Germany expels Chad’s envoy in retaliatory move

Germany expels Chad’s envoy in retaliatory move

German officials have asked the Chadian ambassador in Berlin to depart the country, in retaliation for Chad’s request that German ambassador Jan-Christian Gordon Kricke leave their own nation last Friday. “We regret that it had to come to this,” said the German ministry in a statement issued Wednesday. It explained…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Germany suspends UN peacekeeping role in Mali

Germany suspends UN peacekeeping role in Mali

Germany has suspended its participation in MINUSMA, the United Nations mission in Mali, after a rotation flight carrying soldiers to and from the Sahel nation didn’t receive overflight and landing rights from the government. “Once again, the Malian rulers have denied MINUSMA overflight rights,” said German defense minister Christine Lambrecht….

Namibia’s opposition rejects German reparations deal

Namibia’s opposition rejects German reparations deal

Namibian opposition leaders rejected a deal negotiated with Germany over the colonial-era deaths of Herero and Nama peoples during a contentious parliamentary session on Tuesday. The agreement, sought for decades and announced in late May, included a concession from Germany that what happened from 1904 to 1908 did in fact…

U.S. to begin AFRICOM move from Germany

Some 6,500 service personnel will likely return to assignments in the United States as the U.S. Africa Command based in Stuttgart, Germany, plans a move of AFRICOM headquarters announced this week. U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of AFRICOM, acknowledged President Donald Trump’s decision to move from Germany while assuring…

Germany Africa Business Forum announces funds for energy startups

The Germany Africa Business Forum (GABF) announced Thursday a multimillion-Euro funding commitment to invest in German energy startups that focus on Africa. The GABF, based in Berlin and Johannesburg, South Africa, said the funds are the first of their kind for the advocacy group seeking to advance German partnerships with…

Germany agrees it’s ‘the right time’ to be in Ethiopia

In Addis Ababa, President Sahle-Work Zewde met with his German counterpart Monday, and told President Frank-Walter Steinmeier that it was the right time for his nation to come to Ethiopia. That seemed evident when Steinmeier also participated in signing ceremonies with Volkswagen, as the German automaker announced an assembly plant…

In Greece, Merkel admits EU migration policy isn’t working

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking in Greece, conceded that a migration deal struck between Turkey and the European Union in 2016 isn’t working as planned but Europe will continue to support its implementation. That deal affecting Middle Eastern and North African migrants immediately ended crossings from Turkey into Greece, with…

China pushes back after German media questions its African interests

China has pushed back against a German-media article that claimed China is “pocketing” Africa in unscrupulous ways, all intended to deliver undue political influence through unethical practices. The November 7 article written by Nils Kottmann for Bild, a tabloid frequently criticized for its sensationalism, asserted that China was spying on…

Merkel heads to Senegal, May moves on to Nigeria and Kenya

All eyes have been on British Prime Minister Theresa May during her visit to Johannesburg, where she signed a joint statement on trade with South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini – but on Wednesday, it’s German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s turn to visit the continent. Merkel begins a three-nation tour…