**Namibia Commemorates Colonial Genocide with Historic Memorial Day**

**As Namibia marks a national day of remembrance for the genocide of the Ovaherero and Nama people, calls for full reparations and land restitution grow louder.**

Namibia is officially recognizing its colonial past by designating May 28 as a national Day of Remembrance for the genocide committed against its Ovaherero and Nama populations between 1904 and 1908. Known as "Germany's forgotten genocide," this atrocity resulted in the systematic murder of more than 70,000 Africans and is recorded as the first genocide of the 20th century.

This memorial day will be observed annually, incorporating a minute of silence and candlelight vigils outside the parliament in Windhoek, as part of the nation's "journey of healing." The date was purposely chosen as it marks the closure of concentration camps used by German colonial powers in 1907 following mounting international scrutiny.

For years, Namibia sought acknowledgment from Germany regarding the atrocities committed during its colonial rule; four years ago, Germany formally recognized its colonial violence but stopped short of calling the aid it provided—a €1.1 billion development package over 30 years—a form of reparations. This perception has led many Namibians, including those affected by the genocide, to view the offer as inadequate, emphasizing their desire for land, rather than monetary compensation.

Community leaders express disappointment in ongoing discussions between Namibia and Germany regarding reparations. A recent draft agreement reportedly includes a formal apology from Germany and an additional €50 million, yet many activists from the Ovaherero and Nama communities feel sidelined in these negotiations and demand more meaningful reparations—such as returning ancestral lands that were appropriated.

Historians describe the brutal methods employed, including Lothar von Trotha's extermination order that sought to eliminate herding communities comprehensively. The horrors intensified with concentration camps where victims succumbed to exhaustion and inhumane conditions, leaving behind a painful history that many descendants continue to grapple with today.

While the establishment of a formal memorial day is a step toward reckoning with the past, activist sentiments reveal a deep-rooted frustration, emphasizing that true restorative justice remains a distant goal. Some advocates argue for the necessity of restitution by advocating for the return of ancestral lands currently in German hands.

The discourse surrounding Namibia’s colonial history continues to unfold amid calls for more profound acknowledgment and actionable reparations from former colonial powers, illuminating the long-lasting impacts of colonialism on present-day African societies.