Namibia Commemorates Colonial Genocide with First National Memorial Day

Sat Oct 18 2025 00:43:30 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The newly established Genocide Remembrance Day marks a pivotal moment in Namibia’s journey to acknowledge and heal from its colonial past.

For the first time, Namibia observes Genocide Remembrance Day to honor the memory of over 70,000 Africans murdered during the German colonial period from 1904 to 1908. This national holiday, advocating recognition and healing, follows years of demands for reparations from Germany, which had previously offered development aid but no formal reparations. The observance signals Namibia's commitment to remembering the victims, while continuing to call for justice.

Namibia has officially designated a day of remembrance to recognize the genocide perpetrated during its colonial era, marking a significant step in the nation's historical acknowledgment of the atrocities that occurred between 1904 and 1908. This tragic period, referred to as "Germany's forgotten genocide," witnessed the systematic extermination of over 70,000 Africans, primarily from the Ovaherero and Nama tribes, triggered by their resistance to colonial land and livestock seizures.

On Wednesday, Namibia commemorated its inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day, a date intentionally selected as it marks the 1907 closure of German concentration camps following international uproar against their brutal practices. The observance reflects a broader "journey of healing" embraced by Namibia, with planned candlelight vigils and moments of silence in Windhoek’s parliament.

After a long-standing struggle to have the genocide recognized, Germany acknowledged its colonial past four years ago, offering €1.1 billion in development aid. However, Namibian officials criticized this proposal for lacking a formal apology and genuine reparations, terms they have continuously advocated for. Many citizens voiced skepticism about the 2021 deal, calling it inadequate in addressing historical injustices.

A draft agreement between Namibia and Germany has emerged, which reportedly includes a formal acknowledgment of the genocide, accompanied by an additional €50 million. Yet, many descendants of the victims expressed dissatisfaction, asserting that the negotiations marginalized their voices. Community representatives are seeking not only reparations but also a return of ancestral lands forcibly taken during the colonial period.

Historians highlight a troubling irony; prior to the genocide, Germany extracted reparations from the Ovaherero and Nama for their resistance against colonization, with some estimates valuing this tribute in livestock between $1.2 million and $8.8 million today. The existential reality of the genocide, initiated by an extermination order from German officials, marked the beginning of widespread suffering through forced labor and concentration camps, where death by exhaustion was commonplace.

Amid these developments, calls for accountability continue, with Namibia urging Germany to fully confront its colonial atrocities and address ongoing injustices. Last year, Namibia condemned Germany for its diplomatic actions regarding a similar issue in Gaza, underscoring the continued relevance of colonial legacies in contemporary international relations.