Leaders from Africa are meeting their European counterparts at the Africa-Europe High-Level Forum in Vienna. The 2-day meeting (17-18 December), with the theme  “Taking cooperation to the digital age”, aims at assessing “how current partnerships between Africa and Europe contribute to this goal, complementing the ongoing implementation of the joint declaration of the 2017 Abidjan Summit between the African Union …

The integration of refugees in Germany has been more successful than expected, according to the head of the country’s employers’ association. “Of more than a million people who have come to Germany especially since 2015, up to 400,000 will soon have a training position or a job,” said Ingo Kramer, the President of the Confederation of German Employers (Bundesvereinigung der …

The European Parliament in Strasbourg has approved a proposal to introduce European humanitarian visas with the objective of reducing the death toll and improving the management of refugee flows. The legislative initiative was approved on Friday by 429 MEPs against 194 and 41 abstentions (absolute majority). A similar proposal had failed in November to reach the absolute majority due to …

Many new immigrants and refugees are allowed to work. The question is, are they able to work in the same profession they were trained for in their home country? Rey Azizi reports. In Germany, you need to go through a recognition procedure for certain job categories which are regulated by law. Here’s what you need to know in order to …

The electioneering campaign for Nigeria’s next general polls hots up as the vice-presidential candidates of the leading five parties square up in a televised debate today (Friday, 14 December) at 7 pm. Those to participate at the debate, organized by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group and the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, are Prof Yemi Osinbajo of the ruling APC, Peter Obi …

Since the summer of 2018, hundreds of young migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa have arrived in Bayonne in France, located just 30 kilometers from the Spanish border. Some of them have been taken in by local families. Sixteen-year-old Ulrith from Cameroon is one of the migrant minors who received a warm welcome when he was taken in by Stéphanie and Pierre, who …

The well-known Germany-based, Ghanaian chief was bestowed with a very special honour recently, as the south-western city of Ludwigshafen conferred on him one of its most prestigious honours, the Coat of Arms plaque. “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Mr Céphas Bansah for his charitable and voluntary work in Ludwigshafen and to honour him with the coat …

The first Federal Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration was appointed in 1978. Dignitaries, including Chancellor Angela Merkel and around 1000 guests from politics, science, industry, media and associations, gathered in Berlin on Wednesday to celebrate the milestone and put a focus on the integration of migrants in the country again. Chancellor Angela Merkel considers the integration of migrants a …

A few number of activists turned out on a cold and raining Saturday in Berlin for a public demonstration for the return to Nigeria of Benin artworks in German museums. Even though hundreds of protesters were expected to participate in the action, the low turnout did not dampen the enthusiasm of the activists. They say the demonstration, which was held …

Following a recent United Nations Security Council resolution, the Swiss government has decided to lift targeted sanctions against Eritrea. The sanctions – that include an arms embargo, travel bans and asset freezes – were repealed on Friday, said a government statement. The UN Security Council had imposed the sanctions in December 2009 after Eritrea was suspected of supporting armed groups …

As the world’s second-largest provider for international money transfers, MoneyGram consistently works to make sending money even easier for its customers than it already is. Now, there is the new MoneyGram-App, which can be downloaded for free from Google Play Store or Apple Store. Once the app is installed on a mobile phone, the desired amount can be on its …

World leaders gathered in Marrakech, Morocco, to sign the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration on Monday. A number of countries have refused to sign the non-binding accord, among them the US and 7 EU member states. The world’s first-ever global pact on how to deal with migration was adopted on Monday by 164 countries at a …

Denis Mukwege, the Congolese humanitarian and gynaecologist, is one of the two recipients of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. He received the prize along his co-laureate Nadia Murad yesterday in the Norwegian capital city of Oslo at a colourful ceremony. Below is the full speech Dr Mukwege, founder and director of Panzi Hospital and Foundation in the Democratic Republic of …

Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Worldwide has nominated its representatives to the Federal Government’s Board of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). Kenneth Gbandi, the Chairman of NIDO Europe, said on Monday in a press statement that the nomination was in line with the act establishing the commission. He said the representatives, two from each of its continental bodies, were nominated …

The Christian Democrats have chosen Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to lead the party into its next phase. After 18 years, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced her decision to step down as the leader of the governing CDU in October. She did therefore not seek re-election at the CDU congress in Hamburg on Friday (7 December) but she will remain chancellor until the end …

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo of Nigeria held a town hall meeting with his countrymen and women living in Germany on Sunday evening in Berlin, where he assured them of the federal government’s determined efforts to solve the country’s major problems. Prof Osinbajo took questions from a cross-section of Nigerians on burning issues, including inadequate electricity supply, security, deficient infrastructure and unemployment. …

Main features of the Christmas season in Germany are the charming fairs that decorate the country during this time of year. From traditional handicrafts and quirky ornaments to tasty local delicacies and sweet-scented mulled wine (Glühwein), there’s absolutely nothing you can’t find in a German Christmas market. This year Berlin will host the first “Afro-Lux Christmas Market” on 8-9 December. …

A new museum dedicated to the art and culture of people of African descent opened in Dakar Thursday (6 December). It was the realization of a 1966 dream of Senegal’s founding president, Léopold Sédar Senghor to exhibit in one space the richness of Black civilizations and history. Declaring the Museum of Black Civilizations (Musée des civilisations noires) open, Senegal’s President …

Less than three months to Nigeria’s next presidential election, a coalition of opposition parties have adopted a common candidate for what analysts say will be a tough poll. The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has announced its selection of the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate,  Atiku Abubakar, as its candidate in the 2019 presidential election. By this decision, the CUPP …

Ethiopian Airlines will be Ghana’s strategic partner as the West African country looks to set up a new national airline. Ghana’s aviation minister Joseph Adda and Ethiopian’s chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the partnership, with a final agreement to be signed before year’s end. Ghana is not expected to retain more than 10 percent …