“Genocide Remembrance Day: Memory, Truth, and Restorative Justice

[Opinion piece; ed.]

By Paul Isaak [former professor at UNAM; ed.]

4 June 2026

As [N]amibia marked its second Genocide Remembrance Day, the nation pauses in solemn reflection of one of the darkest chapters in its history.

This day is not merely ceremonial, it’s a religious, moral, political, and historical obligation that calls for remembrance, truth-telling, and a renewed commitment to restorative justice.

[…]

While important steps have been taken in recent years, remembrance requires more than partial recognition or carefully worded statements.

It demands that Germany wholeheartedly accept responsibility for committing a genocide against Namibians such as the Ovaherero, Nama, Damara or ≠Nkhoen San peoples between 1904 and 1908.

Only after Germany makes a sincere public declaration acknowledging the genocide and commits to full reparations, in agreement with all Namibian representative bodies, can Namibians meaningfully receive an apology and extend forgiveness.

FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness and the acceptance of an apology, in this context, cannot be rushed or imposed; they must emerge as the final step only after all stakeholders are fully satisfied that justice has been achieved regarding the 1904 to 1908 genocide.

[…]

This reality highlights the necessity for renewed dialogue. The joint declaration of June 2021, while an important step, remains contested and incomplete in the eyes of many Namibians.

On this second anniversary, there is a clear and compelling call for all stakeholders – particularly the Namibian government, the Nama Traditional Leaders Association, the Ovaherero Traditional Authority, and all other stakeholders as well as the government of Germany – to return to the round table.

[…]

[I]nternational bodies such as the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UN Special Rapporteurs and Human Rights Council, the African Union, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights do not generally endorse a state monopoly over genocide negotiations when those negotiations directly affect identifiable victim communities.

Instead, they consistently push for meaningful, structured, and respected participation of those communities, often through their own chosen representatives.

[…]

JUSTICE BEFORE SPEED

The current timeline to conclude the Joint Declaration by the end of 2026 is not acceptable if it prioritises speed over justice, inclusivity, and meaningful redress.

Processes dealing with historical atrocities such as the 1904 to 1908 genocide require depth, transparency, and the full participation of the affected communities.

[…]

[F]reedom, hard won in 1990, must be experienced fully and equally by all, without the lingering wounds of unresolved historical injustice.

Genocide Remembrance Day, therefore, is not only about the past. It must also resonate with Namibia’s national motto – ‘Unity, Liberty, Justice’.

[…]

Ultimately, this day is about shaping the future. It challenges both the Namibian and German governments to confront history honestly, to act justly, and to build a relationship grounded not in denial, compromise, partial recognition, or distorted narratives, but in truth, justice, and restoration.

Only then can this day become not merely a remembrance of suffering, but also a celebration of resilience, dignity, and a shared victory for humanity.

– Paul Isaak is a former professor at the University of Namibia, a former Electoral Commission of Namibia chief electoral officer, and former rector of Paulinum Lutheran Seminary.”

• Full opinion piece “Genocide Remembrance Day: Memory, Truth, and Restorative Justice” by former UNAM professor Paul Isaak on the website of the Namibian (last checked in June 2026).

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