The family of Sonia Omoroghomwan and Black organisations are demanding a thorough investigation into her death in a Berlin psychiatric hospital, as multiple pieces of evidence contradict the official account of the young woman’s passing, reports Amal Abbass. The death of 25-year-old Sonia Omoroghomwan in a psychiatric hospital in Berlin has raised serious questions – not only about the circumstances …

The European Union’s cherished Schengen system, which guarantees passport-free travel across much of the continent, is facing mounting pressure as more member states reintroduce internal border controls. The latest move comes from Poland, which has announced it will temporarily impose checks along its borders with Germany and Lithuania starting next Monday. Currently, 11 of the 29 Schengen countries are operating …

African Book Festival will once again turn Berlin into a vibrant meeting point for literary voices from the African continent and its diaspora. Under the theme “In Other Worlds,” the festival will take place from 18–20 July, offering three days of readings, panels, performances and powerful discussions on African storytelling in all its genres and dimensions. Organised by InterKontinental, the …

From 24 July to 3 August 2025, Berlin will once again host the vibrant KENAKO Africa Festival — but this year at a new location: Washingtonplatz, directly in front of Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Despite the move from its traditional home at Alexanderplatz, the festival promises the same rich blend of African music, art, culture and dialogue that has made it a …

Germany’s federal parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to suspend family reunification rights for refugees with subsidiary protection status for two years — a controversial move that has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, churches and opposition parties. The suspension, which primarily affects Syrian refugees, marks the first step in a series of planned reforms by the federal government to …

As a new month begins, so do new laws and regulations in Germany. From higher pensions and wages to updated tax deadlines and simplified care benefits, July 2025 brings a range of changes that affect millions of people in the country. Whether you’re retired, working in healthcare, caring for a loved one or filing your taxes — it’s important to …

While recent US immigration raids make international headlines, a quiet surge in enforcement across Europe is increasingly targeting undocumented migrants, many of them from Africa. In France, the interior ministry this month deployed 4,000 police officers to conduct sweeping ID checks at train and bus stations. Migrant rights group La Cimade called the move “Trumpist,” warning it portrays undocumented people …

Five years after Berlin enacted its groundbreaking anti-discrimination law targeting bias within public institutions, a new report reveals a steady stream of complaints, highlighting persistent structural discrimination, particularly racism, in areas such as local government offices and schools. Since the law came into effect on 21 June 2020, the state Ombudsoffice established to handle such cases has recorded 1,785 formal …

In a major ruling that challenges Germany’s increasingly restrictive asylum policies, the Higher Social Court of Lower Saxony has declared that asylum-seekers cannot be completely cut off from state welfare support even when their application has been rejected under the EU’s Dublin Regulation and their deportation is delayed. The decision, announced Monday, 23 June, stems from the emergency appeal of …

Emanuel Odiase is not just another rising star in the boxing world, he’s a symbol of Afro-German excellence, discipline and quiet determination. Born and raised in Heidelberg to a German mother and Nigerian father, the 26-year-old heavyweight boxer stands tall, literally and figuratively, at 203 cm (6 ft 8 in) and weighing 118 kg. His imposing stature in the ring …