Namibia held its first official commemoration of the Herero and Nama genocide on Wednesday, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah renewing calls for Germany to pay reparations for atrocities committed over a century ago.
The ceremony, held at the Parliament Gardens in Windhoek, marked the massacre of tens of thousands of Herero and Nama people by German colonial forces between 1904 and 1908. The mass killings, triggered by uprisings against German rule, are widely recognized as the first genocide of the 20th century.
“We take some comfort in Germany’s recognition that a genocide took place,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah said. “But we must remain united in pursuing a just resolution, including reparations.”
Germany formally acknowledged the genocide in 2021 and pledged over €1 billion in development aid over three decades. However, Berlin insists the funds are not reparations — a stance Namibia has rejected.
Negotiations on reparations have been ongoing since 2013, with no final agreement reached. The issue remains deeply sensitive, especially in light of Germany’s international positions on other conflicts, including its support for Israel amid genocide accusations.
Wednesday’s remembrance drew around 1,000 attendees, including the German ambassador. Participants lit candles, observed a minute of silence, and honored the victims with traditional songs and speeches.
An estimated 60,000 Herero and 10,000 Nama were killed during the genocide. Some victims were beheaded, and their skulls sent to Germany for pseudo-scientific research aimed at promoting racial superiority theories. Germany repatriated some of these human remains in 2011 and 2018.
The date, May 28, was chosen for Genocide Remembrance Day as it marks the 1907 closure of German-run concentration camps following international outrage over inhumane conditions. The day has now been declared a national public holiday in Namibia.