Since the beginning of 2026, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has suspended all new admissions to integration courses under Section 44, paragraph 4 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG). The circular, sent to course providers on 9 February, clarifies that this freeze affects asylum-seekers, tolerated residents (Geduldete), Ukrainians with temporary protection and EU citizens, who had previously …

Mozambique has officially launched a new digitally enabled e-Visa platform, marking a major step in the country’s tourism drive and broader digital transformation agenda. The system is designed to simplify travel procedures, modernise border management and make the country more accessible to international visitors, including an increasing number of travellers from Germany. The platform, introduced under the government’s Visit Mozambique …

The Berlin-based German-African Initiative for Development and Integration (GAIDI) gUG is intensifying its strategic engagement against irregular migration by partnering with civil society organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria, one of the main countries of origin of irregular migrants to Europe. This commitment was underlined by Femi Awoniyi, Director of GAIDI, during his keynote address at the first 2026 meeting of the …

Germany’s population fell in 2025 for the first time in several years, underlining the country’s deepening demographic challenges and the growing importance of migration policy for its economic and social future. According to provisional figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), around 83.5 million people were living in Germany at the end of 2025—about 100,000 fewer than a year …

When Berlin-based freelance journalist Wolfgang König recently travelled to New Orleans, he found himself drawn not only to the city’s famous music clubs and historic streets, but to a modest open space whose global significance is easy to overlook. In this reflection, König traces the remarkable history of Congo Square — a place where African traditions survived enslavement, shaped the …

Afrobeat pioneer and cultural icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has made history by becoming the first African artist to receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The honour was bestowed at a special ceremony held on 31 January 2026, ahead of this year’s Grammy Awards, nearly three decades after Fela’s death in 1997. Members of the Kuti family, including Fela’s children, accepted the …

Lace Relations follows an expansive journey that begins in the bustling textile markets of Lagos, Nigeria, moves on to embroidery workshops in Lustenau, Austria, and reaches back to the historical roots of Europe’s prosperity. Centered on women, power dynamics and the global textile trade, the film exposes the colonial legacies that still influence Europe’s relationship with its neighbouring continent. Sarah …

The Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) is one of the world’s most important film festivals, standing alongside Cannes and Venice as a key meeting point for global cinema. Held every February, the Berlinale is not only prestigious but also unique in scale: with more than 400,000 cinema tickets sold each year, it is widely regarded as the largest public film …

New admissions to federally funded Integrationskurse (integration courses) have been suspended, leaving many refugees and migrants unable to begin essential German language and cultural orientation classes. The freeze, implemented quietly by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) at the end of 2025, remains in place with no clear timeline for resumption. Integration courses are government-supported programmes designed to …

Spain has taken a bold step toward legalising the status of hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, marking a sharp contrast to increasingly restrictive migration policies elsewhere in Europe. Announced in late January 2026, an extraordinary regularisation scheme aims to grant legal residence and work rights to migrants already living in the country without authorisation—among them many Africans who arrived …

In a landmark judgment that strengthens protection against discrimination in Germany’s housing market, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has ruled that real estate agents may not reject housing applicants because of their names. Turning down a prospective tenant solely because their name sounds “foreign,” the court, which is the country’s highest court on civil matters, held, constitutes unlawful ethnic …

From 1 February 2026, Germany will apply a new regulation that fundamentally changes how so-called “safe countries of origin” are designated in asylum procedures. The federal government says the move will speed up decisions, ease pressure on authorities and courts, and send a clear signal that asylum applications from certain countries have little chance of success. Critics, however, warn that …

When the City of Erlangen formally honoured Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana at a solemn ceremony on 13 January 2026, it was more than a celebratory moment. Held at Erlangen City Hall during a special session of the City Council, the occasion marked the recognition of a life dedicated to social justice, civic engagement and the long, often difficult struggle for equality …

February 2026 may be short, but it brings wide-ranging changes—from migration and travel rules to religious life. Staying informed helps residents navigate the month with fewer surprises and better preparation. Here is a clear overview of what is new—and what it means in everyday life. Continued School Support for Low-Income Families As the second half of the 2025/2026 school year …

Germany’s Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Bärbel Bas, a member of the SPD, has intensified calls within the federal government for stronger legal protections to keep young refugees in the country during and after vocational training. Speaking during a recent visit to the ABB Training Centre Berlin/Brandenburg, Bas underlined the urgent need for certainty for German companies that …