Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has moved to clarify controversial remarks that sparked outrage over the past week, insisting that Germany continues to depend on immigration. Speaking during a visit to London, Merz acknowledged that people with migration backgrounds are now an “indispensable part of our labour market” and that the country “can no longer manage without them — regardless of …

In her earlier article, “Germany: When a Black Child’s Needs and Identity Are Ignored,” Amal Abbass* exposed how racism and institutional neglect within Germany’s family law system fracture Black families and undermine children’s cultural identities. In this follow-up piece, she offers a critical analysis of how race, ableism, and systemic bias intersect to deny children their rights — revealing how …

The German federal parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to abolish the so-called “turbo naturalisation” rule introduced just a year ago by the previous coalition government. The fast-track pathway had allowed exceptionally well-integrated foreigners — for example, those fluent in German, financially independent and actively engaged in society — to apply for a German passport after only three years of residence. …

The AFRO.MESSE, which took place last Saturday in Frankfurt, brought together representatives of African diaspora organizations, social initiatives and integration projects from across Germany. The event served as a vibrant platform for exchange, cooperation and showcasing the achievements of African communities in the fields of business, culture and social engagement. One of the highlights of the day was the recognition …

A new study by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Vielfaltsbarometer 2025 (Diversity Barometer 2025), has raised concerns about the state of social cohesion in Germany. The representative survey of 4,761 people reveals that acceptance of diversity in German society has fallen significantly over the past six years. In 2019, almost two-thirds of the population expressed a positive view of diversity. Today, …

October brings changes that will touch daily life in different ways, from how we transfer money and access healthcare to how non-EU nationals cross borders. Bank customers will notice new safeguards for money transfers, Microsoft bids farewell to Windows 10 and doctors must now use electronic patient records. The EU also introduces a new digital entry-exit system for non-EU citizens. …

Asylum-seekers in Germany are facing significantly lower chances of having their applications approved, according to official government data from the first half of 2025. The recognition rate for protection claims has plummeted to 26.5%, a sharp decline compared to previous years, when recognition rates ranged between 59 and 72 percent. The fall is especially striking for applicants from conflict-torn countries: …

For some, a few euros at the slot machines or placing bets online are just harmless pastimes. For many others in Germany, what begins as entertainment can quickly spiral into addiction, financial ruin and family breakdown ______ A hidden epidemic is destroying lives and families across Germany, with experts warning that immigrant communities, including Africans, are disproportionately at risk. Gambling …

Berlin, 25 September 2025 – Ten years after the so-called “summer of migration,” Germany is taking stock of one of the most transformative moments in its recent history. The Heinrich Böll Foundation, in cooperation with the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM), will host an expert conference titled “Between Open Arms and Closed Borders – A Decade of …

A new migration report released by the German charity Malteser Hilfsdienst highlights persistent educational and labour market disadvantages facing children and young people with migration backgrounds in Germany. The study, presented as the Malteser Migrationsbericht 2025, delivers sobering figures: in 2023, 74 percent of students without any school-leaving certificate came from migrant families, although people with a migration background make …

On Friday, 19 September 2025, Germany will mark the National Day of Civil Courage (Tag der Zivilcourage), a nationwide initiative promoting democratic values, social engagement and tolerance. From 10 AM to 6 PM, communities across the country will host events encouraging citizens to stand against discrimination and injustice. Nationwide Participation Numerous cities are participating in the Day of Civil Courage. …

Germany is increasingly recognising the professional qualifications of foreign workers — a trend seen as vital for addressing the country’s acute shortage of skilled labour. According to new data from the Federal Statistical Office, 79,100 applications for recognition of foreign qualifications were approved in 2024, an increase of 21 percent compared to the previous year. Since systematic recording began in …

For many refugee families in Germany, the struggle does not end with finding safety. A new report by the German Children’s Fund (Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk) has revealed that refugee children often wait months — sometimes up to three years — before being allowed into regular school classes. The organisation calls this unacceptable, stressing that every child has a right to education. …

September 2025 may not bring a flood of new laws in Germany, but several important changes will take effect this month. Some of these changes may directly affect you – from a higher minimum wage for apprentices, which is especially relevant for young people starting vocational training, to the nationwide rollout of the electronic health record system and the deadline …

A Critical Analysis of Systemic Racism in German Family Law The treatment of Black parents and children within Germany’s family law system, exemplified by the ongoing separation of a Black man and his young son, reveals deeply embedded structural inequities that amount to violations of international human rights law, writes Amal Abbass*. Through legal, historical, sociological and intersectional lenses, she …

After a protracted legal battle and decades of public debate, Berlin’s Mohrenstraße in the Mitte district has officially been renamed Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße. The renaming was celebrated on Saturday, 23 August, coinciding with the UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition. The ceremony was only made possible after the Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin-Brandenburg overturned a last-minute injunction granted …

Germany has once again ruled out reparations for colonial-era atrocities, a decision that has sparked outrage among Black German advocates and descendants of genocide victims in Africa. The Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland (ISD), a leading Black German advocacy group, condemned the government’s stance as “deeply unjust and historically whitewashing.” The organization said Berlin’s reliance on the legal principle of …

The suicide of a 15-year-old Black boy in a German juvenile detention centre has sparked fierce debates about racism, violence and systemic neglect within the country’s justice system. The incident, which occurred on 1 August at the Justizvollzugsanstalt (JVA) Ottweiler in Saarland, has drawn parallels to past cases of Black people dying in state custody, raising urgent questions about institutional …

A rare opportunity for Nigerians in Germany to speak directly with their diplomats took place in Frankfurt on 1 August 2025. The town hall meeting, part of the Consulate’s Consular and Migration Sensitisation Programme, addressed urgent community concerns — from passport delays to legal challenges and child welfare cases. In this exclusive interview with The African Courier, Chuks Lewis Ehiwario, …

The Nigerian Consulate General in Frankfurt brought the diaspora together for a landmark town hall meeting on Friday, 1 August 2025, as part of its ongoing Consular and Migration Sensitisation Programme. Held in Frankfurt am Main, the gathering provided a rare platform for direct interaction between the Consul General, Ambassador Yakubu Dadu, and Nigerians living in Germany. Among the speakers …