Namibia Holds First Genocide Remembrance Day to Mark German Colonial Atrocities

Namibia held its first official genocide remembrance day on May 28 to honor victims of mass killings by German colonial forces between 1904 and 1908. Tens of thousands of Herero and Nama people were killed or starved in concentration camps under orders from German Gen. Lothar von Trotha in what historians call the first genocide of the 20th century. The event, marked by a solemn ceremony in Windhoek, comes amid ongoing demands for greater reparations beyond Germany’s $1.3 billion offer. During the ceremony, Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized the enduring pain and resilience of the affected communities. The date marks the anniversary of the closure of the camps, symbolizing a painful yet vital act of remembrance for a nation still grappling with its colonial past.