Namibia Challenges Germany Over Colonial-Era Atrocities, Demands full Reparations
WINDHOEK, Namibia – A legal challenge in Namibia’s High Court and escalating protests over a planned energy project are intensifying pressure on Germany to deliver comprehensive reparations for the brutal colonial genocide committed against the Ovaherero and Nama people between 1904 and 1908. The legal action and ongoing disputes highlight a growing determination among Namibian communities that Germany’s current reparatory offers fall far short of addressing the lasting harms inflicted during it’s colonial rule.
Between 1904 and 1908, German colonial forces systematically murdered over 75,000 Ovaherero and Nama individuals, employing tactics of extermination that included driving communities into the desert and poisoning wells. Thousands of other Indigenous Peoples, including the San and Damara, also suffered immense loss of life and displacement. Despite acknowledging its historical obligation, Germany’s proposed reparations – finalized in a 2021 joint declaration with Namibia – have been widely criticized as inadequate by affected communities and legal experts.
In 2023, representatives from the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), the Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA), and the Landless Peoples Movement formally filed a case in the Namibian High Court, seeking to invalidate the 2021 joint declaration. The plaintiffs argue the agreement violates both Namibia’s constitution and international law, contending that it failed to adequately involve affected communities in the negotiation process and does not provide sufficient redress for the extensive damages suffered.
Adding to the tensions, the NTLA is actively challenging the construction of a large-scale renewable energy project spearheaded by a British-German joint venture on ancestral nama land within the Tsau ||Khaeb National Park. The NTLA asserts the project mirrors historical patterns of colonial land dispossession and resource extraction. In a submission to the UN Commitee on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights,the NTLA,alongside civil society partners,detailed concerns that the Nama people have not been meaningfully consulted regarding the project’s advancement,thereby violating their rights to self-determination and free,prior,and informed consent.
The unfolding legal battles and community resistance underscore a critical juncture in Namibia-Germany relations, with the demand for full reparatory justice – encompassing financial compensation, land restitution, and a genuine acknowledgement of the historical atrocities – gaining increasing momentum. The outcome of the High Court case and the resolution of the energy project dispute will likely set a precedent for addressing colonial legacies and ensuring the rights of Indigenous communities across the African continent.
