President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Wednesday renewed demands for reparations from Germany for its colonial-era genocide in Namibia, as the country marked its first official Genocide Remembrance Day. The ceremony, held in the gardens of Namibia’s Parliament, commemorated the atrocities committed over a century ago against the Herero and Nama people by German imperial troops.
Between 1904 and 1908, tens of thousands of indigenous Namibians were systematically exterminated after rebelling against German colonial rule. It is widely recognized as the first genocide of the 20th century.
“We should find a degree of comfort in the fact that the German government has agreed that the German troops committed a genocide against the … people of our land,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah said. “But we must remain committed that as a nation, we shall soldier on until the ultimate conclusion is reached.”
Namibia Demands Reparations as Germany Acknowledges Genocide
While Germany officially recognized the genocide in 2021 after prolonged negotiations, a formal reparations agreement has not been reached. Talks began in 2013, but Germany has instead offered over €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) in development aid over a 30-year period. Berlin insists the funds are not reparations but a gesture of reconciliation.
Namibia has rejected this offer, maintaining that true reparations are necessary to acknowledge the extent of the atrocities and their lasting impact on the descendants of the Herero and Nama communities.
“The pain of the genocide still lingers in the lives of our people,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah said. “The recognition of this genocide without adequate reparative justice remains incomplete.”
The genocide began after the Herero and Nama revolted against German colonial oppression. In retaliation, German troops, led by General Lothar von Trotha, carried out brutal massacres. Survivors were driven into the desert or placed in concentration camps where starvation, forced labor, and disease decimated their populations.
It is estimated that 60,000 Herero and 10,000 Nama were killed during the campaign. Many victims were subjected to horrific scientific racism experiments, and some were beheaded, with their skulls sent to German researchers in Berlin. These practices were part of a discredited effort to promote white racial superiority through pseudo-science.
In a symbolic gesture, Germany returned human remains, including skulls, to Namibia in 2011 and 2018. However, many Namibians believe that the return of remains is insufficient without concrete reparative action.
Namibia Observes First Official Genocide Remembrance Day
Wednesday’s ceremony was the first state-sanctioned observance of the genocide, marking May 28 as Genocide Remembrance Day in Namibia. The date holds historical significance: on May 28, 1907, German authorities ordered the closure of the genocide-era concentration camps following global condemnation of their cruelty.
The commemoration, now a national public holiday in Namibia, drew around 1,000 attendees, including survivors’ descendants, local dignitaries, and the German ambassador. Candles were lit in memory of the victims, and a minute of silence was held. The event featured cultural performances, speeches, and songs to honor those lost.
“The act of remembrance is an act of resistance,” said one speaker. “It is a way to ensure that history is neither forgotten nor repeated.”
Despite Germany’s acknowledgment of the genocide, many Namibians feel the international community has not exerted sufficient pressure for a just outcome. Critics argue that Germany’s development aid package is an attempt to avoid financial accountability for its colonial crimes.
Namibia, a sparsely populated nation of nearly three million people, continues to seek justice for the trauma embedded in its national memory. For many, reparations represent not only compensation but also a moral and historical reckoning.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah concluded her speech with a call for unity: “This is a national issue. We must remain united in our demand for justice. Namibia will not rest until our voices are heard and reparations are delivered.”
Namibia’s struggle for reparations is gaining renewed international attention as more nations confront the legacies of colonialism. The country’s resolute stance serves as a reminder that historical injustices demand meaningful redress, not just symbolic gestures.
As Namibia honors the memory of its fallen ancestors, the government and its people continue to push for a future built on justice, recognition, and restoration. The path may be long, but Namibia’s message is clear: the past must be acknowledged—and paid for.
Source- EWN
