The German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft e.V.) views with great concern the growing support in Germany for far-right, right-wing populist, nationalist, anti-democratic and anti-European political movements.

As an organisation whose statutes commit it to promoting international understanding, and whose central objective is to foster Germany’s foreign economic relations with African countries, we firmly distance ourselves from political ideologies that call into question Germany’s commitment to providing refuge to those facing political persecution, the prohibition of discrimination on any grounds as enshrined in the German Basic Law, and Germany’s openness to legal immigration.

In particular, we condemn in the strongest possible terms racist attacks and discrimination against people of African heritage who live and work in Germany. We stand firmly in support of our many employees and colleagues of African heritage, whose contributions enrich our companies, the Afrika-Verein team and our society as a whole. We strongly oppose all forms of xenophobic or racist discrimination and denigration.

We are committed to international trade, open markets and international cooperation, including an explicit commitment to supporting less prosperous countries and, in particular, the African continent. We regard European integration, the European Single Market and the openness of our markets within a rules-based global trading system as fundamental pillars of our economic prosperity.

Germany’s reputation as an open and tolerant society committed to international cooperation is an essential component of the reputation and competitiveness of our companies. It is also a fundamental prerequisite for ensuring that Germany remains attractive both to skilled professionals from abroad and to international direct investment. We need both to safeguard the long-term competitiveness and future viability of Germany as a business location.

Against this background, the German-African Business Association conducts its political advocacy, within the framework of its statutory mandate, exclusively with political party organisations and media outlets that are unequivocally committed to the constitutional order established by Germany’s Basic Law.

We expressly do not seek the approval or support of political parties that espouse radical, anti-constitutional or xenophobic positions.