humanitarian aid, and diplomatic support to counter Russia’s growing influence, particularly in the Sahel region. As Moscow-backed mercenaries spread across conflict zones like Mali, Ukraine has launched a strategic push to win allies on the continent and undermine Kremlin-backed operations. Kyiv’s latest initiative includes […]
Russia’s war in Ukraine has taken on a disturbing new dimension, as media reports confirm that hundreds of young African men are being lured, coerced, or tricked into fighting on the front lines for the Kremlin. Marketed with promises of stable employment, education, or fast-track Russian citizenship, many are instead funneled into combat roles with […]