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The former SPD MP, who made history as the first Black person born in Africa to enter the Bundestag, has been honoured for promoting dialogue, fighting prejudice and broadening understanding of Africa.
Former German parliamentarian Karamba Diaby has been awarded the Federal Order of Merit by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in recognition of his longstanding contribution to integration, social cohesion and intercultural understanding.
Diaby was among 21 people honoured at a ceremony in Berlin on 5 October, held in connection with German Unity Day. The recipients were recognised for their contributions to democracy, community life, reconciliation and international understanding.
The Federal President’s Office particularly highlighted Diaby’s efforts to break down prejudice and improve public understanding of other cultures. One of his central concerns has been promoting a more differentiated image of Africa in German public life, moving beyond stereotypes and encouraging a better-informed understanding of the continent and its people.
From Senegal to the German Bundestag
Born in Marsassoum, Senegal, on 27 November 1961, Diaby came to the German Democratic Republic in the 1980s. He studied chemistry at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and later completed a doctorate in geoecology. He subsequently worked in organisations concerned with education, youth policy, diversity and human rights.
His political career developed in Halle, the eastern German city where he settled. He served on the city council from 2009 to 2015 and became involved in initiatives promoting integration and opposing right-wing extremism.
In 2013, Diaby entered the Bundestag as a Social Democratic Party (SPD) representative for Halle. He was the first Black person born in Africa to become a member of Germany’s federal parliament, marking a milestone in the representation of people of African descent in national politics.
He remained in parliament until 2025, serving for approximately 11½ years. During that time, his responsibilities included human rights and humanitarian assistance, integration and immigration policy, and foreign and development policy, with a particular focus on Africa. He also chaired the Bundestag’s West Africa parliamentary group from 2021 to 2025.
A parliamentary career rooted in local engagement
Although Diaby worked at the highest level of national politics, his constituency remained central to his work. He consistently emphasised direct contact with residents and maintained local offices where people could raise concerns and seek assistance.
In his own assessment of his parliamentary career, published in March 2025, Diaby reported that projects in Halle and the surrounding region had attracted €33 million in funding during his time in parliament. He also highlighted public meetings, constituency visits and parliamentary trips to Berlin as ways of strengthening civic participation.
His work extended beyond party politics. Diaby was active in the Federal Immigration and Integration Council and the local initiative Halle gegen Rechts – Bündnis für Zivilcourage, which campaigns against right-wing extremism.
Continuing to serve beyond parliament
Leaving the Bundestag has not ended Diaby’s public engagement. He remains involved in civil society and community organisations, continuing work on issues including education, diversity, integration and international cooperation.
The award also reflects a wider message in Steinmeier’s speech at the ceremony. The President described Germany as a society whose unity is shaped by people with different backgrounds, united by their commitment to human dignity, freedom and participation. He stressed that democracy remains alive through the willingness of citizens to take responsibility for the common good.
For Germany’s African and migrant communities, Diaby’s recognition carries particular significance. His career demonstrates the growing presence of people with migration histories in the country’s political institutions, while also highlighting the continuing importance of challenging prejudice and ensuring that diverse communities are represented in public life.
The Federal Order of Merit is Germany’s highest general state honour for services to the nation. Diaby’s award recognises a contribution that extends beyond his years in parliament: the work of building bridges between communities and promoting a more inclusive understanding of what it means to belong to Germany.
Femi Awoniyi
