“Joint Statement of Ovaherero Traditional Authorities [OTA] and Nama Traditional Leaders Association [NTLA] on the South African ICJ’s case against ISRAEL
And
Subsequent state pronouncements by the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Namibia.
WINDHOEK, Namibia, January 14th, 2024.
The Ovaherero and Nama Nations in Namibia and in diaspora join progressive forces around the world in condemning the unfolding genocide in Palestinian territories. Palestine has been occupied by Israel for more than half century under conditions purposefully designed to end human life and frustrate their quest for statehood, national identity and belonging. Palestine is the home of the Palestinian people.
We the Nama and Ovaherero people were subjected to these very same genocidal conditions by Imperial Germany driven primarily by an unquenchable thirst for Lebensraum, just as Zionist Israel is driven by a thirst to drive Palestinians out of existence. South Africa is today a source of great hope for us who are denied justice for the total obliteration of our then sovereign countries of Ehi Ovaherero and Great Namaqualand. This loss is manifested in countless human lives lost and publicly sanctioned theft of our livestock. Our properties today continue to sit in the hands of German settler descendants robbing us off our due inheritance and means of livelihoods.
[…]”
- Document of the Joint Press Statement of OTA and NTLA of 14 January 2024 on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel as PDF Source: Circular e-mail to the media on 14 January 2024
Editor’s note:
In their Joint Press Statement of 14 January 2024, OTA and NTLA refer to the media release of the Namibian Presidency’s of 13 January 2024, in which President Geingob criticises Germany for supporting Israel against South Africa’s genocide case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).