Employees resign in protest
In a video message to the Afghan community in Germany, Acting Consul General Hamid Nangialay Kabiri emphasized that the consulate has not only looked after Afghans in Germany in recent years, but has also supported diplomatic missions in Europe, North America and Australia.
Even after the Taliban took power in August 2021, independence was maintained. Sensitive data of Afghan nationals was protected and never handed over to the new Taliban government, Kabiri said.
Kabiri described the German government's decision to involve Taliban representatives in the work of the consulate as "unacceptable" and a "serious threat to the security of sensitive data and documents".
For this reason, the entire staff - from management to employees - have resigned as one. All documents and assets are now to be handed over to the Federal Foreign Office to ensure their safekeeping.
German government plans talks with government in Kabul
The Afghan consulate in Bonn was previously staffed by diplomats who had been appointed to their posts before the fall of Kabul. They represented the former Afghan government, which has no longer been in office since the Taliban took power in 2021. They are no longer formally recognized by the Taliban government in Kabul, but are continuing their work in Germany nonetheless.
Until recently, the German government itself had no official diplomatic relations with the Taliban. However, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) recently announced his intention to carry out deportations to Afghanistan more frequently.
In order to implement this, the Federal Ministry of the Interior is planning to hold direct talks with the Taliban government in Afghanistan for the first time. A spokesperson for the ministry recently confirmed to the Bild newspaper that representatives of the ministry will travel to Kabul for talks in October.
Alternative points of contact for passports and other documents
With the closure of the Consulate General in Bonn, all local services will be discontinued. However, Afghan nationals in Germany will still be able to apply for passports at the consulate in Munich. Other documents such as birth certificates or certificates of identity can be issued via the embassy in Berlin.
