About 131,600 foreigners became naturalised German citizens in 2021, according to a new report by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). The figure represents an increase of roughly 21,700 naturalisations, or 20%, compared with the previous year. More than half of the increase is attributable to the large number of naturalisations of Syrians; 19,100 Syrian citizens were naturalised in 2021, which …

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, more than 600,000 Ukrainians and people of other nationalities resident in the country have entered Germany to seek refuge. Among the refugees are Africans, most of whom are students. Africans fleeing the war have been reportedly discriminated against while crossing the country’s borders into safety. Beyond their unsavoury …

Germany announced on 11 June that it had provisionally lifted all COVID-19 entry restrictions to the country. Travel from non-EU countries to Germany is now permitted for all purposes (including tourism and visits) and no proof of vaccination, recovery or testing is required any longer. “Visas as required for entry into Germany may be applied for with the German Consulate …

Ecobank Nigeria, an affiliate of the leading Pan-African banking Group, Ecobank Group, is extending its promotion of culture and tradition to the Lagos community through Adire festival. Themed ‘EPAC Adire Lagos Experience’, the exhibition will be held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos from Friday, June 10 till Sunday, June 12, 2022. Originating from Abeokuta in Southwestern …

Building strong associations is a major challenge to self-organisation in the African community in Europe. There’re many groups but they’re not working together and therefore unable to fulfil their primary mission of empowering their communities. A new association in Germany wants to change all that. African-German Association (AGA) e.V. is bringing a new approach to building a strong community. It …

The federal government plans to reform the country’s migration laws. Among the features of the reform is the grant under certain conditions of regular residence permit to well-integrated asylum-seekers who have been living in Germany for more than five years with a so-called ‘tolerated stay permit’ (Duldung). A total of up to 105,000 people, whose deportation has been repeatedly suspended …

European Investment Bank provides €75 million to Institut Pasteur de Dakar for new vaccine manufacturing facility. The facility is expected to significantly reduce Africa’s dependence on imported vaccines and support equal access to vaccines DAKAR, Senegal, June 3, 2022/ — Large-scale financing for the new vaccine manufacturing facility of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, a leader in the field in …

Excellent news for all workers in Germany. The federal parliament, the Bundestag, on Friday passed a bill raising minimum wage from 8.82 euros to 9.82 euros per hour from 1 July and to 12 euros on 1 October. The increase will affect 6.2 million people, out of an active working population of 45.2 million people. The bill was passed by …

The new Nigerian national carrier, Nigeria Air, has scaled one of the mandatory regulatory hurdles on Monday when it was presented the Air Transport Licence (ATL). The licence was presented by the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, to the interim management of the airline, led by Capt. Dapo Olumide, in Abuja. The approval …

Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today (7 June) announced the launch of Virgin Music Label & Artist Services in Africa, a new dedicated distribution service for independent African artists and labels across the continent. The label services division launches with more than 15000 titles, 50 label partners and 100+ artists from more than 25 African …