In a landmark ruling issued on 4 June 2026, the Court of Justice of the European Union has found that Germany’s practice of cutting basic benefits for rejected asylum-seekers violates EU law, a verdict hailed by refugee advocates, but one whose impact may prove short-lived as sweeping new migration rules take effect just eight days later.____________ The case originated with …

The European Union’s landmark Pact on Migration and Asylum enters into force on 12 June 2026, ushering in the most comprehensive reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) in decades. Designed to address longstanding weaknesses exposed during previous migration crises, the pact consists of ten interlinked legislative acts that reshape how the EU manages migration and processes asylum claims. …

Germany’s Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency handled more cases in 2025 than at any point in its history, with racist and antisemitic incidents accounting for the single largest share — and the country’s chief equality watchdog warning that prejudice is now being expressed more openly and more aggressively than at any point in recent memory. Germany’s Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes, …

Germany granted citizenship to a record 332,500 foreign nationals in 2025, underscoring the growing importance of naturalisation as a pathway to full participation in German society. According to provisional figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the number of naturalisations rose by 14 per cent compared with 2024, marking the fifth consecutive annual increase and the highest figure since …

The United Nations General Assembly has elected Austria, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, Zimbabwe and Kyrgyzstan as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for a two-year term beginning on 1 January 2027. The five countries were elected on 3 June to replace outgoing members whose terms expire at the end of 2026. They will join the Security Council’s 15-member body, …

June 2026 brings a number of legal and regulatory changes in Germany that will affect daily life in practical ways — from online shopping and heating systems to salaries, asylum procedures and healthcare. Here’s a closer look at the most important developments and why they matter. More salary transparency at work One of the most important workplace changes coming this …

Ghana has begun evacuating hundreds of its citizens from South Africa following renewed anti-immigrant protests and fears of xenophobic violence in the country. The first chartered flight carrying 297 Ghanaians landed in Accra on Wednesday as part of a voluntary repatriation programme approved by President John Dramani Mahama. Ghanaian authorities say more than 800 nationals have registered to return home …

Ghana has launched a new electronic visa regime aimed at modernising travel procedures, strengthening border security and promoting easier access to the country, in a move being described as a major step in its digital transformation agenda. Launching the new system in Accra on 25 May, President John Dramani Mahama confirmed that Ghana’s previous visa-on-arrival arrangement for African passport holders …

A three-day festival of culture, tourism, trade and diaspora engagement is set to transform a Munich venue into a gateway between Uganda and Germany this June — marking the most ambitious Ugandan public diplomacy event in Germany to date.From 26 to 28 June 2026, the Embassy of Uganda in Germany will host the first Uganda Cultural and Tourism Festival — …

South Africa’s film industry is set for a major international spotlight after the country was officially named the “Country in Focus” for the 2027 edition of the European Film Market (EFM) at the Berlin International Film Festival, widely known as the Berlinale. The announcement, made by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and the Berlinale organisers, means South African …

Ghana will host a major international conference on reparatory justice from 17 to 19 June 2026 as a direct follow-up to the historic resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 March 2026 declaring the transatlantic trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity. The ‘High-Level Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice’ will take place …

The acclaimed africologneFESTIVAL has been named “Cultural Event of the Year 2025” at the Cologne Cultural Awards, further cementing its reputation as one of Europe’s leading platforms for contemporary African and Afrodiasporic arts. The award was presented on 19 May at the COMEDIA Theater during a ceremony organised by the Kölner Kulturrat. The biennial festival triumphed after a combined decision …

Togo became the fifth African country to grant unconditional visa-free entry to all African passport holders on 18 May 2026, when its Ministry of Security announced the immediate removal of visa requirements for continental travellers. Under the new policy, any African national holding a valid passport may enter Togo without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. Travellers …

The Africa Festival Potsdam returns this summer with a vibrant programme that promises to transform the city’s Luisenplatz, the traditional venue of the event, into a vibrant hub of African culture, music and community spirit. Taking place on 10 and 11 July 2026, the two-day festival invites visitors from across Brandenburg and beyond to celebrate the richness and diversity of …

The United Nations General Assembly’s recent recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity marks a historic moment, but it also raises uncomfortable questions, writes Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana. The muted response and abstentions by many European countries reveal a persistent reluctance to fully confront the legacy of slavery and its lasting consequences, the former European MP …