First Independent Mena Newspaper
The United States has launched a sweeping reassessment of Kenya’s Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, raising alarm over President William Ruto’s growing ties with China, Russia, Iran, and links to extremist groups. Granted in June 2024, Kenya’s MNNA designation made it the first sub-Saharan African country to join an exclusive list of U.S. defense partners. […]
A new immigration policy under the Trump administration is prompting alarm among African students in the United States, as tighter visa restrictions limit travel flexibility and raise emotional and academic concerns. Effective 8 July, the U.S. State Department has implemented a revised visa policy that grants F-1 student visas — especially for African nationals like […]
In a landmark shift in U.S. foreign policy, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) officially closed its doors on Tuesday (1 July), with all operations absorbed by the State Department. The decision, driven by President Trump’s executive order and enacted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks the end of a 63-year institution central […]
The Trump administration is considering a dramatic expansion of its travel ban, potentially targeting 36 additional countries — 25 of them in Africa — with full or partial visa restrictions, according to a leaked State Department cable. Signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the memo cites a 60-day deadline for affected nations to meet […]
Massad Boulos, newly appointed senior advisor for Africa at the US State Department, is set to begin a diplomatic mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda. The trip, which starts on 3 March, aims to foster peace in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels continue their offensive, and encourage increased […]
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. […]
The US and Morocco have stepped up their defense cooperation as part of enduring bilateral ties, The US State Department said. After describing Morocco as “vital” partner on a wide range of regional security issues, with a shared goal of a stable, secure, and prosperous Middle East and North Africa, the State Department said […]
The U.S. State Department has confirmed the appointment of Kathleen FitzGibbon as Washington’s new envoy to Niger now led by a junta that toppled on July 26 west-backed leader Mohamed Bazoum. Vedant Patel, the deputy spokesman of the State Department confirmed FitzGibbon’s appointment arguing that she is going there to lead the mission during a […]
The United States has denounced the continuing violations of religious freedom in Algeria wherein non-Muslim minority groups and Shiites suffer unabated harassment, persecution and growing restrictions. In its 2022 International Religious Freedom Report, the State Department says the Algerian authorities continued in 2022 to arrest, jail, and fine Christians on charges of proselytizing, citing in […]
The State Department has approved the sale to Morocco of Ground Command and Control and related equipment for an estimated cost of $141.1 million. According to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the North African Kingdom has requested to buy six Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS-JTRS) and additional secure communications, cryptographic […]