This week, the first ever African-born and Black member of Germany’s parliament announced his resignation. The lawmaker, Karamba Diaby, shared the news via a letter to his staff which said he would not seek re-election next year. This announcement follows a wide array of racist attacks against Diaby and his team. Although Diaby hasn’t directly named the racism he faced as the reason for his resignation, this event highlights a key issue Germany is facing with representation.
Diaby noted that he plans to use this time to focus on family and help raise up the next generation of politicians.
“I look back on 11 enriching and successful years in federal politics,” he said in the letter reported by the German Press Agency according to The Independent. “After three legislative periods, it’s time to make way for the next political generation and explore new paths.”
Karamba Diaby, 62, was born and raised in Senegal before moving to East Germany for school in 1985. He entered the Bundestag-which is the German federal parliament-in 2013 following a groundbreaking election. Diaby belongs to the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP) which is described as a ‘center-left’ party with socialist ideals. During his tenure, Diaby has been known specifically for his extensive work in human rights and humanitarian aid. Diaby is also deputy chairman for the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with the Francophone States of West and Central Africa.
Several weeks before Diaby revealed his plan to resign, he shared on social media that he and members of his team have been subject to racist attacks both online and in person. Threats of harming people’s homes, blackmail and even death have been sent to Diaby and his team in efforts to get his colleagues not to work for him. However, these threats aren’t new to Diaby.
In recent years Diaby has been in the midst of a wave of racism in Germany that some politicians credit to the rise in popularity of far-right populist party, Alternative for Germany. Back in 2020, Diaby found his office “riddled with bullet holes.” In 2023, an arson attempt was also made on his office.
Still, it’s important to note Diaby highlighted that he would never let this racism intimidate his work. He still plans on being an active member of the SDP party following his resignation.
“I can only reiterate that I will not be intimidated, because I know that the vast majority of people support me, and I am also receiving an incredible amount of support,” he said according to DW News.
“This is a personal decision that has been made with my family,” Diaby said about his resignation. “And that outweighs the reasons why I made this decision. It should also be noted that I will be 64 years old by the end of this term, and I think this is the right time to try something new and, above all, to give younger people the opportunity to take on responsibility.”
