“Genocide Remembrance Day – 28 May 2026

Streamed live on May 28, 2026

Genocide Remembrance Day is observed in Namibia on 28 May and was declared a public holiday with effect from 28 May 2025.

The day serves as a moment of national reflection to honour the victims of the genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama communities during the German colonial era and to remember the atrocities committed on Namibian soil.

This year, the Genocide Remembrance Day is commemorated across the country with events scheduled in different regions.

The NBC provides extensive coverage from various locations across the country as events take place.” – NBC Digital News on YouTube  (last checked in June 2026)

Recording of the NBC broadcast on 28 May 2026, published on the ‘NBC Digital News’ channel on YouTube.

The recording comprises of studio interviews, speeches and background reports. The focus is on live streams and recordings of remembrance events. These events were organised by the regions Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Oshana, Kunene, Erongo and Omaheke, as well as Hardap and ǁKharas.

Time stamps

0:10:10 Interview with Charles Eiseb, Team Leader and Representative of the Genocide-Affected Communities at the Negotiation Table and Member of the Technical Committee of the Genocide, Apology and Reparations negotiations.

0:21:30 Interview with Bernhard Kavau, the Board Chairperson of the Student Union of Namibia (SUN).

0:34:10 Brief interviews with participants of Genocide Remembrance Day events.

0:37:40 Interview with Educator and Youth Activist Uakotora Riruako.

0:52:15 Swakopmund, Erongo Region – Procession at the cemetery.

1:05:15 Interview with lawyer Norman Tjombe about international law, human rights, genocide and restorative justice.

1:29:50 Ozombuzovindimba, Omaheke Region. [Ozombuzovindimba (OtjiHerero: ozombu = waterhole, ovindimba = deep skin rashes) is a place near Otjinene. At this location, on 2 October 1904, the German Commander-in-Chief of the Schutztruppe, Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha, issued the ‘extermination order’ (‘Schießbefehl’) against the OvaHerero; ed.]

1:33:30 (continued) Interview with lawyer Norman Tjombe about international law, human rights, genocide and restorative justice, reparations, truth seeking.

1:43:30 Swakopmund, Erongo Region – Procession to event site at the cemetery.

1:49:20 Eenhana, Ohangwena Region.

1:56:10 Swakopmund, Erongo Region.

1:59:50 Lüderitz, ǁKharas Region – Speech of two representatives of the youth.

2:10:15 Ozombuzovindimba, Omaheke Region – Governor of the Omaheke Region, Pijoo Nganate.

2:25:25 Lüderitz, ǁKharas Region – !Aman Gaob Johannes Frederiks.
2:36:50 Lüderitz, ǁKharas Region – Paramount Chief of OvaHerero, Hozé Riruako.

2:50:40 Eenhana, Ohangwena Region – Deputy Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Charles Mubita.

Keynote speech: Vice President Witbooi

2:54:20 Eenhana, Ohangwena Region – Keynote Speaker: Vice President Lucia Witbooi.

3:18:00 Olukonda, Oshikoto Region – Regional Governor Sacky Kathindi.

3:23:55 Lüderitz, ǁKharas Region – German Ambassador Thorsten Hutter

Keynote speech: Former Minister Helmut Angula

3:30:10 Olukonda, Oshikoto Region – Keynote Speaker: former Minister Helmut Angula.

4:00:00 Ozombuzovindimba, Omaheke Region – Chairperson of Regional Council, Rocco Nguvauva.
4:11:15 Ozombuzovindimba, Omaheke Region – Governor Kavango East, Julius Hamunyera Hambyuka.

Keynote speech: NA Vice Speaker Phillipus Wido Katamelo

4:20:30 Lüderitz, ǁKharas Region – Keynote Speaker: Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Phillipus Wido Katamelo.

Keynote speech: Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare

4:40:45 Ozombuzovindimba, Omaheke Region – Keynote Speaker: Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare.
5:13:00 Ozombuzovindimba, Omaheke Region – Candle lighting ceremony.

5:20:40 Opuwo, Kunene Region – Governor of Kunene Region, Vipuakuje Muharukua (speech in OtjiHerero).

Keynote speech: NPC Director Kaire Mbuende

5:41:00 Opuwo, Kunene Region – Keynote Speaker: Director of the National Planning Commission, Kaire Mbuende.

6:05:00 Swakopmund, Erongo Region – Chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders, ≠Aonin (Topnaar) Gaob ≠Nu Axab /Gaseb.
6:19:10 Swakopmund, Erongo Region – Chief of the Zeraeua Traditional Authority, Manasse Christian Zeraua.
6:37:10 Swakopmund, Erongo Region – Governor of the Erongo Region, Nathalia |Goagoses.

Keynote speech: Retired MP Usutuaije Maamberua

6:41:20 Swakopmund, Erongo Region – Keynote Speaker: retired SWANU Member of Parliament, Usutuaije Maamberua, who tabled a motion in parliament in April 2016 to enact a genocide remembrance day. Recalling events and recordings which serve as proof of the intention and execution of the OvaHerero and Nama genocide.

7:14:40 Compilation of statements by various personalities, sketching the pre-colonial and colonial eras of Namibian history.

7:18:15 Omakange, Omusati – Governor of Omusati Region, Immanuel Shikongo.

Keynote speech: MIRT Vice Minister Jenelly Matundu

7:40:30 Omakange, Omusati – Keynote Speaker: Deputy Minister of International Relations and Trade, Jenelly Matundu, explaining the negotiations and the Joint Declaration between Namibia and Germany.

8:01:10 Interview with four young Namibians and members of the affected communities about what they know about the German colonial era and the genocide.

8:25:00 Ondangwa, Oshana Region – Governor Hofni Iipinge.

Keynote speech: MEIYSAC Minister Sanet Steenkamp

8:36:15 Ondangwa, Oshana Region – Keynote Speaker: Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts & Culture, Sanet Steenkamp.

9:01:00 Ozombuzovindimba, Omaheke Region – Chairperson of the Khomas Regional Council, Stefanus Ndengu.

• Full recording of live report “Genocide Remembrance Day – 28 May 2026” (9:12:17) on the NBC Digital News channel on YouTube (last checked in June 2026)

• Note also “President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s message on Genocide Remembrance Day” in the ‘Primary Sources’ section of this website.

• See also the Joint Declaration of the Governments of Germany and Namibia in the ‘Primary Sources’ section of this website.

• Note also report “Parliament proposes ‘genocide remembrance day’” from 28 April 2016 by the Namibian on SWANU Member of Parliament, Usutuaije Maamberua, tabling a motion in parliament to enact a genocide remembrance day, in the ‘Media Reports’ section of this website.

• See also the articles “1904 December 9 – Order to erect concentration camps” and “1908 May 28 – Concentration camps officially dissolved” in the ‘Namibia’s Past’ section of this website.

‘Genocide Remembrance Day – 28 May 2026’. Recording of a nine-hour live report by NBC Digital News covering all regional memorial events. Pictured is Vice President Lucia Witbooi, delivering the keynote speech at the commemoration event in Eenhana, Ohangwena Region. Screenshot of recording on NBC’s YouTube channel