“President optimistic on genocide reparations deal by 2026

By Donald Matthys

30 March 2025

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says she is optimistic that a final agreement on genocide reparations between Namibia and Germany can be reached before the end of 2026 [2025; Nandi-Ndaitwah said in the BBC interview (21:42): “I can not see this process going to next year.”; ed.].

Speaking during a recent interview with the BBC, Nandi-Ndaitwah reflected on the ongoing negotiations over Germany’s acknowledgment and atonement for the 1904–1908 genocide committed against the Nama and Ovaherero people.

“Our parliament discussed Germany’s genocide against the Namibian people. Firstly, for Germany to accept that they committed a genocide in Namibia. Secondly, for Germany to apologise. And thirdly, for Germany to give reparation,” she said.

In 2021, Germany apologised for its role in the slaughter of Herero and Nama people and officially described the massacre as a genocide for the first time.

While both governments previously reached a tentative deal that included Germany pledging £1.1 billion about (N$26 trillion) [€1.1 billion / N$22 trillion, on 30 March 2025; ed.] in development aid over 30 years, the agreement was widely criticised in Namibia.

[…]

“Until now, we have reached 1.1 billion euros. Our parliament felt that is nothing. We have to engage the Germans again,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

According to her, the negotiation process has significantly advanced and a final settlement is within reach.

[…]

However, Landless People’s Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi and 11 traditional authorities have formally written to the government attorney, demanding that the joint declaration be invalidated and set aside.

[…].”

• Full report “President optimistic on genocide reparations deal by 2026” on the website of the Namibian (last checked in March 2025)

• Also listen to the interview of BBC Africa with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (22:59; passage on the negotiations with Germany 17:28 – 21:45). It was conducted in Windhoek on 19 March 2025, two days before her inauguration as Namibia’s first female president. The BBC published the edited audio version on 7 April in its HARDtalk series (last checked in April 2025)

• Video report “Namibia’s President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has said Germany needs to apologise as she reflects on the Namibian genocide, and the country” (1:30) with excerpts from the interview, published on 26 March 2025 by BBC Africa on Facebook (last checked in March 2025)

• See also the Joint Declaration of the Governments of Germany and Namibia, which was initialled in May 2021