Germany

The city of Erlangen has bestowed its highest civic honour on Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, naming her an Honorary Citizen (Ehrenbürgerin) — a rare and distinguished recognition reserved for individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the city and society at large. The Afro-German politician “has made a lasting impact on the development of Erlangen and has promoted the well-being of …

Joe Chialo, Berlin’s Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion, has stepped down in protest over deep and controversial budget cuts to the capital’s cultural sector. His resignation, announced on 2 May, comes after months of mounting criticism and concern from artists, institutions and the wider public over drastic reductions in cultural funding. Chialo, a member of the conservative CDU and …

More than 100 demonstrators gathered on Wednesday, 30 April, outside the Representation Office of the state of Lower Saxony in Berlin. They were there to protest the fatal police shooting of 21-year-old Afro-German Lorenz A. in Oldenburg in the early hours of Easter Sunday. The protest, part of a nationwide wave of actions, was organized by Black community groups who …

Since its introduction in 2023, Germany’s Opportunity Residence Act has granted over 82,000 people with a suspended deportation order a path to legal status. A new government plan will tighten this scheme, but hope remains, reports Femi Awoniyi. Since January 2023, the Opportunity Residence Act (Chancen-Aufenthaltsrecht) has enabled people with a Duldung (tolerated stay) to receive an 18-month temporary residence …

Several important changes are taking effect across Germany in May 2025 that affect everyday life — from how passports and ID cards are issued to stricter recycling rules and new family name rights. The African Courier has summarised the most relevant updates here: Digital Photos for ID and Passport Applications Starting May 2025, anyone applying for a passport, national ID, …

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 …

On Easter Sunday, Lorenz A., a 21-year-old Afro-German, was fatally shot by a police officer in Oldenburg, northwest Germany. The killing has triggered widespread outrage, especially within the Black community, and renewed concerns about systemic racial bias and the disproportionate use of lethal force by German police against people of African descent. What Happened? According to police reports, Lorenz was …

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 …

Modupe Laja, a pioneering Afro-German rights advocate, has been awarded the Bavarian State Medal for Social Merit (Bayerische Staatsmedaille für soziale Verdienste). She was among sixteen distinguished recipients honoured on 3 April at a formal ceremony in Munich, where the medal was presented by Ulrike Scharf, Bavaria’s Minister for Family, Labour and Social Affairs. The medal, established in 1970 by …

The party leaders of the CDU, CSU and SPD presented the coalition agreement this week, outlining their plans for a joint government. One of the dominant topics is migration. Among other significant changes to the country’s migration policies, Germany’s incoming government, led by Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz of the CDU, intends to scale back recent liberalisations in citizenship law, tighten family …

In 2024, German administrative courts granted fewer asylum-seekers’ appeals against decisions by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). According to government data cited by the German news agency dpa, only 18% of appeals succeeded, down from 24.4% in 2023 and 36.5% in 2022. This decline in the success rate of appeals suggests an improvement in BAMF’s decision-making, potentially …

Like every month, April 2025 brings several important legal changes affecting people living in Germany. These include the recognition of three new occupational diseases, adjustments to colon cancer screening rules, a lower threshold for parental benefits and new travel regulations for the UK, among others. Here’s a summary of the key changes. Relaxation of Germany’s Debt Brake One of the …

As Germany’s coalition talks between the Union parties (CDU/CSU) and SPD progress, migrant advocacy groups are pushing for greater political representation. Thirteen national umbrella organisations have called for at least 25% of cabinet positions to be filled by people with migrant backgrounds, warning that without meaningful inclusion, policies remain “mere symbolism.” Beyond cabinet representation, the organisations demand a national action …

The closing event of the first UN Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) took place at the GLS Campus Berlin on Friday, 21 February. The event, which brought together German government officials, scholars, international guests and civil society organisations from the Black community, featured the presentation of the final report of the advisory board set up by the German …

On 21 March 2025, Germany will mark the conclusion of the first UN Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) with a celebratory closing event at the GLS Campus Berlin. The event, themed “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development,” will bring together civil society organizations, government representatives and members of the African, Afro-diasporic and Black communities to reflect …

Access to banking services is crucial for everyday life — whether for depositing and withdrawing money, making payments or receiving transfers. However, many African asylum-seekers and refugees in Germany struggle to open a bank account due to lack of proper information. What many do not know is that, by law, every person in Germany, including asylum-seekers, has the right to …

Berlin, 14 March 2025 – In observance of the International Day Against Racism, the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the New German Organizations (neue deutsche organisationen, ndo) are hosting a panel discussion titled “Racism – Deportation Fantasies – Isolation: The Future of the Migration Society in Germany.” The event, which provides a platform to reflect on Germany’s current socio-political climate from …

Germany’s 2025 Bundestag election has once again highlighted the growing diversity in the country’s political landscape. According to a comprehensive report by Mediendienst Integration, 73 of the 630 MPs elected at the 23 February polls have immigrant backgrounds, making up approximately 11.6% of the parliament. This figure aligns closely with the 11.3% recorded in the 2021 elections, indicating a stabilisation …

Paulino José Miguel, a long-standing advocate for intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and migrant participation in Germany, has been awarded the Federal Cross of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz), one of the country’s highest civilian honours. The award recognizes Miguel’s decades-long commitment to fostering integration and development policy through his work at the Forum der Kulturen Stuttgart e.V. (Forum of Cultures Stuttgart). The prestigious …

A series of new laws and regulations impacting various aspects of life Germany take effect in March 2025. From higher minimum wages for temporary workers to new travel options and the start of daylight saving time, here’s a summary of the key changes and important dates in the new month to keep in mind: 1. Higher Health Insurance Contributions for …