Namibia expects formal apology from Germany for genocide, Ashipala-Musavyi says
International relations minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi has confirmed that Namibia will press Germany for a formal apology for the colonial-era genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama people, stressing that the issue remains central to ongoing bilateral negotiations.
Ashipala-Musavyi noted that no official apology has yet been made, as discussions between the two countries are still in progress.
“Yes, we are demanding that Germany offer an apology, but we are still at the level of negotiations,” she said, adding that the process has not yet been concluded.
Once talks are finalised, she said, an official announcement will be made.
The minister made these comments in an interview with Russia Today TV on the sidelines of the second ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo on Saturday, where she also outlined Namibia’s broader approach to international relations, trade and multilateral diplomacy.
While underscoring the importance of historical justice, Ashipala-Musavyi said Namibia continues to value its relationship with Germany.
“Despite the past, we also have bilateral relations with Germany. We value those relationships, but we want to address this painful past,” she said.
Long-standing negotiations
Between 1904 and 1908, German colonial forces carried out mass killings of the Ovaherero and Nama communities in what is widely recognised by historians as the first genocide of the 20th century.
Tens of thousands were killed through direct violence, forced displacement into the desert, starvation and detention in concentration camps.
In 2015, Namibia and Germany formally began negotiations aimed at addressing the genocide, including an apology and reparative measures.
After several years of talks, Germany acknowledged the genocide in principle in 2021 and proposed a financial package framed as development support.
However, the agreement was met with strong resistance from affected communities and civil society groups in Namibia, who criticised the process for excluding victims and rejecting the framing of reparations.
Since then, Namibia has maintained that negotiations remain open and unresolved, insisting that any outcome must include a formal apology and reflect the dignity and expectations of the affected communities.
Ashipala-Musavyi placed Namibia’s position within a wider African and global context, saying African countries are increasingly asserting themselves in multilateral institutions.
“What we are saying as Africa is to say we want our voice to matter, and we want our perspective to be taken into account when dealing with global concerns,” she said, referring to engagement at platforms such as the United Nations.
UN reforms
The minister said this demand for a stronger African voice extends to calls for reform of the UN Security Council, which many African states argue no longer reflects global realities.
Ashipala-Musavyi said Africa wants meaningful participation in shaping decisions on peace, security and global governance rather than being treated as a peripheral actor.
On trade, she noted that Namibia is actively pursuing economic cooperation both globally and within Africa. She highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that it reflects Africa’s realisation that financial integration is essential.
“The realisation for Africa to first trade among one another did not commence with tariffs being imposed elsewhere,” she said, adding that Namibia has already begun exporting under the AfCFTA framework.
Ashipala-Musavyi also cited growing bilateral trade with Russia and said Namibia is seeking to deepen cooperation in mining, energy and agriculture, while aligning its diplomacy with broader African calls for reparations and recognition of colonialism as a crime against humanity.
Ashipala-Musavyi noted that no official apology has yet been made, as discussions between the two countries are still in progress.
“Yes, we are demanding that Germany offer an apology, but we are still at the level of negotiations,” she said, adding that the process has not yet been concluded.
Once talks are finalised, she said, an official announcement will be made.
The minister made these comments in an interview with Russia Today TV on the sidelines of the second ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo on Saturday, where she also outlined Namibia’s broader approach to international relations, trade and multilateral diplomacy.
While underscoring the importance of historical justice, Ashipala-Musavyi said Namibia continues to value its relationship with Germany.
“Despite the past, we also have bilateral relations with Germany. We value those relationships, but we want to address this painful past,” she said.
Long-standing negotiations
Between 1904 and 1908, German colonial forces carried out mass killings of the Ovaherero and Nama communities in what is widely recognised by historians as the first genocide of the 20th century.
Tens of thousands were killed through direct violence, forced displacement into the desert, starvation and detention in concentration camps.
In 2015, Namibia and Germany formally began negotiations aimed at addressing the genocide, including an apology and reparative measures.
After several years of talks, Germany acknowledged the genocide in principle in 2021 and proposed a financial package framed as development support.
However, the agreement was met with strong resistance from affected communities and civil society groups in Namibia, who criticised the process for excluding victims and rejecting the framing of reparations.
Since then, Namibia has maintained that negotiations remain open and unresolved, insisting that any outcome must include a formal apology and reflect the dignity and expectations of the affected communities.
Ashipala-Musavyi placed Namibia’s position within a wider African and global context, saying African countries are increasingly asserting themselves in multilateral institutions.
“What we are saying as Africa is to say we want our voice to matter, and we want our perspective to be taken into account when dealing with global concerns,” she said, referring to engagement at platforms such as the United Nations.
UN reforms
The minister said this demand for a stronger African voice extends to calls for reform of the UN Security Council, which many African states argue no longer reflects global realities.
Ashipala-Musavyi said Africa wants meaningful participation in shaping decisions on peace, security and global governance rather than being treated as a peripheral actor.
On trade, she noted that Namibia is actively pursuing economic cooperation both globally and within Africa. She highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that it reflects Africa’s realisation that financial integration is essential.
“The realisation for Africa to first trade among one another did not commence with tariffs being imposed elsewhere,” she said, adding that Namibia has already begun exporting under the AfCFTA framework.
Ashipala-Musavyi also cited growing bilateral trade with Russia and said Namibia is seeking to deepen cooperation in mining, energy and agriculture, while aligning its diplomacy with broader African calls for reparations and recognition of colonialism as a crime against humanity.
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