News

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), in partnership with Nyima’s Bantaba Media Platform, is spotlighting changemakers who are transforming narratives and reshaping Africa’s future. As part of a series of interview publications (VOD & Podcast), four innovators across East and Southern Africa who are not only talking about change but building it from the ground up are spotlighted. When …

Greece has passed a controversial new migration law that imposes harsher penalties on rejected asylum-seekers and tightens government control over migration-related NGOs, drawing widespread criticisms from civil society and human rights groups. Under the new legislation, individuals whose asylum applications are rejected must leave Greece within 14 days. Failure to comply can result in prison sentences of two to five …

Young leaders are stepping to the forefront as drivers of China-Africa relations. At the just-concluded 9th ‘China-Africa Youth Festival,’ they exchanged ideas, forged partnerships, and envisioned a progressive future for both continents. Our contributing editor, Berlin-based journalist Nyima Jadama, was there and brings this report. On 13 September, 59 young leaders from across Africa and the diaspora wrapped up a …

Writing from his Trans-African Tourism and Unity Campaign journey, former Ghanaian MP Ras Mubarak shares reflections from Botswana — the 11th stop on a 163-day, 40,000-kilometer road trip across 39 African nations. Arriving in the country at a time of double celebration, he captures the spirit of a nation brimming with pride and shares its lessons for the whole continent. …

 In a landmark step towards unified advocacy, leaders of Nigerian communities across Europe convened a virtual summit on Saturday, 20 September, to tackle pressing issues affecting the diaspora and develop concrete proposals for the Nigerian government. Organized by the International Advocacy for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption (IAHRAC), the meeting marked an important move towards building a stronger collective voice for …

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 …

Nigerian community leaders across Europe will convene for a crucial virtual meeting this Saturday, 20 September 2025, to deliberate on pressing matters affecting Nigerians in the diaspora. The meeting, organised under the auspices of the International Association for Human Rights and Accountability (IAHRAC), will take place via Zoom at 7:00 PM Central European Time. At the centre of the agenda …

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has reported a significant 23 percent reduction in asylum applications across the EU+ region (EU Member States plus Norway and Switzerland), with 399,000 new claims registered between January and June 2025, 114,000 fewer than during the same period in 2024. A striking reduction in applications from Syrian nationals played a central role. Syrian …

On 9 September, Ethiopia officially inaugurated its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), now Africa’s largest hydroelectric project. Located on the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, the US$5 billion dam stands 170 meters tall and stretches nearly 2 kilometers across the river. With a capacity to generate 5,150 megawatts of electricity, GERD is poised to significantly enhance Ethiopia’s energy infrastructure …

60 young Africans across the Globe arrived in Beijing, China to attend the 9th edition of the annual ‘China Africa Youth Festival. The China-Africa Youth Festival is launched to implement important consensuses reached between Chinese Presidents Xi Jinping and leaders of African countries at the 2015 Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the aim is to promote …

Equatorial Guinea is showcasing a different African story — one of modern infrastructure, clean cities and strategic development. Writing from his Trans-African Tourism and Unity Campaign journey, former Ghanaian MP Ras Mubarak highlights the country’s progress while questioning Western double standards that often overshadow African achievements. As I journeyed through Equatorial Guinea, driving from Ghana to the vibrant city of …

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 …

A bold new initiative led by the African diaspora in Germany is set to reshape how skilled labour migration between Africa and Europe is managed. The 360° Labour Mobility programme, launched recently in Ghana and Nigeria, creates a structured pathway for African professionals to access job opportunities in Germany. Germany faces a looming demographic crisis. According to the Institute for …

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a sharp increase in the fees for obtaining the Nigerian international passport. The new pricing structure will take effect on 1 September 2025, according to a statement released on Thursday by a spokesman for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). The increment is tied to the rollout of the new “Nigerian Standard Passport,” which …

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 …

Former Ghanaian MP and dedicated Pan-Africanist Ras Mubarak is leading a group of activists on an ambitious campaign to mobilize support for a visa-free and united Africa. The Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign, a 163-day, 40,000-kilometer road trip spanning 39 African countries, advocates for the elimination of visa restrictions for African citizens travelling within the continent. Launched on 18 …

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 …

In a welcome development, Germany has unveiled four new Schengen visa application centres — two in Nigeria (Abuja and Lagos), one in Yaoundé (Cameroon) and another in Nicosia (Cyprus). This expansion, launched under a renewed seven-year agreement with VFS Global, seeks to streamline visa services and reduce bottlenecks affecting applicants. VFS Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services …