“Almost a decade later: Genocide deal talks not yet finalised

[4 August 2025; ed.]

Hertta-Maria Amutenja

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says Namibia and Germany have not yet reached a final agreement on genocide reparations, nearly ten years after formal negotiations began.

She made the remarks on Friday during the 63rd anniversary of Pan African Women’s Day at the Independence Arena in Windhoek.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said talks with Germany are ongoing with the aim of reaching common ground.

In April, during her State of the Nation Address (Sona), Nandi-Ndaitwah said progress had been made in discussions over the 1904–1908 genocide committed against the Nama and Ovaherero communities.

[…]

At the commemoration event, Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted the work done over nearly two decades.

“A process that Namibia has started 19 years ago when the Namibian parliament passed a motion calling on Germany to accept that they have committed genocide in Namibia, whereby they have to apologise and pay reparations,” she said.

She added that in 2015, the government began formal engagement with Germany on genocide, apology, and reparations in consultation with the descendants of the victims.

“It is hoped that a common ground would be reached between the two parties on the subject matter.”

[…]

A joint declaration was reached in 2021, but it has not been signed or implemented.

Descendant groups have, however, rejected Germany’s proposed €1.1 billion (approximately N$22.0 billion) in development aid over 30 years, saying it does not amount to proper reparations.

Nandi-Ndaitwah did not provide new details on the current status of the declaration but confirmed that talks are ongoing despite delays and criticism.

[…]

She linked the calls for reparations to broader struggles for justice and equality.

The event was held under the theme “Advancing Social and Economic Justice for African Women through Reparation.”

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the African Union’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” reinforces these efforts.

“This theme also calls for the restoration of justice in Africa through reparations,” she said.

[…].”

• Full report “Almost a decade later: Genocide deal talks not yet finalised” on the website of the Windhoek Observer (last checked in August 2025)

• See also the speech of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in the ‘Primary Sources’ section of this website