Namibia | Black-Red coalition does not want reparations for colonial times

Berlin. While the German government intends to advance the process of coming to terms with Germany's colonial past, it continues to reject reparations payments to those affected in former German colonies. This is evident from the government's response to a parliamentary question from the Green Party , first reported by the Tagesspiegel newspaper.

The coalition government states that it wants to address "the injustice committed under German colonial rule" in the affected countries. However, "the concept of reparations in international law arises from the violation of an international obligation." And such an obligation did not exist at the time the injustice was committed. "The concept of reparations is therefore not applicable in the context of Germany's colonial past," the government summarizes.

Criticism of this comes from Green Party politician Claudia Roth, who submitted the request together with her party colleagues Awet Tesfaiesus and Jamila Schäfer. Remembering the injustice committed by Germany is a prerequisite for a sustainable partnership with the countries affected by colonialism. "This requires empathy, not a formal legal refusal," Roth told the German Press Agency.

Tesfaiesus expressed similar views in the Tagesspiegel newspaper. "It cannot be our aim to hide behind formal legal arguments—especially not in a republic whose constitution places inviolable human dignity at the heart of its statehood," she said.

In its response, the German government also addresses the offer to pay 1.1 billion euros to Namibia. In 2021, after years of negotiations, it agreed to support the country with this sum over the next 30 years. "Of this, 1.05 billion euros are to be made available for a program for reconstruction and development and 50 million euros for a program for reconciliation," it now states. However, no money has been paid yet. Talks on the implementation of the two programs, including the timeframe, are not yet complete, it is stated.

Further funds will also be channeled into projects addressing Germany's colonial past. Furthermore, the Federal Government is in contact with numerous countries regarding the return of cultural assets and human remains from colonial contexts.

Starting in 1884, Germany acquired colonies in Africa, Oceania, and East Asia. Its violent rule led to uprisings and wars, and in present-day Namibia, a mass murder occurred. The atrocities there are now officially referred to as genocide.

At the beginning of the 20th century, this legal term didn't yet exist. It wasn't until 1948 that genocide became a criminal offense through a convention of the UN General Assembly. However, the convention isn't retroactive. Therefore, there were no legal consequences for Germany. The German government had already emphasized in the past that, in its view, there was no legal right to compensation. dpa/nd