First Independent Mena Newspaper
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the recently brokered Gaza ceasefire will not halt his country’s pursuit of justice at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where Israel faces allegations of genocide. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (14 Oct), Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to the case it filed in December 2023, stating: […]
The European Union’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on steel imports beyond a reduced quota has sent ripples through global markets — and Africa is bracing for the fallout. While most African countries are technically exempt from the EU’s new tariff regime under WTO rules, the continent may still face serious indirect consequences. With major […]
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared an “economic emergency,” unveiling a sweeping 10-point plan aimed at resuscitating the country’s stagnating economy. The announcement comes amid escalating tensions at power utility Eskom, deepening financial turmoil within the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, and widespread investor skepticism. Speaking at a high-level ANC meeting, Ramaphosa announced […]
South Africa has dispatched a five-member elite investigative team to Paris following the sudden and controversial death of its ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa. The 58-year-old former cabinet minister was found dead last Tuesday (30 Sept) morning after falling from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile. Led by Major General Bongani Maqashalala, […]
African leaders used the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as a platform to demand structural reform, global justice, and recognition of Africa’s geopolitical relevance. Central to their message: the urgent need for permanent representation on the UN Security Council and a rebalanced global order that is ‘outdated and unjust’. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South […]
Russia and Ethiopia have officially signed a long-anticipated nuclear cooperation agreement, marking a major milestone in Moscow’s growing strategic engagement across Africa. The deal, finalized at a nuclear energy forum by Ethiopian Electric Power Company and Russia’s state-owned Rosatom, outlines the construction of Ethiopia’s first nuclear power plant. The agreement includes a comprehensive roadmap for […]
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has warned that Nigeria and other African economies risk being excluded from the next wave of global trade unless they urgently invest in digital infrastructure, skills, and AI governance. According to the WTO’s 2025 World Trade Report, artificial intelligence (AI) could boost global trade by up to 37% by 2040, […]
China’s exports to Africa have soared by 25% in the first eight months of 2025, reaching US$140.8 billion, as Beijing redirects trade flows amid escalating U.S. tariffs under President Trump’s renewed trade war. Faced with U.S. import duties as high as 100% on electric vehicles and 50% on solar products, Chinese firms are finding fertile […]
Governments and businesses in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa are grappling with sharply rising borrowing costs, a trend that poses serious risks to economic growth across Sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new report by Moody’s Ratings. Over the past five years, debt servicing costs have surged in all three economies due to weak policy frameworks, […]
Africa’s trade with China has surged 25% in 2025, reaching $122 billion in just seven months — on track to exceed $200 billion for the first time, yet beneath the boom lies a widening trade imbalance and growing concern over Africa’s long-term economic autonomy, experts warn. While U.S.-Africa trade has declined, especially under President Donald […]