First Independent Mena Newspaper
African nations are racing against time to renegotiate trade terms with the United States, as sweeping tariffs — initially set to begin 1 August — now loom for 7 August following a last-minute executive order by President Donald Trump. Trump’s latest executive order slaps a uniform 15% tariff on most African exports — threatening industries […]
African exports to the United States are projected to drop by as much as 21.5% as new U.S. tariffs take effect, according to joint research by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), African Union Commission (AUC), and African Development Bank (AfDB). The protectionist move, part of a broader trade policy under President Donald Trump, has […]
Morocco secured on Tuesday, July 22, a historic place in the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final after a tense 1-1 draw against Ghana ended in a 4-2 penalty shootout triumph. The breakthrough came when Stella Nyamekye scored for Ghana in the 26th minute, capitalising on a rebound from Josephine Bonsu’s header. Morocco […]
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing mounting challenges in his bid to rebuild relations with the United States, as the Trump Administration intensifies a hardline stance against Pretoria. Despite Ramaphosa’s efforts, including the appointment of Mcebisi Jonas as a special envoy to Washington, the US has refused to grant Jonas a diplomatic visa and […]
G20 member States, under the leadership of South Africa’s 2025 presidency, are convening in Durban with the hope of reaching a consensus on urgent global financial reforms. The finance and Central bank deputies gathered on Monday and Tuesday to address pressing issues such as debt relief, development financing, and the restructuring of multilateral financial institutions. […]
South African car exports to the United States have plummeted dramatically, falling over 70% in the first quarter of 2025, and tumbling further to 80% in April and 85% in May, 2025, following the imposition of steep tariffs by US President Donald J. Trump. The automotive industry, which relies heavily on the US market under […]
At least 120 children have been abducted in recent days by Islamist insurgents in Mozambique’s northern oil-rich Cabo Delgado province, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported, adding that they were reportedly being forced into labor, used to transport looted goods, and in some cases turned into child soldiers or forced into marriage. The kidnappings mark […]
In a strategic move to reduce global reliance on the U.S. dollar, China has welcomed six new financial institutions from Africa, the Gulf, and Central Asia into its Cross-border Interbank Payment System (CIPS). The expansion, announced during a ceremony in Shanghai, brings direct participation in the yuan-based payment network to 174 institutions, as China steps […]
South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has thrown its full support behind Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, calling for a bold new strategic partnership between the two “African powerhouses”. In a newly released policy paper, the party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, made the case for African unity rooted in shared liberation histories between […]
Talks over the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) are set to begin by July, but African nations face growing uncertainty as U.S. tariffs threaten to undermine the landmark trade pact. AGOA, which since 2000 has granted duty-free access to the United States for eligible sub-Saharan African exports, is scheduled to expire […]