Germany and Namibia : negotiating genocide

Abstract

These Reflections present an overview and take stock of the German-Namibian bilateral negotiations how to come to terms with the genocide committed by the German empire in the colony South West Africa between 1904 and 1908. The main actors and their specific positions/approaches are identified since in 2015 a spokesperson of the German foreign ministry recognised the term genocide as applicable. As shown, more than four years of negotiations since then have not yet produced an amicable solution based on a mutual understanding and viable compromise. The pending negotiations have also failed to include significant agencies of the Nama and Ovaherero communities, who feel not represented by the Namibian state. While progress might have taken place behind closed doors, representatives of the German state have during 2019 not advanced credibility among Namibians. In contrast, a local initiative among members of the German-speaking community in Namibia for the first time entered a dialogue with some descendants of the victim groups in an effort to come to terms with the past. There is also progress in the German discourse over the need for restitution of cultural artefacts in German museums stolen during colonial times. But counter tendencies include a reactionary backlash in German policies and public opinion with the revisionism dismissing any historical obligations for colonial crimes as promoted by the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and other proponents questioning the notion of genocide. Colonial amnesia remains a significant phenomenon and challenge.