Namibian communities that were affected by the German colonial genocide more than a century ago are demanding the return of their ancestral land as part of a compensation deal with Germany.
The Namibian government and Germany have been in talks since 2015 to reach an agreement on the atrocities committed by German troops between 1904 and 1908, when they killed tens of thousands of Herero and Nama people and seized their land and livestock.
Germany has officially acknowledged the genocide and has offered to pay 1.1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in development aid to Namibia over 30 years, but has refused to pay direct reparations to the victims’ descendants or to return the land.
The offer has been rejected by the Namibian government and the affected communities, who say it is too low and does not address the core issue of land restitution. They say that the land that was taken by the Germans still belongs to them and that they have a right to claim it back.
The land issue Is a sensitive and complex one in Namibia, where about 70% of the arable land is owned by the white minority, mostly of German descent. The land reform process that started after Namibia’s independence from South Africa in 1990 has been slow and ineffective, leaving many black Namibians landless and impoverished.
The land Issue is also linked to the broader question of justice and reconciliation in Namibia, which has not fully dealt with the legacy of colonialism and apartheid. Many Namibians feel that the German genocide has not been adequately recognized and commemorated, and that the German government and the German community in Namibia have not shown enough remorse and accountability.
The affected communities have been lobbying for their voices to be heard and their demands to be met in the negotiations with Germany. They have also threatened to take legal action against Germany in international courts if the talks fail to produce a satisfactory outcome.
The negotiations have been stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic and the political changes in both countries. Namibia held presidential and parliamentary elections in 2019, while Germany is preparing for federal elections in September 2021. The two governments have said that they hope to finalize the agreement by the end of 2021.
The agreement Is expected to set a precedent for other cases of colonial genocide and reparations in Africa and beyond. It is also expected to test the commitment and cooperation of the Namibian and German governments to address the historical injustices and to foster a lasting and peaceful relationship between the two countries.
The agreement also presents an opportunity for a more inclusive and participatory approach to the issue of land and development in Namibia, based on the principles of human rights, democracy and social justice. As the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has stated, “land is not only a source of livelihood, but also of identity, culture and dignity.”
Source: Reuters
