Germany’s colonial past remains a deeply painful chapter of our history. It included the occupation of territories in Africa, the Pacific, and China. These territories today correspond to states such as Namibia, Tanzania, Cameroon, Rwanda, Burundi and Togo in Africa, as well as Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and smaller parts of China. Germany was responsible for significant injustices during the colonial era, leaving scars that continue to affect the descendants of those who were colonized.

For much of the post-World War II period, Germany’s collective memory was focused primarily on coming to terms with the atrocities of the Holocaust. The reckoning with our colonial history is a relatively recent endeavor. In recent years, the German society and the German Federal government, have made progress in addressing our colonial past.

There is now a broader public awareness and interest. We would not have been able to get there without civil society initiatives that for many years now have been actively engaged in putting our colonial past on the agenda of discussions. Coming to terms with Germany’s colonial past has also been stipulated as a policy objective in the joint programme of our governing coalition.

Germany has focused on several key areas in addressing our colonial past:
First, in order to understand better how Germany’s colonial past has affected different countries and societies, the Federal government has begun to actively promote independent scientific research on the matter. The Federal Foreign Ministry had its own colonial past examined for the first time. The topic has been systematically integrated in the training of junior German diplomats.

Since 2022, a Scholarship Programme financed by the Federal Foreign Ministry has made an important contribution to establishing research partnerships and critically addressing Germany’s colonial past. In this programme, young academics from Africa and Asia have been conducting research into the role of the Foreign Office and other German ministries during the German colonial period.
Another crucial aspect is the honest and open appraisal of the past. This includes naming and recognizing the injustices that have been committed: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, during his visit to Tanzania in November 2023, asked for forgiveness for German colonial crimes in former German East Africa. In March 2024, German Deputy Foreign Minister Katja Keul also asked for forgiveness on behalf of the German government during a memorial ceremony in Moshi, Tanzania. She further acknowledged the colonial injustice of the executions of King Rudolf Douala Manga Bell and Adolf Ngoso Din in Cameroon in 2022, and confirmed their political rehabilitation by the German government.

Addressing the history of German colonialism in what was German South West Africa between 1884 and 1919 is of central importance to the bilateral relations between Germany and Namibia.
In 2015, both Germany and Namibia entered into a political dialogue with the aim of addressing the atrocities committed by German colonial troops against the Ovaherero and Nama communities from 1904 to 1908 which have to be called genocide. The German Government acknowledges its historical, moral and political responsibility for these crimes. In 2021, both states initialed a political declaration. Since then, the dialogue has been ongoing to finalise the document.

Another priority is the return of cultural artifacts acquired during the colonial period. For example, there are around 40,000 such items from Cameroon alone in German museums. Germany is actively working to return these items to their rightful homes and has initiated dialogues with the countries of origin to facilitate this process.

Notably, the first returns of the so called Benin Bronzes to Nigeria took place in 2022, with 20 bronzes being returned from five German museums by the German Foreign Minister. In July of this year, a historic prow of a boat stolen by a German naval officer in 1888, was returned to Samoa by German Deputy Foreign Minister Katja Keul.

A respectful return of ancestral remains is particularly important to us. We have clearly stated that they are to be returned unconditionally. When preparing, the needs of the communities of origin require particular sensitivity. There is a huge task for provenance research here, the importance and urgence of which cannot be overestimated. In many cases, the descendants have been waiting for decades to be able to give their ancestors a worthy farewell and honorable memory.

Let me now turn to another point – Germany’s commitment with regard to people of African Descent, and fighting racism. As we approach the declaration of a second International Decade for People of African Descent, Germany reaffirms its commitment to combating all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and intolerance. We recognize that the scars of colonialism still affect African-descended communities worldwide, and that confronting this history is crucial for achieving a just society.

Germany has taken major steps towards implementing the goals of the UN Decade for People of African Descent. For instance, we have established a ministerial Cabinet Committee to combat racism and extremism, appointed the first ministerial-level Commissioner for Anti-Racism, and set up a dedicated office for coordinating the UN Decade's activities. This office is supported by an advisory board comprising civil society organizations representing the African diaspora.

Between 2021 and 2024, Germany has invested over 1 billion EUR to combat right-wing extremism, racism, antisemitism, and other forms of group-based enmity, as well as to support affected communities and promote civil society initiatives. We have also updated our criminal code to better address hate speech and hate crimes, and we were among the first to regulate social media platforms more strictly to curb online hate speech.

Despite these efforts, much remains to be done. While we have made progress, Germany strongly supports the renewal of the UN Decade so that we can continue to build on the important work that has already begun, with a special emphasis on addressing the enduring consequences of colonialism.

Let me finally turn to a more general point. Germany strongly believes in multilateralism, which is a core part of our political DNA. We are deeply convinced that global challenges can only be tackled through cooperation and dialogue. Strengthening the multilateral system is essential, and a key contribution to this effort was the UN Pact for the Future, co-facilitated by Germany and Namibia. We believe that dialogue between governments – both bilaterally and here in the United Nations – is the best way to engage in a meaningful dialogue on how to right past wrongs.

Let me mention on example that shows that multilateral co-operation can make a big difference. Haiti is a country stricken by decades of conflicts. It is still grappling with the dire consequences of its colonial past, though it was the first country to shrug off the yoke of colonial rule.

Kenya has decided to take the lead on a Multinational Security Support mission aimed at restoring peace and security in Haiti, which is mandated by the UN Security Council. We believe this is an impressive example of international solidarity and Africa’s readiness to assume responsibility for conflicts also outside Africa.

Germany is not directly affected by the crisis in Haiti. However, our solidarity with the Haitian people is of great importance to us. As part of our commitment to this cause, Germany has contributed 10 million EUR to the UN Trust Fund for the MSS and has become its third largest donor.

Ultimately, perhaps the most fundamental aspect of all our efforts is our commitment to dialogue. We are acutely aware that we still have a long way to go. The discussions we are having this week provide an excellent opportunity to create space for those conversations, to exchange perspectives, and to learn from each other.