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. […]
The government of Japan has reportedly signed again on the participation of the Algeria-backed Polisario militia’s in its summit with African countries due in Yokoham from 20 to 22 August 2025. This is not the first time that Japan takes such a risky move with serious political implications. It is very likely to strain relations […]
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 […]
US president Donald Trump reiterated his country’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and described autonomy as the only solution to the dispute. “I also reiterate that the United States recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and supports Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic Autonomy Proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting […]
Somaliland’s new president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, is offering the United States access to a strategic military base near the Red Sea and critical mineral resources, including lithium, in exchange for formal diplomatic recognition. The breakaway region, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has yet to receive international recognition despite decades of stability and democratic […]
Kenya has been ranked the world’s top user of ChatGPT, surpassing digital powerhouses like the United States, Japan, and China in a surprising shift in global AI adoption trends. According to the July 2025 Global Digital Report by DataReportal and Meltwater, a staggering 42.1% of Kenyan internet users aged 16 and above used ChatGPT in […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the latest battleground in a deepening strategic rivalry between the United States and China over control of critical minerals, as a new US-brokered peace deal with Rwanda raises both hope and concern. Signed in June 2025, the agreement aims to end decades of conflict between the DRC […]
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 […]
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 […]
Hailed as a step toward peace, the 19 July ceasefire signed in Doha between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group has been met with deep skepticism — and renewed bloodshed. While the Doha Declaration was hailed by the United States, United Nations, and the African Union as a diplomatic breakthrough, on the ground, […]