Namibia Marks Genocide Day, Urges German Reparations

Namibia recently observed its first official Genocide Remembrance Day to honor the estimated 75,000 victims of mass killings and atrocities committed by German colonial troops between 1904 and 1908 against the OvaHerero and Nama peoples. Despite Germany's 2021 recognition of these events as genocide and its offer of a €1.1 billion development aid package, Namibian leaders and descendants of victims have rejected the offer, demanding direct reparations rather than funding for national projects. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized the ongoing commitment to pursue justice and reparations in negotiations that began in 2013, while representatives from affected communities called for compensation that acknowledges the historical suffering, including the removal and return of human remains taken to Germany. The German ambassador acknowledged the atrocities and stressed the importance of remembrance, though reparations remain unresolved amid complex and sometimes acrimonious talks. Critics argue that the genocide, which predates and influenced Nazi practices, deserves recognition and accountability equivalent to that of the Holocaust. The commemorations included candlelight vigils and speeches, reaffirming the need for continued dialogue toward a just resolution.