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7/31/13

German Elections: Senegal-born chemist hopes to become Germany’s first black lawmaker - by Frank Jordans

Karamba Diaby makes his way through the historic heart of Halle with the speed of a seasoned politician: slowly. More than two decades involvement in local politics means the 51-year-old immigrant can’t go more than a few steps without being stopped for a chat.

Two months before Germany’s general elections each handshake and greeting carries added significance because Diaby is intent on becoming the country’s first black member of Parliament. He listens patiently to his constituents and responds in fluent German with a strong Franco-African accent, courtesy of his Senegalese origins.

“I didn’t throw my hat in the ring,” he said, a touch apologetically. “I was asked by others.”
The decision to place him near the top of the ticket is all the more remarkable because, like other states in the former East Germany, Saxony-Anhalt has a reputation for being more hostile toward immigrants — especially those from outside Europe — than western parts of the country.

While the trained chemist is reluctant to criticize his adopted home — he moved to Halle in 1986 and gained German citizenship in 2001 — Diaby nevertheless acknowledges that he was once physically attacked because of the colour of his skin.

Read more: Senegal-born chemist hopes to become Germany’s first black lawmaker - The Globe and Mail

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