First Independent Mena Newspaper
South Africa has expressed disappointment following the United States’ expulsion of its ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, calling the decision “regrettable” but reaffirming its commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic ties with Washington. The expulsion, announced by U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio, comes amid escalating tensions over Rasool’s outspoken criticism of U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding the […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United States are engaged in preliminary talks over a potential minerals-for-security agreement, which could reshape global supply chains for critical minerals. It comes as U.S. president Donald Trump recently vowed to take “historic action” to “dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths.” Under the proposed […]
After nearly two months of intense combat, Puntland forces in Somalia claim to have successfully pushed back Islamic State (IS) militants, dealing significant blows to the terror group in the region. However, despite recent victories, experts warn that the IS may attempt to regroup and continue its operations across the Horn of Africa. The offensive, […]
As South Africa and possibly also other continental states face the real possibility of being expelled from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a United States Trade Act, experts are urging them to diversify their export markets. Wamkele Mene, secretary-general of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, addressed concerns at a recent […]
A senior US counterterrorism official has raised alarms about the increasing threat posed by global jihadist groups, warning that they are, for example, expanding their activities from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso into Benin and Togo, which had once had little exposure to jihadi threats. Speaking at a recent Washington conference, Sebastian Gorka noted that […]
China is intensifying its space cooperation with Africa, securing agreements with 23 African countries to fund satellite and ground station projects that collect valuable imagery and data. This effort is part of a broader strategy to boost China’s global influence in space and surpass the United States in technological advancements at a time when Washington […]
The fall of the bloody authoritarian Assad regime has uncovered the depth of relations between the Algeria-backed Polisario separatist group and Iran, with Syria acting as the intermediary, said a report published by the Washington-based think-tank Atlantic Council. Amid the chaos following the fall of Damascus, documents emerged showing correspondence between the Syrian Ministry of […]
2025 will be a critical juncture for Africa’s trajectory, with new political leadership in both the African Union and the United States, which will coincide with a number of challenges, including the urgent need for the implementation of the AfCFTA, modernization and renewal of the AGOA, all of this happening amid the escalating climate crisis […]
The United States has announced sanctions against the leader of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing the paramilitary group of committing genocide and perpetrating brutal atrocities. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo—commonly known as Hemedti—will face punitive measures for orchestrating “systematic” violence against civilians during the country’s protracted 20-month […]
Any return to the pre-conflict status with the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is off the table, Sudan’s Sovereign Council leader said during the country’s 69th independence anniversary, ruling out the paramilitary group’s reintegration into Sudanese society. Calling the RSF “murderers and criminals”, Al-Burhan blamed the militia for the widespread violence, starvation, and displacement faced […]