The Embassy of Nigeria in Berlin has announced the indefinite suspension of its consular services due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. A statement, titled URGENT PUBLIC NOTICE, published on the website of the embassy reads, “This is to inform the general public that in consideration of the potential health hazard that the novel coronavirus may pose to the staff of …

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the world, causing mass disruptions to daily life – rattling markets, suspending travel plans, cancelling sports and music events, the disease is instigating a reappraisal of life as we know it. Our contributing editor and medical doctor at the Berlin Charité hospital, Michael Nnaji, writes on important lessons to be drawn from the crisis. …

To prevent a widespread infection of their populations, African countries are increasingly imposing travel restrictions to keep out people from countries that have a high number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. Nigeria is the latest country to take the drastic step of imposing entry bans as part drastic measures to stop the spread of the virus in the country. “The Federal …

The African Network of Germany (TANG), a network of more than 700 African associations and individual members in Germany, has started a campaign to provide information about the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to Africans living in the country. Dr Sylvie Nantcha, chairman of TANG, said the organisation launched the awareness and sensitisation campaign as its contribution to national efforts to contain …

The Embassy of Ghana in Berlin has suspended all activities in its consular section for the next 14 days because of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. According to a statement issued by the Embassy on Tuesday, the suspension commences on 18 March. Full consular services are expected to be resumed on 1 April. The Nigerian and Ugandan embassies in Berlin …

Afrolynk is an Impact Venture that supports innovation, connects and accelerates, together with start-ups, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, SMEs, cooperation and organizations that are connected to the EU-African market. As part of the Accelerate pillar of the operations, it has partnered with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to carry out the WIDU project in Ghana. The WIDU Platform is …

Euro 2020 has been postponed until 2021 because of the ongoing global coronavirus outbreak. UEFA, European football’s governing body, made the decision at an emergency meeting on Tuesday. The football tournament had been due to kick off in Rome, Italy, on June 12 and was to be played in 12 different host cities across the continent. The 24-team European Championship, …

The Uganda Embassy in Berlin has announced that it is henceforth closed to the public until the 1 April. However, the Embassy will be reachable by phone during the shutdown. The decision was taken due to the ongoing corona crisis to protect the Embassy’s staff and visitors.  The Embassy said in the statement: “The Uganda Embassy in Berlin will remain closed to …

The federal and state governments have adopted several drastic measures to slow down the increasing infection rate of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country. The measures order unprecedented restrictions on public life in the country. In a national TV address on Monday evening, Chancellor Angela Merkel said the federal government and the governments of the 16 federal states have agreed to …

Our contributing editor Alexander Macbeth writes on how the Ghanaian novelist focuses on the experience of women from their perspective, exposing how male authors have long neglected the true desires and challenges of the continent’s women. Amma Darko’s tales of wise grandmothers, resilient daughters and strong-willed victims, often caught in difficult circumstances, have made her a favourite on both sides …

To mark the European Action Week against Racism (16-29 March), civil society groups, educational institutions and city governments are carrying out activities to protest against racism and celebrate the diversity that enriches European societies. To commemorate the week, our contributing editor Sarah Udoh-Grossfurthner, writing from Vienna, narrates a story that will make you laugh and then feel pity for racists. …

Sierra Leone will look to the African Development Bank to stimulate agribusiness development in the country with a focus on rice production, President Maada Bio told a visiting delegation led by its president, Akinwumi Adesina. Adesina began a two-day visit to Sierra Leone on Wednesday, during which he held meetings to discuss curbing malnutrition, creating skills and jobs for young …

In this opinion piece, Albert Mashika (Caritas Africa) and Maria Nyman (Caritas Europe) take a look at the relationship between the EU and Africa in view of the upcoming EU-AU Summit in October. They explain why they think that the European Commission’s proposed new strategy on Africa overlooks the huge and often negative influence that EU member states and companies …

Seventy per cent of people irregularly migrating from Nigeria are from Edo State, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said. UNHCR’s Senior Liaison Officer, Amah Assiama-Hillgartner, stated this in Benin, the state capital, during the agency’s Telling the Real Story (TRS) meeting on Thursday. She described Nigeria as the country of transit and trafficking of irregular emigrants, …

Turkish Airlines has issued a press statement on the suspension of its flights to and from Nigeria. The airline had on Tuesday said it had cancelled “several” of its flights to to its destinations in the country ( Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt) due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Turkish has now clarified the situation to his passengers in a letter …

African Diasporas is a scholarly examination of the Afro-German literature through a comparison with African-American literature and the role it has played in the creation of a Black community in Germany. Literature has been the chief tool of people of African descent in Germany in their efforts to reclaim their African heritage and carve an identity for themselves. Through a …

Last year, far more right-wing extremist and racist attacks were registered in Berlin. A new central office to prevent and respond to hate crimes in the federal capital The number of right-wing extremist and racist attacks in Berlin continued to increase in the past year. A total of 390 attacks were registered, as the victim advisory centre Reach Out announced …

Written by actress, model and TV presenter Dayan Kodua, the first woman of African descent to win a state beauty contest in Germany, this book is on Black success stories in the country. Melanie Scheuenstuhl reviews the pictorial band of 25 personalities – politicians, designers, physicians, artists, chefs, lawyers, policemen and bus drivers, who tell their very personal stories of …

According to a ruling by the Osnabrück Social Court (Sozialgericht), asylum-seekers can have their cash benefits cut if they have already applied for asylum in another EU country Cities and counties may reduce cash benefits to an asylum-seeker according to a ruling by the Osnabrück Social Court if they have already applied for asylum in another country. The court in …

Facebook is inviting applications from sub-Saharan Africa for its Community Accelerator programme. Up to $3 million in total will be awarded to 80 programme participants worldwide JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 10, 2020/ — In line with its mission to give people the power to build community around the world and its commitment to supporting the community leaders who drive change, …