April, 2025

• 1 April

  More international students enrol in German universities

  

  German higher education is witnessing a notable rise in international enrolments, with the 2024 academic year marking a significant shift in student demographics. Approximately 491,400 new students began their studies at German universities last year—a 2% increase compared to the previous year—with the surge driven entirely by foreign applicants. Recent data from the Federal Statistical Office, as reported by various …

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• 1 April

  Germany: New Laws and Regulations Coming into Effect in April 2025

  

  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 …

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March, 2025

• 31 March

  YANA Berlin expands support for new African migrants

  

  YANA Berlin will relaunch its services to provide support for asylum-seekers and other new African migrants in the German capital on 1 April. The migrant advisory service, run by the nonprofit German-African Initiative for Development and Integration (GAIDI), operates under the motto “You Are Not Alone in Berlin” (YANA Berlin), offering guidance to ease integration. Supported for the first time …

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• 27 March

  Germany’s migrant organisations demand 25 percent of federal cabinet posts

  

  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 …

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• 27 March

  International students contribute billions to Germany’s economy

  

  A new study by the German Economic Institute (IW), commissioned by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), has highlighted the significant economic benefits that international students bring to Germany. The research found that international students generate a return eight times greater than the government’s investment in their education. With around 492,600 international students currently studying in Germany, the country has …

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• 24 March

  Germany cautions travellers to the US over detention concerns

  

  Germany has updated its travel advisory for citizens visiting the United States following multiple reports of German nationals being detained at border entry points. The advisory warns that obtaining a visa or an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) does not guarantee entry, as final admission decisions rest with US border officials. The revision comes after several German travellers were …

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• 23 March

  Germany: More Support Needed for Black Organisations – UN Decade Report

  

  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 …

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• 22 March

  A Journey into the African Diaspora with a German Passport

  

  I was in an African restaurant in Berlin recently, and the topic of discussion was travel — not just to our countries of origin. As German passport holders, we are fortunate to have access to 189 countries and territories around the world without needing a visa. In effect, the world is at our feet. The same applies to those who …

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• 22 March

  African Migrants and Trump’s America

  

  *By Steve Ogah On 20 January 2025, the destiny of most migrants in America took a turn for the worse after Donald Trump was sworn in as president, their fortunes further deteriorating after he signed the “securing our border” executive order, a move that could see undocumented migrants deported from the country in droves. While many migrants suspected what they …

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• 14 March

  South Africa-EU Summit strengthens economic ties amid US hostility

  

  On 13 March 2025, Cape Town hosted the 8th South Africa–European Union (EU) Summit to reinforce the longstanding collaboration between the two partners amid hostile policies of the new US administration. President Donald Trump recently cancelled all aid to South Africa ostensibly for expropriating land from its white citizens without compensation. The one-day summit, centered on collaboration in trade and …

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