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From 29-30 November, 55 African and 28 European government representatives came together in Abidjan to adopt a new strategy for Africa. Despite the expectations, the end result was an utter disappointment, writes Barbara Wesel of the German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, DW. This huge gathering of leaders in Côte d’Ivoire’s economic hub, Abidjan, was an ambitious event. Soldiers, gala dinners, …

Following harsh criticisms of its perceived indifference to the suffering of thousands of its citizens who are stranded in Libya, Nigeria’s federal government has finally swung into action. After meeting with heads of agencies in charge of migration in Abuja on Wednesday, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo announced that Nigeria was considering urgent and permanent solutions to the plight of Nigerians refugees …

Hundreds of people of African descent and their supporters marched through the streets of Cologne on Monday evening to express their anger and outrage at the widespread human rights violation of African migrants in Libya.   Speakers lament the racist treatment of Africans in North Africa pointing out that the CNN video footage of migrant auctioning was the tip of …

The EU-African Summit, bringing together African and European leaders in Abidjan from 29-30 November, is a chance to find a win-win solution, argues the International Crisis Group’s Elissa Jobson* Video footage of African migrants detained on their way to Europe being sold as slaves in Libya has provoked outrage and dismay in Africa and the wider international community. As a …

As the EU-Africa Summit (29-30 November) kicks off in the Ivorian main city of Abidjan, a plan will be presented which analysts believe will spark an investment boom in Africa to generate employment for the continent’s youths. Chris Bishop* explains the plan and the challenges it faces. An effort that hopes to draw billions in investment in Africa from Europe …

Dozens of families of Moroccan migrants detained in Libya protested in Rabat on Monday, November 27, calling on Moroccan authorities to help their relatives return home as soon as possible. Sana Elouazi reports from Rabat Gathered in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarter in Rabat, the demonstrators, who came from several Moroccan cities, lambasted the “slowness” of authorities, …

A high-level conference hosted by the European Parliament on 22 November in Brussels has highlighted the need to improve EU-Africa relations, reports Andreas Rogal*. Exactly a week before the start of the fifth EU-Africa summit – between the European Union and the African Union – in Abidjan, the European Parliament hosted a high-level conference on EU-Africa relations, ‘Towards a renewed …

The Black Community in Germany has again called for a public protest action against the enslavement of African migrants in Libya. The event will take place on Monday (27 November) in the western German city of Cologne. Under the motto ‘Stop Enslavement in Libya!’, the event is expected to be attended by more than 1,000 people who are outraged by …

Thousands of Zimbabweans from all walks of life celebrated the inauguration of the country’s new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, a man in whom many are placing their hopes for the future. Can he live up to the expectations of his countrymen and women? After a tumultuous two weeks of political brinkmanship, Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in on 24 November as Zimbabwe’s …

Modibo, a 16-year-old Malian who arrived in France a few weeks ago, wants to warn those planning to come to Europe about the reality of travelling via Libya. “You mustn’t venture there,” he says about Libya. “You mustn’t cross this country. You become an animal there.” The young, angry migrant would like other Africans thinking of travelling through Libya in …

President Alassane Ouattara has expressed his “disgust” at recent revelations over African migrants being sold as slaves in Libya, demanding that those guilty of these crimes be brought to justice by the International Criminal Court. President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire has said that condemning the auctioning of African migrants as slaves in Libya is not enough, calling for the …

The death toll in Egypt’s worst Islamist terror attack in modern history has now passed 300 and at least 128 others were wounded. It is the second deadliest terrorist attack of 2017 to date, after the Mogadishu bombings in October that left more than 358 dead. About 40 militants stormed a Sufi mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed in …

The African Union–European Union Summit, an institutional framework established to discuss relationships between both continents, convenes for its 5th edition in Abidjan, the economic capital of Cote d’Ivoire. African and European Heads of State and Government will gather for the 5th EU-Africa Summit on 29-30 November in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The Summits, which take place every three years alternatively in …

CNN report showing trade in sub-Saharan migrants in Libya has sparked outrage in Africa and the global Black community. Protesters turned out in Berlin on Saturday to express their anger and make demands. More than 500 people gathered in front of the Libyan embassy in Berlin on Saturday (25 November) to express their outrage at the widespread violation of the …

Emmerson Mnangawa has been sworn in as interim President of Zimbabwe, replacing long-serving ruler Robert Mugabe, who resigned under pressure this week. The former vice president, whose sack sparked the crisis that led to Mugabe’s forced resignation, was inaugurated into office at a colourful ceremony in the National Sports Stadium in the capital, Harare, on Friday. The event was witnessed …

Mali has blamed “external intervention” for the chaos that reigns throughout Libya given the NATO-led bombing campaign in 2011. Addressing the European Parliament on Wednesday (22 November) in Brussels, Abdoulaye Diop, Malian minister of foreign affairs, said the raids were “carried out without a strategic vision, without a plan, and without the ability to manage the consequences.” The bombing campaign …

Rwanda could host up to 30,000 African migrants currently stuck in Libya where they are exposed to all forms of abuse, including being sold openly in slave markets. Speaking with New Times, a Rwandan newspaper, on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said that talks were currently under way with the African Union Commission. Mushikiwabo said Rwanda, despite not having …

Nicholas Opiyo received the prestigious German Africa Prize on Thursday at a solemn ceremony in the Allianz Forum at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Opiyo, founder of the human rights organization “Chapter Four Uganda”, has worked tirelessly since 2005 to defend civil liberties in Uganda, often for free and on behalf of society’s most vulnerable and marginalized. The award was …

France has called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over slave-trading in Libya as President Emmanuel Macron condemned the auctioning of Africans as a crime against humanity. “France decided this morning to ask for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss this issue,” Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament on Wednesday (22 November). …

After removing visa requirements for African nationals, Rwanda has announced a new visa system that will issue a 30-day visa to citizens of all countries upon arrival without prior application. Rwanda has announced a new visa regime that allows travellers from across the world to be issued a 30-day visa on arrival in Kigali, beginning 1 January 2018. The first …