First Independent Mena Newspaper
Botswana and South African mining giant De Beers have finalized a landmark 10-year agreement, enhancing the country’s stake in diamond sales and providing a boost to its critical diamond sector. After six years of negotiations, the deal will see Botswana’s share of rough diamond sales rise from 25% to 30% in the first five years, […]
Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) is celebrating a significant achievement in 2024, setting a new export record with 131,485 vehicles shipped, marking a 21% increase over the previous record of 108,422 vehicles in 2019. This milestone highlights the company’s strengthened global presence, with its plant in Kariega, South Africa, being the sole exporter of Polo models […]
Nigeria is attracting increasing international attention for its vast lithium reserves, a critical mineral in the global push for clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels. As Africa is projected to supply 20% of the world’s lithium by 2030, Nigeria aims to position itself as a key player in this growing […]
The Trump administration has expressed a strong interest in developing Africa’s mining sector, particularly in minerals vital for clean energy technologies. On the first day of his second term, US president Donald Trump signed an executive order prioritizing mineral extraction and processing, signaling a commitment to international partnerships, especially with African nations rich in resources. […]
President Donald Trump has implemented his threat to stop aid to South Africa over a land confiscation law that targets farms owned by the white minority. Prior to signing his executive order freezing aid, Trump condemned South Africa for “confiscating land” and for treating “certain classes of People…very badly,” alluding to discrimination against whites in […]
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he will not attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg, due to what he described as “anti-Americanism” by South African authorities. The decision came against the backdrop of Trump threats to halt aid for South Africa which plans to implement land redistribution acts detrimental to the white minority. Trump’s […]
A sharp restriction in off-continental irregular migration combined with escalating push factors will continue to shape governance and security priorities in Africa in 2025, according to a new report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS), which also highlights the urgent need for more regional cooperation to accommodate intra-continental population movements. The new analysis […]
The four-day ‘Investing in African Mining Indaba’ that officially kicked off in Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday (3 January) features presentations from mining experts, delegates and influential policymakers and also includes discussions on the effects that US tariffs and the freeze on foreign aid might have on Africa’s mining industries. The African mining-focused event […]
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 […]
In an unexpected development that highlights the complex dynamics of U.S.-South African relations, a social media announcement about American aid to South Africa has sent diplomatic ripples through both nations. The statement, posted without supporting evidence, threatens to withhold nearly $440 million in annual assistance pending an investigation into alleged mistreatment of certain populations. This […]