LIVING IN GERMANY

Around 50 percent of Germans are wary of Islam, a new study by Bertelsmann Foundation has found. In a study on religious diversity conducted by the highly influential NGO, one-third of the respondents see Islam as “enriching” German society. At the same time, half of participants said they view it as a “threat.” The pollsters blame the media for this …

According to the Federal Statistical Office, the population of Germany rose slightly by 227,000 in 2018. At the end of last year, 83 million people lived in Germany 10.1 million of who were foreigners, that is, inhabitants without German passport, the new report revealed. The proportion of foreigners in the total population increased from 11.7 percent to 12.2 percent in …

The 12-day Kenako Afrika-Festival, featuring live music concerts, bazaar, children’s workshop, culinary, fashion shows and more, ended on 14 July in Berlin. While the annual event celebrates Africa’s colourful, multi-facetted and rich cultures, it also takes a serious look at issues affecting the continent and its diaspora. The 2019 festival, under the motto ‘Africa in Global Context’, featured podium discussions …

The Nigerian community in the German state of Bavaria will recognise the professional and other achievements of outstanding Nigerians living in the country on 20 July. The event, christened ‘Nigeria Cultural Feast and Meritorious Awards 2019’ and which takes place in Munich, will highlight the contributions of the Nigerian Diaspora to homeland development and their countries of residence, according to …

It’s always easier and more convenient to enjoy a new country when you have a tour guide. You hardly miss your way going around since you are led by an experienced person who knows the nooks and crannies of the place. This is why the association of German journalists of migrant origin, called “Neue deutsche Medienmacher” (New German Media Professionals), …

The search for the 32-year-old Kenyan woman, who was declared missing in April has ended with the tragic discovery of her decomposed remains in a forest. Rita Awour Ojunge, mother of two, was reported missing on 7 April by her husband in the town of Hohenleipisch, in the state Brandenburg. The police on Tuesday announced that after many weeks of …

An appeal has gone out to Nigerians living in Germany to desist from paying bribes to access service at their country’s embassy. The appeal was made by Alhaji Mohammed Bello Musa Anka, Minister in charge of the Consular & Immigration Section at the embassy, while speaking in Dortmund at the annual general meeting of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Germany …

The German chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) has elected a new executive committee. The election was part of the body’s annual general meeting, which took place on Saturday, 22 June in the city of Dortmund. Dr RosaLyn Dressmann was elected to lead the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Germany (NIDOG) as President for the next two years at …

The Nigerian community in Bremen is still in a state of shock many days after a Nigerian killed his 41-year-old girlfriend in the northern German city. On the day of the tragic incident, which occurred on 7 June, the 42-year-old man called the emergency to report that he had just attacked his girlfriend, also a Nigerian, in their apartment with …

Seven years after the introduction of the EU Blue Card, Germany has awarded 104,000 such residence permits to highly-skilled non-EU immigrants. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees said in Nuremberg on Tuesday that about 27,000 visas were issued in 2018, a 25.4% jump over 2017, and more than any previous year. 11,738 of the Cards issued in 2018 were …

The leader of the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), Andrea Nahles, resigned under pressure on Sunday after the poor result of her party in the EU elections. The SPD scored 15.8% of the popular vote, an 11.4-percentage-point drop from 2014’s EU elections, finishing behind its coalition partners, the Chancellor Angela Merkel-led CDU/CSU (28.9%), and the Greens (20.5%). It’s …

Arise Africa is a one-day program, first held on 1 May 2017, where Africans unite with Germans in a gathering to rededicate themselves to the teaching of Jesus Christ and to take up the task of spreading His word in Germany. The event, whose theme two years ago was ‘Be a blessing for the land’, was organised by Pastor Frank …

Leader of the German Social Democrats (SPD), Andrea Nahles, resigned on Sunday after the poor result for her party in the EU elections, where the SPD came third behind Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU and the Greens. Nahles became the SPD’s first female leader in April 2018 when she replaced former EU Parliament president, Martin Schulz. Merkel has pledged the coalition …

How to make African-owned businesses in Germany more resilient and less prone to failure was the theme of one of the workshops held as part of the Africa Day programme in Dortmund on 24-25 May. The event, organised by AfricanTide Union, commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) on 25 May 1963. Clément Klutse, a …

Dr. Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, a member of the Green Party, has been elected into the European Parliament. The politician, who is originally from Senegal, was one of the 21 Green candidates elected from Germany at the elections on Sunday. With her election, she has become the first German member of the parliament with African origin. Announcing her victory on her Facebook …

The day that commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) in Addis Ababa on 25 May 1963, will be marked this year for the 10th consecutive time in the western German city of Dortmund. The African Unity 2019 conference, taking place on 24-25 May and organised by the non-governmental organization AfricanTide Union e.V., will bring …

One in three foreigners seeking to join a spouse in Germany is unable to do so because they fail to pass a basic language test. The failure rate was especially high for applicants from Iraq. Nearly a third of foreigners seeking to join their spouses in Germany fail to pass a German language test in their homeland, preventing them from …

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer is calling for harsher deportation laws after asylum-seekers attacked pedestrians in Bavaria. So far, who gets deported – and who makes that call –  is a complex matter. Carla Bleiker reports. Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has said he would send proposals to the government aimed at changing German deportation laws in an effort to …

More and more Germans are worried about not being able to make ends meet when they retire, a new study has shown. Rising energy costs and low interest rates are also feeding fears of financial insecurity. More than half of all Germans are afraid of being financially insecure in old age, German newspaper Die Welt has reported, citing a study …

Many new laws and legislative changes, affecting employees, the unemployed, families and retirees, came into force on 1 January 2019. The African Courier takes us through some of the most important changes that we should know. Minimum wage rises The statutory minimum wage (der gesetzliche Mindestlohn) rises from 8.84 euros to 9.19 euros on 1 January 2019. From 2020, employers …