Berlin has admitted for the first time, on Friday 28 May, that it committed a “genocide” in Namibia against the Herero and Nama peoples during the colonial period between 1884 and 1915. The Germans differ from other former colonizing countries, unwilling to admit their mistakes and sometimes their crime. This announcement is the result of long negotiations between the two states.
as reported from Berlin, Pascal Thibaut
It took more than five years of long and arduous negotiations before an agreement was reached. “We will now officially qualify these events for what they are: genocide,” said Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
Germany, a colonial power from 1884, violently suppressed uprisings of the Herero and Nama tribes in the early 20th century using genocide methods with mass murder and concentration camps. Tens of thousands of people were the victims.
A € 1.1 billion program to support development
“We will apologize to Namibia for the atrocities committed. This historical and moral responsibility will lead us to ask for forgiveness from Namibia and the descendants of the victims, says Heiko Maas. President Steinmeier was able to make it official in the Namibian parliament.
Germany’s recognition of the genocide does not lead to compensation and does not pave the way for compensation. But € 1.1 billion will be paid out over 30 years to support infrastructure projects for the benefit of the people of Herero and Nama. The deal has not yet been ratified by the parliaments of both countries, which will take place in the Bundestag before the September elections. “The Hereros and Namas minorities will play a key role in managing this support. Acknowledging our guilt and our request for forgiveness is an important memory for shaping the future together, ”concludes the German Foreign Minister.
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