German-African Relations

The Third International Sudan Conference in Berlin, co-hosted by Germany and the African Union, together with the European Union, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, mobilised historic levels of humanitarian funding and gave Sudanese civilian voices their biggest international platform yet. But with neither warring party present, a durable end to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis remains as …

On the third anniversary of the outbreak of the Sudanese civil war on 15 April, the German government will host an international conference on Sudan in collaboration with France, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU). Representatives of the United Nations, humanitarian organisations and Sudanese civil society are expected to attend the …

– SPECIAL REPORT – Three years after the guns first sounded in Khartoum on the morning of 15 April 2023, the Sudanese people remain trapped in what the United Nations has declared the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. On its anniversary on 15 April 2026, the German capital is playing host to the third International Ministerial Conference on Sudan — an …

Germany is sending an important diplomatic signal on its future engagement with Africa as Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to receive Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, at the Federal Chancellery on 14 April. The planned meeting, which precedes a major international conference on Sudan in Berlin the following day, is being closely watched by business …

Germany is preparing to overhaul its welfare system in a move that will have far-reaching consequences for millions of benefit recipients. The planned abolition of the Bürgergeld (Germany’s basic unemployment benefit and the successor to Hartz IV) and its replacement with a stricter “Grundsicherung” marks a significant shift in social policy, with tougher sanctions and new obligations for claimants. In this …

At just 26 years old, Zimbabwean youth and women’s rights activist Namatai Kwekweza has been awarded the 2025 German Africa Prize — becoming the youngest recipient in the award’s more than three decades’ history. The honour, conferred by the German Africa Foundation (DAS), recognizes Kwekweza’s bold commitment to democracy, rule of law, youth empowerment and constitutional reform — even in …

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has embarked on a week-long visit to Africa aimed at strengthening Germany’s partnerships across the continent. His trip began in Cairo, Egypt, where he attended the grand opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum, before continuing to Ghana and Angola to advance political, economic and cultural cooperation. German President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier’s agenda began with the opening …

From 1 July 2025, Germany will end the remonstration procedure, a free appeal process that allowed visa applicants to challenge a rejection without going to court. Currently, if your visa is denied, you can file a written appeal (called a remonstrance) without going to court. This informal process usually takes between one and three months and gives applicants the chance …

Daniela Schwarzer, a prominent German political scientist and expert in international affairs, has been appointed as the new President of the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa), Germany’s leading institution for international cultural exchange. She will assume the honorary position on 3 June 2025, succeeding historian and publicist Ulrich Raulff, who has held the role since 2018.   Schwarzer currently serves as …

The Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft (German-African Business Association) has welcomed the incoming German coalition government’s recognition of Africa as a strategic partner and its commitment to enhancing economic cooperation. However, the association emphasizes the need for tangible actions to realize these intentions. In the recently published coalition agreement titled “Verantwortung für Deutschland” (“Responsibility for Germany”), the CDU, CSU and SPD …

The German government has approved a fresh set of Africa policy guidelines aimed at reshaping its engagement with the continent. However, reactions have been mixed, with industry leaders and analysts questioning the effectiveness and timeliness of the new strategy. A changing perspective on Africa For years, Africa played a peripheral role in German foreign policy. This is changing as the …

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier undertook a four-day visit to Africa from 10 to 14 December, focusing on strengthening Germany’s ties with Nigeria, South Africa and Lesotho. His trip underscored Germany’s commitment to enhancing economic cooperation, supporting political reforms and promoting sustainable development across the continent, the German presidency said. Nigeria: Energy and Economic Cooperation Steinmeier began his tour in Nigeria, …

Berlin witnessed a momentous occasion on the evening of 16 October 2024 as Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, the dynamic mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, received the prestigious German Africa Award 2024. The President of the German Bundestag, Bärbel Bas, presented the award at the Allianz Forum, before an audience of about 180 guests, including influential figures from politics, business and civil society. …

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, the mayor of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone, has been awarded the German Africa Award for her innovative and unwavering commitment to sustainable urban development and local participation. The prize will be presented to the African politician by Bundestag President Bärbel Bas on 16 October 2024 at the Allianz Forum in Berlin. With her participatory approach …

Germany has again apologised for the atrocities it committed during its colonial rule of Tanzania. Apologies were made on Saturday by the German Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Katja Keul, at an event commemorating the 124th anniversary of the brutal killings of the traditional leaders of the Old Moshi area, Moshi district, Kilimanjaro Region. Ms Keul was in Tanzania …

On Thursday evening (30 November 2023), the Vice-President of the German Bundestag, Katrin Göring-Eckardt, presented the German Africa Award 2023 to the 1st National Women’s Convention for Peace in Cameroon at the Allianz Forum in Berlin. The award, which was awarded to a collective for the first time in 30 years, recognises the Women’s Peace Platform’s pioneering work in promoting …

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 …

President Bola Tinubu has called for German investment in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy such as power and rail transportation. Tinubu made the call at a meeting with German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, on the sidelines of the G20 Compact with Africa Economic Conference, on Monday in Berlin. The president said that German investment was needed in critical growth-enabling industries …

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria is scheduled to arrive Berlin on Saturday for a three-day official visit to Germany. Among other activities, he will attend the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) Conference, hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on Monday (20 November). “During the conference, President Tinubu will join other Heads of State and Government of CwA member countries, bilateral …

An urgent appeal has gone to the German government for a better treatment of African applicants for visas to visit the country. Across the continent, Africans are facing immense hurdles to legally obtain visa to enter Germany for the purposes of business, to attend conferences or trade fairs, for leisure visit, to study or receive training. In the appeal addressed …