Namibia Observes Its Inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day .

Namibia has held its first national Genocide Remembrance Day to honor the victims of the genocide committed by German colonial forces between 1904 and 1908.



President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged Germany's apology for the crimes but called for more substantial reparations beyond the €1.1 billion offered over 30 years. The event included a candlelight vigil and a speech highlighting the suffering endured by the Herero and Nama peoples during the colonial era. The date, May 28, holds significance as it marked the closure of concentration camps in 1907, ending the systematic killings and displacement that had taken place. The genocide, often referred to as "Germany's forgotten genocide," is considered the 20th century's first and led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Herero and Nama people. The commemoration has been recognized with mixed feelings, with some in the affected communities feeling it was a government-led initiative that did not adequately involve them.
Kieran Burke