“Germany admits to genocide for the first time in 120 years
By Shelleygan Petersen and Charmaine Ngatjiheue
3 July 2024
The German government has for the first time in 120 years admitted that the 1904-1908 massacre that killed more than 60 000 Nama and Herero people should be classified as a genocide.
Initially, the two governments acknowledged, in a joint declaration, that by today’s standards, the massacres would be classified as a genocide.
[…]
In 2021, Ovaherero Traditional Authority secretary general Mutjinde Katjiua and Nama Traditional Leaders Association secretary general Deodat Dirkse said because Germany stated they recognise the genocide in “today’s perspective” [see Joint Declaration, p. 3; ed.], this means they do not recognise any obligation to make reparations in the current reconciliation agreement.
[…]
German embassy spokesperson Gundula Perry yesterday confirmed to The Namibian that Germany has acknowledged what happened was a genocide.
“The German government calls the atrocities committed by German troops against the Ovaherero and Nama for what they are – a genocide – and acknowledges its moral and historical responsibility,” Perry said.
[…]
Perry told The Namibian that their position was solidified when that country’s president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, asserted that Germany must apologise unconditionally and mentioned this in his speech at the late president Hage Geingob’s funeral.
[…].”
- Full report on the website of the Namibian (last checked in July 2024)
- See also the report “‘High time to apologise to Namibia’ – German president” from 24 February 2024 in the Namibian (last checked in April 2024)
- See also the address of German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the funeral of Namibian President Hage Geingob (last checked in September 2024)