AFRICA

A German court has sentenced a Gambian man to life imprisonment for his role in a paramilitary unit that killed opponents of the country’s former ruler Yahya Jammeh. The man, identified as Bai L. by the German justice system and who was a driver for the security unit known as “the Junglers”, was convicted on Thursday (30 November) in the …

German Africa Prize 2023 goes to the Cameroonian women’s peace platform “1st National Women’s Convention for Peace in Cameroon”. The Deutsche Afrika Stiftung e.V. (German Africa Foundation), organisers of the award, has announced. The Prize will be presented to the organisation by the Vice President of the German Bundestag Katrin Göring-Eckhardt at a ceremony on 30 November at the Allianz …

Liberian President George Weah has conceded defeat to opposition leader Joseph Boakai after a tight presidential run-off, saying it was time to put national interest above personal interest President George Weah of Liberia has congratulated Joseph Nyumah Boakai of the opposition Unity Party as winner of the 2023 presidential runoff election, held on Tuesday. Weah called Mr Boakai, a former …

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that his ministry would soon establish new passport processing and collection centres, especially for Nigerians in the diaspora, to decongest the influx of people at the already established centres as well as fast track service operations. The Minister made the policy statement at the just-concluded 6th Edition of the Nigeria Diaspora …

Nigeria has commenced the opening of enhanced e-passport facilities at select Nigerian Embassies in Europe. Unveiling the facilities in Rome, Italy, on Monday, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the new passport processing centres are part of efforts “to streamline passport processing and acquisition for Nigerians residing in the diaspora.” The minister, who was represented at the event …

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has asked for forgiveness for the crimes committed by the military during Germany’s colonial rule of Tanzania. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday sought forgiveness for crimes committed during the country’s colonial rule in Tanzania. “I would like to ask for forgiveness for what Germans did to your ancestors here,” Steinmeier said during a visit to …

Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, has assured that he would soon come up with a comprehensive review of migration and visa policies of the country. The aim of the review, he explained, is to make the processes of obtaining passport and travelling easier for Nigerians both at home and abroad. Dr Tunji-Ojo made the promise on Tuesday in …

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is visiting Africa for three days; first Nigeria, then Ghana. Scholz arrives Abuja on Sunday for a two-day working visit to Africa’s most populous country. While in Nigeria, the German leader will hold meetings with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ECOWAS Commission President, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, according to his itinerary published by the German Embassy …

Dr Julius Garvey, son of the legendary Jamaican-born Pan-African activist Marcus Garvey, attended this year’s Badagry Door of Return Festival, which took place from 19 to 21 October. The annual event, which holds in the town of Badagry, remembers the slave trade that led to the forcible migration of millions of Africans and seeks to reconnect the Black diaspora with …

Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa/Photo: NIDCOM The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, recently clocked 61. Rosemary Moribirin pays tribute to a woman who through her work has significantly raised the profile of Nigerians living in the diaspora in their homeland ——- In the grand tapestry of life, we gather to celebrate a luminous figure in Nigeria’s …

Mohammed Idris* writes on the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who assumed office on 29 May, to reposition Nigeria on the global stage as he seeks international partners in his efforts to revamp his country’s economy. He says the country’s citizens “stand on the threshold of a Nigeria that is a true global giant”. Having hit the ground running …

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit Nigeria in October to further strengthen economic ties between both nations, Nigerian presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, has announced. Ngelale explained that the visit was agreed on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in New Delhi, India, where President Bola Tinubu and the German leader met. “Thank you for this important discussion, Mr. President. …

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in for a second five-year term on Monday, a week after securing an absolute majority in the country’s presidential election. Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, MEP, a member of the European Union observer team that witnessed the controversial polls, reports—— General elections were held throughout Zimbabwe on 23 and 24 August 2023 to elect the president, …

Nigeria’s new Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, has criticized the delays experienced by Nigerians to obtain their passports. According to him, Nigerians should not be made to wait endlessly before getting their passports. He has therefore directed the acting Comptroller General of the Immigration, Caroline Wuraola Adepoju, to ensure the reasons for the delays were addressed. Tunji-Ojo said this on …

The immediate past Nigerian ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has been sworn in as the country’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs. Alhaji Tuggar was one of the 45 ministers sworn into their various offices on Monday in Abuja, marking an end to the long wait of Nigerians for a new federal cabinet to be constituted since President Bola Ahmed …

Nigeria to establish a research centre on diaspora issues in its quest to more actively engage its citizens living outside their homeland The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated N1billion for the establishment of a diaspora research centre at the University of Ibadan (UI). Sonny Echono, TETFund executive secretary, in a statement signed by Abdulmumin Oniyangi, said the centre …

During a recent trip to the DRC, on the invitation of His Greatness Dominique Khonde Mpolo, Universal Minister for Peace of Nations and Continents (CULPAC), members of the European Parliament’s Development Committee also had a meeting with Denis Kadima, President of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), in Kinshasa. Dr Pierrette Herzberger Fofana, German member of the European Parliament representing …

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured Nigerian doctors abroad willing to return to the country that the Nigerian Army is ready to absorb them into its military hospitals. Lagbaja gave the assurance while receiving Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and other members of the top management team of the Commission at …

Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea declare support for Niger coup as the regional ECOWAS puts pressure on the military rulers of the country to return power to the democratically elected leadership In a dangerous turn of events, military-ruled Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea have declared their support for the coup in Niger. President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown on 26 July in …

Although the impact of the removal of subsidy and abrogation of the multiple exchange rate regime has been harsh, they offer Nigeria a big opportunity to fundamentally change its economic course, argues Femi Awoniyi, Editor/Publisher of The African Courier ————— Nigerians are hurting, now is time to take the bull by the horn! For eight-long years, economists and international financial …