Namibian govt urged to take legal action against Israel

The Namibian Centre for People’s Resistance (CPR) has called on the government to take concrete action to help end what it describes as Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people.CPR founder and Namibian human rights lawyer Uno Katjipuka requested that Namibian authorities investigate the matter but said her request has reportedly fallen on deaf ears and been passed from one office to another.Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo acknowledged receipt of Katjipuka’s 17 July request on 31 July, she noted, but referred the matter to the international relations ministry. Moreover, the organisation noted that Prosecutor-General Martha Imalwa has not formally responded, though she reportedly confirmed via WhatsApp messages that perpetrators could be prosecuted before insisting such action needs approval from the international relations ministry.Fillemon Wise Immanuel also referred the matter to the international relations ministry, “as the lead ministry on Namibia’s foreign policy positions”, according to email correspondence from Immanuel’s personal assistant.International tools According to Katjipuka, the request is based on Namibia’s ratification of the Geneva Conventions, which have been incorporated into domestic law since 2003 through the Namibian Geneva Conventions Act.Under this legislation, anyone who participates in or is complicit in genocide anywhere can be prosecuted by Namibian law enforcement.Furthermore, in January this year, Namibia joined the Hague Group, committing itself – alongside Bolivia, Colombia, Senegal and South Africa – to take action to hold perpetrators accountable for the alleged genocide in Palestine through independent investigations and prosecutions at both international and national levels. Namibia also committed to implementing United Nations Resolution A/RES/Es-10/24 to execute warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2024.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant both face prosecution under these warrants.Katjipuka specifically requests that Namibia officially launch criminal investigations into war crimes committed since 7 October 2023, execute ICC warrants, and prosecute other individuals involved in the alleged genocide in Palestine.Her request also includes investigating individuals with dual Israeli and Namibian citizenship for service in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) since 7 October 2023, prosecuting IDF soldiers who visit Namibia, and investigating businesses with ties to Israel for supporting and financing the ongoing alleged genocide.Support for PalestineThe executive director of International Relations and Trade, Penda Naanda, officially responded to Katjipuka’s request on 25 August, informing her by email that his ministry does not have investigative or prosecutorial authority and that the government agencies responsible act independently.He added that Namibia cannot take action against Israeli citizens without facts or legal grounds.During a diplomatic briefing last Thursday, international relations minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi said: “Namibia will continue to support the heroic people of Palestine and express solidarity with them.”On 13 August, she rejected Israel’s plans to take over Gaza City in an official statement opposing the Namibian government’s stance.

Namibian govt urged to take legal action against Israel

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-22

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Namibian govt urged to take legal action against Israel

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-22

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