On Friday 28th of May 2021, the Namibian government welcomed the move by Germany to officially recognise the 1904 to 1907 massacres on the Ovaherero and Nama people as genocide. An act described as long overdue.
The genocide according to the Namibian government, had over 100,000 local people killed due to a mass extermination policy initiated by German colonial troops between 1904 and 1908.
The Namibian Presidency’s press secretary, Alfredo Hengari, told Xinhua that the decision by the Germans to officially recognise the colonial-era atrocities as genocide is a step in the right direction in efforts by the two countries to find a way forward in dealing with the issue that has been deliberated on for six years.
“It is important that the Germans have formally recognised that the atrocities were a genocide and are willing to take responsibility for the bad past,’’ he said.
“It is a step in the right direction in the conclusion of the negotiations.’’
Mr Hengari said, the Namibian President, Hage Geingob, was satisfied with the way the two countries have handled the process and is looking forward to giving a feedback to Namibians in the near future on the way forward.
“Although we will never find closure because no one will find closure in a genocide, we are glad that the Germans are owning up and the affected communities . We obviously want the Germans to pay reparations as per the negotiations, and this will be important,’’ he said.
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