News

An EU observer mission witnessed the recent presidential election in Liberia. Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Member of the European Parliament who was a member of the mission, writes about what they witnessed in Liberia and her views on the future of the country ____________________ The change of government took place in accordance with democratic principles and the laws in force in …

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 …

Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, MEP: “However, some Member States of the European Union are reluctant to legislate, as well as to introduce, for example, the notion of consent. Yes, it’s yes and No, it’s no! It shouldn’t be complicated to understand”/Photo: © Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana Here’s the message of Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Member of the European Parliament representing Germany on 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 …

At a meeting of the Council of the EU’s permanent representatives committee on Thursday, EU member states agreed to update the conditions under which third-country nationals can acquire EU long-term resident status. In order to acquire EU long-term resident status, third-country nationals have to legally and continuously reside in a member state for at least five years. This EU status …

The Nigerian government has warned its nationals against travelling abroad without proper documentation to avoid the unpleasant consequences of irregular migration. The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stated this when she visited some Nigerians in one of the shelters in Brampton, Canada. A statement released via the commission’s handle on X Thursday, warned Nigerians who have the …

Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, a member of the European Parliament representing Germany, has announced that she would seek reelection next year. “It has been a great honour for me to work for our Alliance 90/The Greens in the European Parliament since 2019 to realise the vision of a fairer, more humane and sustainable world,” Ms Herzberger-Fofana said in a public announcement …

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 …

The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the Diaspora Housing Scheme that enables Nigerians outside the country to access up to N50 million in mortgage loans, repayable over a period of 10 years at an interest rate of 6.9%. The scheme, facilitated by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), is to promote an active involvement of Nigerians living abroad in …

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 …

Black, Asian and Muslim people reveal the extent of discrimination they experience in Germany on a daily basis in a new national discrimination monitor. Marcel Fürstenau/DW reports Disparaging looks or insults are daily occurrences in Germany for people with dark skin, Muslim women who wear a headscarf and people who speak German badly or not at all. Discrimination in Germany …

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 …

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 …

People of African descent experience racism and discrimination in Germany than in many other European countries. That is the result of a study, titled Being Black in the EU: The Experience of People of African Descent, conducted by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). The report is based on interviews with 6,752 people of African descent in Austria, Belgium, …

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 …

By Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, MEP The European Parliament held a memorial service on Thursday to express its solidarity with the recent victims in Israel. In her speech, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said: We are here with the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and all of you – as one – …

The Women Ambassadors Foundation and Howard University Washington DC have awarded the prestigious ”Peace, Inclusion and Diversity” Prize to Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Member of the European Parliament and Co-Chair of its “Anti-Racism and Diversity Inter-fractional Working Group” (ARDI). The Afro-German politician was honoured for her longstanding commitment to combating racism, discrimination and for diversity. Dr Herzberger-Fofana was jointly presented with …

Nigerians usually complain about service delivery at their country’s embassies. Engineer Oluyemi Ogundele was recently at the Nigerian embassy in Vienna, Austria. He was so impressed about the marked improvement in the chancery and how he was served that he decided to narrate his experiences to other Nigerians in Austria and Europe ——– By Engineer Oluyemi Ogundele During my visit …