Genocide | German colonial crimes in Namibia: Doubtful reconciliation

On October 2, 1904, Lothar von Trotha issued his order for the extermination of the colony of German South West Africa. The general proclaimed in unequivocal terms: "Within the German border, every Herero, with or without a gun, with or without cattle, will be shot. I will no longer accept women or children; I will drive them back to their people or have them shot." Directly subordinate to Kaiser Wilhelm II, von Trotha could already look back on a "colonial career" full of brutality at that time, for example, during the "punitive expedition" in the so-called Boxer War of 1900/01 in China.

The war began in January 1904 with a call by Ovaherero leader Samuel Maharero for resistance against the colonial troops. In August, fighting broke out at the Waterberg, prompting Ovaherero units to retreat to the waterless Omaheke region. The extermination order was intended to prevent any return. Shortly thereafter, Nama communities also entered the war, against whom von Trotha also issued an extermination order on April 22, 1905. Approximately 80 percent of the Ovaherero and 20 percent of the Nama fell victim to the war, which did not end until 1908, either by shooting or in concentration camps such as Shark Island. This is considered the first genocide of the 20th century.

The Germans had already destroyed the livelihoods and culture of the population through their colonial occupation of southwest Africa beginning in 1884, creating the first "reservations" that were institutionalized by the racist apartheid system. The consequences are still visible today: through the unjust distribution of land as well as through the trauma of the victims, which is passed on from generation to generation.

The German government only recognized the massacres of the Ovaherero and Nama as genocide in an official document from the Federal Foreign Office in October 2015. Shortly before, Ovaherero Chief Vekuii Rukoro had been brusquely rejected when presenting a petition to the Federal President's Office. Despite criticism, the German government repeatedly refers to the non-retroactivity principle, which states that the 1948 Genocide Convention does not apply to previous acts. Therefore, the phrase "from today's perspective, a genocide" is officially used.

After years of negotiations, a "Joint Declaration" was adopted in 2021, which the German side euphemistically calls a "reconciliation agreement." While it asks for forgiveness, it rejects legal claims for compensation. Instead, a payment of 1.1 billion euros over a period of 30 years was agreed upon.

Descendants of the victims view this as an affront. For decades, they have campaigned for recognition of the genocide, reparations, and an official apology from the German government. Civil society pressure, in particular, has led to progress in recent years. Most recently, in 2023, lawyers and representatives of the communities filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court in Namibia's capital, Windhoek, to prevent the signing of the "Joint Declaration." The declaration has not yet been signed by the governments. Seven UN Special Rapporteurs also criticized the lack of inclusion of the communities in the declaration: direct and effective participation by self-elected representatives is not a matter of political discretion on the part of the two governments, but is guaranteed under international law in Articles 11 and 18 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Meanwhile, the German government is relying on ritualized commemoration. During trips to Namibia, such as the recent one by State Secretary for Development Jochen Flasbarth, wreaths are laid and the atrocities are addressed. Even on the occasion of the current anniversary , only the ambassador will lay a wreath , according to the Green Party-led Foreign Office. While in opposition, the party had advocated for a process of coming to terms with the past that would be "inclusive, active, and with the participation of the communities, societies, and groups affected by colonial injustice." Currently, however, there are no signs of a new beginning. At most, reference is made to ongoing "renegotiations."