German president tenders apology to the nation

Speaking during the State memorial service of late President Hage Geingob at Independence Stadium on Saturday German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Germany commits to a path of reconciliation, and thus he had to apologize to the Namibian people on behalf of his country with regards the 1904-1908 genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama communities.

“It is high time to take responsibility and tender an apology to the Namibian people for the atrocities (Genocide attack) Germany committed in the past,” said Steinmeier.

Germany and Namibia began negotiations over payments and an apology for the crimes in 2015, and the German federal government recognized the atrocities as genocide in 2021.

Steinmeier also highlighted that the path to reconciliation embarked on almost ten years ago was not a walk in the park.

Namibia was colonized by German colony from 1884 to 1915, between 1904 and 1908, forces of the German Empire carried out mass murder, which killed many of the Herero and the Nama people living there.