(3 minutes read)
· Namibia rejected the 10 million Euros genocide reparations offer from Germany. While some welcomed the move the others are circumspect
· Hage Geingob, Namibia’s President said reparations offered by Germany for mass killings in its then colony were “not acceptable” and needed to be “revised”
Namibia rejected the 10 million Euros genocide reparations offer from Germany. While some welcomed the move the others are circumspect. Hage Geingob, Namibia’s President said reparations offered by Germany for mass killings in its then colony were “not acceptable” and needed to be “revised”. What he meant by not acceptable and revised, many people are trying to interpret in their own ways.
The general reaction of an average Namibian borders cynicism. They feel that once human life is lost, what is there for anyone can really do about it. No amount of money that can pay back. Some others feel that the Namibian government should step out of the deal and it should be decided by descendants of people who died in the genocide.
German occupiers in Namibia mercilessly killed Herero and Nama tribes in the massacre that broke out in 1904-1908. That is termed as the first genocide of the 20th century and depicted as the dark days of Namibia. In the Battle of Waterberg in August 1904, around 80,000 Herero fled including women and children. German troops reportedly have killed them while fleeing at the Kalahari Desert, leaving a few thousands alive. The German government was adamant that they would not apologize for the mindless killings. In 2015, the two countries arrived at a settlement. Germany agreed to give an official apology as well as development aid.
