THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The leaders of nine EU countries — Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland — have issued a joint letter urging a rethinking of how the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) applies to migration. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen led the initiative, which calls for greater national discretion in deporting third-country nationals, especially those deemed security threats or convicted of crimes.
The signatories argue that rulings by the European Court of Human Rights have overly restricted national governments’ ability to manage irregular migration. They also cite concerns about countries outside the EU allegedly using migration as a political weapon, referring to past incidents where states such as Belarus were accused of pushing migrants across EU borders to create pressure.
This proposal has sparked criticism from human rights defenders, who fear it may erode legal protections for vulnerable migrants, including many from sub-Saharan Africa. A reinterpretation of the ECHR along these lines could make it easier to deport individuals without sufficient guarantees of fair asylum procedures or protection from harm upon return.
African asylum seekers—often fleeing conflict, repression, or climate-driven hardship—already face obstacles in accessing safe refuge in Europe. Experts warn that relaxing human rights safeguards could lead to more returns to countries where returnees risk abuse, detention, or lack of basic services.
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset responded by warning against political interference in the Court’s work. He emphasized that the independence of the European Court of Human Rights is crucial to ensuring consistent legal standards and upholding the rights of all individuals, regardless of origin.
As EU leaders press for tougher migration controls, concerns grow about the consequences for those seeking safety on European soil.
Adira Kallo
