News

The death rate among migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe almost doubled this year, although fewer migrants made the journey, according to a new report released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The number of migrants who crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe in 2017 has decreased compared to the same period last year. However, the …

Nigeria’s separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has officially been tagged an illegal and terrorist entity by a Federal High Court in the capital, Abuja. The government, represented by the Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, had filed a suit against IPOB, praying the court to declare IPOB’s activities as illegal and amounting to terrorism. A further order was to …

Nigeria’s new ambassador to Germany, Hon. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, discusses taking up the post in Berlin, which has been vacant for three years, and how the growing relationship between the two countries can be strengthened further. Ambassador Tuggar also talks about his aim to encourage more German investment in Africa in the exclusive interview with the German international broadcaster Deutsche …

Cyprus is at the centre of controversy surrounding the issuing of EU passports to wealthy foreigners, reports Emma Beswick According to UK newspaper, The Guardian, Cyprus received over 4 billion euros since 2013 by granting “golden visas” to the super rich, in exchange for cash. Applicants have to invest 2 million euros in property, or 2.5 million euros in companies …

Tunisia has lifted a ban on Muslim women marrying non-Muslim men after years of campaign against the marriage law imposed in 1973. President Beji Caid Essebsi had promised a month ago that the ban will be lifted in respect of the 2014 constitution that guarantees women’s freedom. Spokesperson of the presidency, Saida Garrach is reported to have confirmed the lifting …

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has finally spoken on the political crisis in Togo urging the government and opposition to dialogue on necessary constitutional reforms. Head of the ECOWAS Commission, Marcel Alain de Souza, was in the Togolese capital, Lome, on Wednesday (13 September). During his visit, he met President Faure Gnassingbé and the opposition leaders. The …

The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has called on the European Union member states to contribute to Africa or face risks of migrant influx. Juncker said on Wednesday during the EU’s State of the Union Address that Europe could face a repeat of the 2015 high influx of migrants when the UN’s World Food Programme ran out of funds. “Our …

Collins Nweke, Belgian politician of Nigerian origin, writes on the expected changes in bilateral relations between Nigeria and Belgium as the new Nigerian ambassador to Brussels assumes office. Nigeria and Belgium have a 56-year diplomatic relations. When the new Ambassador of Nigeria to Belgium presented her Letters of Credence to His Majesty, Phillipe I, King of the Belgians today, Wednesday …

A woman from Ghana gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday morning (6 September) onboard a Spanish NGO vessel immediately after she was rescued trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Italy. Despite a lack of sterile hospital conditions, the on-board doctor, with the help of crew members, successfully delivered the baby girl before returning to harbour, …

Hundreds of thousands of citizens turned out in the Togolese capital, Lome, on Wednesday in the latest round of anti-government protest called by main opposition parties. An opposition leader, Jean-Pierre Fabre, is quoted as describing the turnout as ‘unprecedented.’ A key activist Farida Nabourema put the estimates at a million people. The turnout comes despite two key actions by the …

Angola’s election body has released the final results of the 23 August polls. The ruling MPLA won by 61% picking 150 seats in the 220-seat parliament. Joao Lourenco was also declared president-elect. Angola’s National Electoral Commission (CNE) on Wednesday released official and final results of the country’s 23 August polls confirming that the governing MPLA won by over 61%. The …

Kenya’s electoral body the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set a date for the repeat presidential election as ordered by the country’s Supreme Court last week. The electoral commission said on Monday that the repeat exercise will be carried out on 17 October. The commission further stated that only President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga will …

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Prof. Horst Köhler as his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara. Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel offered Horst Köhler his congratulations: “Horst Köhler has long devoted himself to the African continent with dedication and passion – for many years as President and latterly on behalf of the African Development Bank. He is just the right …

Eritreans who have completed their military service can safely be sent home from Switzerland if their requests for asylum are rejected, a Swiss court has ruled. Eritreans are the biggest group of asylum seekers in Switzerland, with nearly 14,500 citizens in the asylum process as of the end of July 2017, government data showed. Nearly 9,000 of them have won …

One of the recipients of the MoneyGram-sponsored “Afrika! Community Award 2017” is an organization that promotes Pan-Africanism from the German city of Munich but with a global reach. Femi Awoniyi writes on how a Diaspora initiative is making a positive impact on the worldwide community of people of African descent. Four organisations emerged winners of the maiden edition of the …

In the second and concluding  part of his report on Ghanaians in Germany, journalist, translator and community activist Sam Atsu Nove* writes on the changes in the patterns of Ghanaian migration in the past 40 years and the contribution of the Diaspora to Germany’s and their home  country’s development. ———————————– The economic crisis of the 1970s and 1980s in Ghana …

The historic decision of the Kenyan Supreme Court to annul the result of last month’s presidential election, citing irregularities, has been welcomed in the international community. Even though President Uhuru Kenyatta says he disagrees with the verdict he has pledged to respect it. The country must now hold a new presidential election within two months. It has now emerged that …

Europe and the Africa intend to step up co-operation in the fight against criminal human traffickers – Europe is to provide more support for the African countries. That is the outcome of a meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris with leaders of other European and African states. “We must fight illegal migration and …

A group of Togolese opposition parties has called for a march in the capital Lome on 30 and 31 August to demand political reforms, according to a statement released Wednesday evening. Cap 2015, a coalition of five parties, the Pan-African National Party (PNP) and another group of six parties also demanded the release of those arrested on 19 August during …

An information campaign to raise public awareness of the dangers of irregular migration will kick off  at the Centre for Management Development in Lagos on 12 September. Initiated by African-German Information Center (AGIC), Hamburg, and The African Courier Verlag, Berlin, with the support of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the campaign under the aegis of the “Migration Enlightenment Project in Nigeria (MEPN)” …