Love kept at a distance: German national Linda Wendt is fighting to establish a life in Germany with her husband. But he cannot move here without first passing a language test. A major problem — but not an isolated case. A special report by Andrea Grunau, DW Linda Wendt and Moro Diop* are a couple. But they live their everyday …

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has announced that the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air is to commence full operations before the end of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Sirika made the revelation at an aviation stakeholder’s forum in Abuja on Thursday. Responding to a question on when exactly Nigeria Air will commence operations, the minister said, “Before …

The duration of asylum proceedings in Germany increased again last year, the Federal Ministry of the Interior has reported. In 2022, it took an average of 7.6 months for a decision to be made by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, one month longer than in 2021, according to a response by the Ministry to a question from the …

WHO has announced the appointment of Dr Daniel Ngamije Madandi (MD, MPH) as Director of the Global Malaria Programme, effective 8 April 2023. Dr Ngamije served as the Rwandan Minister of Health from February 2020 to November 2022. During this time, he led the development and execution of the Health Sector Strategic Plan as well as the development and implementation …

Amal Abbass has been awarded this year’s Berliner Frauenpreis (Berlin Women’s Prize). The Black German social entrepreneur was honoured for her long years of engagement for the equality of women who because of their skin colour or gender identity are subjected to discrimination. Amal Abbass, a native of Dresden whose father was a Sudanese, is a transcultural psychologist who has …

In his first official statement since his declaration as president-elect on 1 March, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu addresses Nigerians and the international community on what they should expect when he takes over the government of Africa’s most populous nation on 29 May. —- Nigeria: at the Cusp of Renewed Hope A fair, credible election has been held and has been …

Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Member of the European Parliament representing Germany on the platform of the Green Party, is attending the ongoing 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York, part of activities commemorating this year’s International Women’s Week. She writes about the conference and her views on how to address gender inequality—- By Dr Pierrette …

Members of The African Network of Germany (TANG) have elected a new board to pilot the affairs of the organisation for the next five years. The election, part of the activities of the group’s ordinary general meeting 2023, took place on 11 March 2023 in Freiburg. Dr Sylvie Nantcha was unanimously re-elected Chairperson of TANG, an umbrella body for African …

In order to increase the number of deportations of rejected asylum-seekers, the EU states should mutually recognise such decisions, according to the European Commission. Today, an asylum-seeker rejected in one EU country can simply move on to another EU country and start the application process again there, said EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson in Strasbourg on Tuesday. “This …

Saxony, one of Germany’s 16 federal states, wants to attract more students from abroad and, if possible, retain them later as skilled workers. Universities receive support in identifying target regions for recruiting students, said Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow (CDU) in a government statement in the state parliament on Wednesday in the capital city, Dresden. Special importance is attached to the …

The German government has appointed a special representative on migration who is expected to negotiate with major origin countries of refugees in Germany. Joachim Stamp was named early March as Germany’s first-ever “Special representative of the federal government for migration agreements.” He’s been saddled with the responsibility of finding a solution to the about 250,000 rejected asylum-seekers who are tolerated …

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians living in the country to support President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he takes over the reins of government on May 29. Speaking at a Town Hall meeting with Nigerians in Doha during his visit to the State of Qatar, President Buhari said his administration set forward to emplace credible, transparent and fair …

A Nigerian woman who has been wanted in Italy since 2010, was on Wednesday flown from Abuja to Rome where she had been sentenced in absentia to 13 years in prison for crimes including running a prostitution ring, Italian police has announced. The 48-year-old Joy Jeff was one of the few women on Italy’s most-wanted list of 100 dangerous fugitives, …

In view of the increasing shortage of skilled workers in Germany, the Christian Democrats (CDU) in the state of Lower Saxony can envisage the integration of rejected asylum-seekers into the labour market. It is a matter of “our prosperity and our economy”, the party, which normally has always maintained a hardline position on asylum-seekers, says. The CDU group in Lower …

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has begun investigations into the alleged maltreatment of Nigeria-bound passengers by Lufthansa Airlines The agency said it had received a report of the alleged maltreatment of over 200 passengers on Flight LH566, which took off from Frankfurt and was destined for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos as a direct flight, but was diverted …

Almost a quarter of the people living in Germany have an immigration history. In 2021, almost 19 million people who had either immigrated themselves or both parents had immigrated since 1950 lived in the country, according to a new report of the Federal Statistical Office. 17.3 percent of the population have immigrated to Germany since 1950, another 5.7 percent are …

AFRIKA KOMMT! – a further training programme for young African executives – brings together the most visionary young leaders from Africa and leading German companies. The programme revolves around an eight-month internship in a German company. During their assignment, participants gain valuable insight into work processes, company structures and management methods. But the programme goes beyond providing individual support. The …

Applications have opened for the third cohort of Google’s Black Founders Fund for Startups in Africa and Europe. The company has committed $4m to support eligible Black-founded startups in 2023. Startups operating and headquartered in Africa or having a legal presence on the continent are eligible to apply for the Black Founders Fund. Other eligibility criteria for startups that wish …

French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated Thursday (2 March) that France harboured no desire to return to past policies of interfering in Africa after he began a four-nation tour of the continent. “The age of Francafrique is well over,” Macron said in remarks to the French community in Gabon, referring to France’s post-colonisation strategy of supporting authoritarian leaders to defend its …

The long wait for the result of Saturday’s Nigerian presidential election ended in the early hours of Wednesday when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. The three days of waiting seemed like weeks due to the tension that enveloped the country and even the west African subregion, not …