News

Algeria scored early to beat Senegal to lift their second African Cup of Nations at the grand final of the continental football festival. Baghdad Bounedjah’s early goal propelled Algeria to a first Africa Cup of Nations title in 29 years after a fiery 1-0 victory over Sadio Mane’s Senegal in Friday’s (July 20) final in Cairo. Bounedjah gave Algeria a …

A two-meter-high tablet reminding of German colonial history has been unveiled in Berlin on Monday. The memorial plaque, situated in the Wilhelmstraße in the Central District of the city, commemorates the “Dibobe-Petition”. A petition, submitted by Cameroon-born Martin Quane a Dibobe to the Imperial Ministry of the Colonies in June 1919, which is considered one of the most important documents …

According to a newly-published survey by Transparency International, most Africans think corruption is getting worse in their countries. The Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) – Africa, released by the Berlin-based anti-corruption organisation, reveals that 53 per cent of citizens surveyed in 35 African countries think corruption is getting worse while 23 per cent say the problem is getting better. More than …

Sea-Watch rescue ship’s captain, Carola Rackete, has expressed the hope that the new EU commission would work to let boat-rescued migrants enter Europe. Rackete, who is under investigation in Italy for docking her boat in the Italian port of Lampedusa without permission in early July, said: “I sincerely hope that the European Commission now, after the new election of the …

Germany’s defence minister, Dr Ursula von der Leyen, secured a narrow majority win in the European Parliament on Tuesday to replace incumbent Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission. She received 383 out of 747 possible votes, just nine more than the minimum for her election. Ms von der Leyen will be the first German to lead the EU …

German football enthusiast Maximilian Lütgens, reporting exclusively for The African Courier, writes on his trip to Egypt to watch this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, revealing not only the actions in the stadiums but also the thrill outside of them at the continental football fiesta. Enjoy! From 25 June to 2 July, I travelled to Egypt for a week of …

The Italian chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) has elected a new executive committee. The event, part of the annual general meeting of the body, took place on Saturday (13 July) in the city of Perugia. Dr Lawrence Akuwudike Ibekwe was re-elected Chairman for a new two-year term, a sort of approval seal for its leadership of the …

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 …

If you want to move to Germany to join a family member or spouse, a German family reunification visa will allow you to live and work in Germany. However, applicants have to meet certain requirements, one of which is passing a German language test in their home countries. But too many spouse reunification visa applicants often fail due to the …

The Federal Government has appointed Dr Sylvie Nantcha as a member of a technical commission on migration. The task of the 24-member commission is to identify “the root causes of flight and irregular migration” and it has until the end of next year to make concrete recommendations for action on how to tackle the issues. Flight and migration are among …

Self-taught coder develops model for diagnosing breast cancer; looks to solve some of the continent’s biggest challenges and inspires youth across the continent as Africa Code Week Youth Ambassador for 2019. “It takes a village to raise a child”: as the Fourth Industrial Revolution sweeps across Africa and more of its youth develop coding and other digital skills, there may …

As I write this article, 44 migrants, mostly Africans, who were rescued in the Mediterranean by the humanitarian organisation Sea Eye off the Libyan coast on Monday, are desperately looking for where to be allowed to disembark in Europe. The migrants’ dilemma follows the Sea-Watch 3 controversy in June, when the rescue boat forcibly docked in the Italian port of …

Nigerians from across the globe will converge on their country’s capital Abuja on 24-25 July for this year’s Nigerian Diaspora Day. The annual event brings together foreign-based Nigerians and representatives of the federal and state governments to discuss areas of possible partnership in national development. The theme of this year’s Day, organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in …

Six members of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya’s security staff have been convicted by Swiss judges investigating a reported attack on a journalist in Geneva on 26 June. The arrests took place last Tuesday, according to a statement by canton Geneva’s justice department. Four of the guards were given a four-month suspended prison sentence, and two were given a three-month suspended …

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has been privately visiting Switzerland for a long time. The Hotel InterContinental in Geneva with its swimming pool and view of Mont Blanc is the residence of choice for the Cameroonian presidential couple. A report by the Wall Street Journal in November 2018 said that since Biya became head of state in 1982 the hotel is …

Fifty-three migrants, mostly sub-Saharan Africans, were killed on Wednesday when a faction in the Libyan civil war carried out an air strike that hit a migrant detention centre near Tripoli. More than 130 others were injured. The internationally-recognised Government of National Unity (GNA) blamed the attack on forces loyal to renegade General Khalifa Haftar, but his militants have denied it. …

Brain drain is a major challenge facing the Nigerian health system, leading to a dramatic reduction in the number of doctors in the country. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Nigeria is one of the three leading African sources of foreign-born physicians. Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi, Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine, University of Ibadan, explains why doctors are …

The weeks-long standoff between Sea-Watch 3 and the Italian government ended with the arrest of Captain Carola Rackete, who has now been freed. But international maritime law and a country’s own laws often don’t chime, say experts. Carola Rackete, captain of the search and rescue vessel Sea-Watch 3, was arrested on Saturday by Italian authorities for “resisting a warship” after …