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Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has opened the first phase of the country’s first metro-rail service in the capital Abuja – some eleven years after the project was initiated. Abuja Rail Mass Transit, commonly known as Abuja Light Rail, is a commuter rail transport system in the Federal Capital Territory. The first phase of the Abuja light rail system has two …

The Munich state court ruling marks the end of one of the most important trials in Germany's postwar history. It was also one of the most complex, covering five years — more than 430 trial days — and featuring the testimonies of around 600 witnesses. Nine of the NSU's victims were of immigrant background; the tenth was a police officer.

Nigerians in the Diaspora will converge on the British capital on 26-28 July to mark this year’s Diaspora Day, the first time the annual event will be held outside Nigeria. According to Hon. Kenneth Gbandi, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE), many important personalities from the worlds of politics, business and academia in Nigeria have confirmed their attendance at …

Alternative for Germany (German: Alternative für Deutschland, AfD), a right-wing to far-right political party in Germany, has overtaken the Social Democratic Party (SPD), according to an opinion poll conducted by INSA. The survey of potential voters published by the mass circulating tabloid Bild on Monday gave the centre-left Social Democrats 17 per cent of the vote, with the AfD taking …

The African Union (AU) has described the normalization of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea as a boost for peace and security in the Horn of Africa region and on the continent as a whole. The AU’s view is also shared by the European Union (EU). Both blocs issued statements on Monday congratulating leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea – Prime Minister …

Thousands of people took part in demonstrations across Germany on Saturday to show their support for NGOs rescuing refugees in the Mediterranean Sea. NGOs have come under increasing political pressure and been blocked from docking in several European countries. Thousands of people took part in protests in several German cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, Hanover, Bremen, Munich and Ulm. Organizers said …

Italy has handed sea rescue mission responsibility to Libya’s coast guard in an effort to stop migrants reaching Europe. Critics argue the move violates international law and that Libyan authorities are ill-prepared. Bernd Riegert reports. At the recent EU summit one week ago, European leaders once again agreed to protect the bloc’s exterior borders from migrants entering illegally. That meant, …

The UN agency for migration IOM has reported that up to 10,000 migrants are detained in dire conditions in Libya. Over 10,000 migrants who were rescued or apprehended by Libyan coast guards are detained in 20 centres in extreme living conditions due to overcrowding and a heat wave with temperatures reaching over 40 degrees Celsius, Christine Petré, IOM’s spokeswoman for …

Femi Kuti, Afrobeat musician and son of music legend Fela, alongside dance hall singer Yemi Alade thrilled French President Emmanuel Macron and guests at the New Afrika Shrine on Tuesday. Macron, who visited the Shrine to inaugurate the African Cultural Season to be hosted in France in 2020, is believed to be the first head of state to enter the music …

In pursuant of its strategic objectives and core values, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe (NIDOE) has finalized arrangements to commence the pre-enrolment of Nigerians in Europe in the National Identity Database. The pre-enrolment is to ensure that all Diaspora Nigerians are well documented in the National Identity Management System (NIMS) of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The National Identity Management …

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has signed a new five-year contract with the club. The 26-year-old Egypt international joined the Reds for £34m from Roma last summer and has scored 44 goals in 52 appearances for the club. The financial terms were not disclosed.  “I’m very happy to say I have signed a new contract with the club,” he said. “My …

Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bavarian conservative leader Horst Seehofer have reached a deal on migrant policy that could save the governing coalition. But will the Social Democrats accept the deal? Jefferson Chase/DW reports from Berlin. After plenty of political twists and turns over the past few days and weeks, Chancellor Angela Merkel has achieved a last-ditch agreement to end the …

The Dortmund-based AfricanTide Union e.V. has opened its first branch office.  Since 15 June, there is now the opportunity to exchange and develop joint projects in the Gutruf Haus in the immediate vicinity of the Alster in Hamburg. “We are happy to be in Hamburg now. Together with local stakeholders, we want to implement our successfully tested programmes for promoting integration and …

Many international organisations have expressed concern over violent attacks perpetrated by suspected cattle herders from the Fulani ethnic group in the central Nigerian state of Plateau early this week. The state government say more than 200 persons, including women and children, were killed in the military-style attack on 11 villages across three local government areas without the intervention of security forces. …

A new organisation of Ghanaians living in Europe gathered recently in the western German city of Dortmund to officially launch the body, whose professed aim is to drive the development of their homeland. The General Assembly of the Ghanaians in the Diaspora (Ghaspora), a new organisation bringing together Ghanaians in Europe, has held its first official meeting in Dortmund, Germany. …

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel warns migration crisis ‘could determine the fate of the European Union’ European Union leaders gathered on Thursday to examine new ways to stop migrants entering Europe, desperate to ensure that their differences over managing the flows do not tear the 28-nation bloc apart. The number of people arriving in Europe seeking sanctuary or better lives has …

The level of financial aid EU members provide to asylum-seekers can vary significantly from country to country. Germany, for instance, grants monthly allowances of up to €354. Diana Hodali and Astrid Prange of DW examine asylum benefits across the bloc. European Union asylum law stipulates that member states must ensure everyone in need is guaranteed a fair asylum application process. …

Nigeria is far from ready to hold a credible ballot in 2019, argues Olayinka Ajala, Associate Lecturer and Conflict Analyst at the University of York, UK. The 2019 presidential election in Nigeria will be the country’s sixth since 1999, when it shifted to democracy after a long period of military rule. Most of these elections have been tarnished by acts …

A poll by Oxfam Intermon said over 60 percent of Spaniards interviewed were in favour of migration while 20 percent thought they were being ”invaded” by migrants. Paola Del Vecchio reports. A survey released by Oxfam Intermon to mark World Refugee Day on Wednesday said 65 percent of Spaniards interviewed wanted to welcome refugees and migrants and 21 percent of …

EU leaders are set to endorse plans to create a so-called “disembarkation scheme” under which migrants rescued at sea would be taken to sites in North Africa where their requests for asylum would be processed. The EU is considering the creation of “disembarkation platforms” in North Africa to decide asylum applications before migrants set out for Europe, according to a draft statement …