How Long Must The Ovaherero Wait For Justice And Reparation For The German Genocide?

Surviving Herero returning from Omaheke Desert where they had been driven by German troops after the Battle at Waterberg; two women in front were unable to stand.

The heinous crimes and atrocious acts of German troops in their colonies in Africa are well-known, especially their genocide against the Herero and Nama in in South-West Africa, now Namibia. The genocide gained world-wide attention and has been regarded as the first genocide of the twentieth century. The extermination order, vernichtungsbefelh, of the sadist German commander of the so-called 'Protection Forces',Schutztruppen, General Lothar von Trotha on 4 October,1904 was:

'I, the great general of the German troops, send this letter to the Herero people. The Herero are no longer German subjects. They have murdered and stolen ,they have cut off the ears and other parts of the bodies of wounded soldiers, and now out of cowardice they no longer wish to fight. I say to the people: anyone who hands over one of the chiefs to one of our stations as prisoner shall receive 1,000 marks and whoever delivers Samuel Maharero will receive 5,000 marks. The Herero people must however leave the land. If the people refuse to do so, I shall force them with the Great Rohr(cannon). Any Herero found within the German borders, with or without gun, with or without cattle, will be shot. I no longer receive women or children. I will drive them back to their people or order them to be shot. These are my words to the Herero people.

The great General of the mighty German Kaiser.

With this intentional extermination order the German colonial master destroyed the lives of children, women and men who had been protesting against illegal confiscations of their land, cattle and forced labour. The Herero and Nama lost 80% of their population.

After decades of denials and amnesia of their evil actions in the African colony they had forgotten, Germany half-heartedly acknowledged the evil deeds but still refused full, complete and official apology of their genocide of the Herero and Nama peoples.

Germany reached an agreement with the government of Namibia in 2021which did not satisfy those directly concerned by the genocide because their direct representatives were not involved in the negotiations leading to the agreement. Would the Germans have reached a similar agreement concerning victims of Nazi atrocities and confiscations without their direct representation in the negotiations? The victims of Nazi spoliations were mainly Europeans. Victims of the 1804 genocide were Africans.

We reproduce here below a press release issued by the Ovaherero Traditional Authority stating their position on the question of reparation for the genocide of the Herero. The Ovaherero Traditional Authority rightly declares:

'We assert instead that in our case, only reparative justice can make right the historical wrongs inflicted upon our people since their devastating encounter with colonial Germany. Reparative justice is not merely a moral imperative but a necessary pathway to healing, restitution, and the restoration of harmony for a people whose existence and humanity were callously disregarded. This statement is, therefore, a declaration of our unwavering commitment to truth and justice, a call to confront history with integrity, and a challenge to those in power to embrace accountability and meaningful redress.'

One is surprised that the Herero and Nama must still fight for reparation and justice with a former colonial power that has in the last decades preached much about human rights and set up research projects on colonial activities.

One hundred and forty years after the division of Africa at the Berlin conference of 1884-85 that organized and stimulated the division of Africa by European powers and one hundred and twenty years after the Extermination order of Lothar von Trotha that initiated genocide of the Herero people, the victims of German racism and crimes against humanity are still fighting for reparation and justice for the genocide of 1904-1908.

German soldiers loading human skulls and bones of massacred Hereros into a casket for shipping to German universities, especially, Berlin.

Herero men in chains in South-West Africa, now Namibia, guarded by a German soldier.

PRESS RELEASE
THE OVAHERERO TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY-OUHONAPARE UO MANANENO UO VAHERERO

The Unified Position of the Ovaherero People: Berlin 2024

Theme: “140 Years of Africa's Partition, and 120 Years of the Vernichtungsbefehl”

Introductory Remarks
Allow me to extend profound gratitude to our esteemed hosts, the Dekoloniale Association, whose leadership exemplifies an unparalleled commitment to decolonial praxis. These advocates, drawn from both Black and White German civil society, alongside collaborators from diverse global contexts, have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to dismantling the enduring legacies of German imperial fascism and contemporary neo-colonial structures. Of particular note is their resolute prioritization of the Herero people's pursuit of justice, which has become a central focus of their advocacy and one of their flagship initiatives.

Today, we convene with a heightened awareness of the historical significance of this setting.

We stand on a site once dominated by the Chancellery of Otto von Bismarck, the architect ofGerman imperial power, whose tenure marked the genesis of a colonial project whose scarsremain etched into the histories of African peoples. It was from this epicenter of imperial authority that the notorious Berlin Conference was conceived—a meeting that sanctioned the partition of the African continent into European colonies. This deliberate act of dispossession and domination set in motion the atrocities and systemic exploitation that defined the colonial era. Moreover, Bismarck's tenure oversaw the foundational consolidation of South West Africa as a German colony, a precursor to the genocidal atrocities inflicted upon our ancestors. This year, and our gathering here this morning also commemorates the 120th anniversary of the recruitment and deployment of the retired Army General Lothar von Trotha to what then German South West Africa, a decision executed under the leadership of Chancellor Bernhard von Bulow. Entrusted with a mission that encompassed the systemic annihilation of the Herero people- whether articulated through formal directives or tacit agreements- von Trotha's actions exemplify the intersection of colonial expansion and state sanctioned genocidal violence, reflecting the imperial apparatus's moral and legal culpability in perpetuating one of history's most egregious atrocities.

While we are indebted to our hosts for the deliberate selection of this venue, we must also underscore the profound discomfort that this space evokes. For us, it represents not merely a historical locus but an enduring symbol of pain, dispossession, and shame. Nevertheless, it is precisely this duality—this convergence of memory and advocacy—that underscores the gravity of our deliberations today.

I take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to the diverse constituencies whose
solidarity amplifies our cause.

I recognize with appreciation the members of the Herero delegation accompanying me today,
representing both Namibia and the international diaspora, as well as the Herero people in the
German diaspora. I also extend my thanks to those who are engaging with these proceedings
virtually, members of the media in attendance, and our many friends and allies whose
steadfast commitment fortifies our struggle for justice.

The statement we present today will address several critical dimensions, structured as
follows:

· A preamble, articulating the objectives of our convening.

· An acknowledgment of the historical context, underscoring the antecedents of our
struggle.

· A demand for accountability, centered on the moral and legal responsibility for
historical atrocities.

· A call for reparative justice, emphasizing restitution and the rectification of historical
injustices.

· An assertion of diaspora rights, highlighting the indispensable inclusion of Herero
voices in contemporary deliberations.

· A reflection on inspiration drawn from the Grassi Museum and Saxony Province
Initiative, which exemplify pathways toward meaningful restitution and
reconciliation.

Preamble

We, the descendants of the survivors of the heinous genocidal campaign orchestrated by
German colonial forces under Kaiser Wilhelm II, stand united today as a collective voice of
the Ovaherero people, drawn from Namibia and the global diaspora. Our presence here in
Berlin is a solemn and resolute act, addressing the German Government, the German public,
the international media, and all who are willing to engage with the truth of our history. We
come to bear witness to an atrocity that sought to obliterate our existence but instead fortified
our resolve to preserve our identity, reclaim our dignity, and demand justice. Central to our
demands is the restoration of the displaced—both internally and externally—to their rightful
ancestral homeland, Ehi roVaherero, which remains a cornerstone of our cultural, spiritual,
and historical identity.

Moreover, we challenge the pernicious notion that "might makes right," a dangerous ideology
that has underpinned colonial conquests and injustices. We assert instead that in our case,
only reparative justice can make right the historical wrongs inflicted upon our people since
their devastating encounter with colonial Germany. Reparative justice is not merely a moral
imperative but a necessary pathway to healing, restitution, and the restoration of harmony for
a people whose existence and humanity were callously disregarded. This statement is,
therefore, a declaration of our unwavering commitment to truth and justice, a call to confront
history with integrity, and a challenge to those in power to embrace accountability and
meaningful redress.

Acknowledging the Historical Context

Gathering in this historic city of Berlin, where the foundation of Africa's systematic
subjugation was laid, we are reminded of the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, where
European powers arrogantly divided an entire continent with no regard for its people, their
cultures, or their sovereignty. This act of imperial greed formalized the brutal exploitation of
Africa, reducing its vast and diverse civilizations to mere territories on a map to be plundered
for economic gain.

The consequences of this colonial enterprise were catastrophic: thriving societies were
dismantled, traditional governance structures were obliterated, and countless lives were
destroyed. Africa's natural wealth was siphoned off to fuel European prosperity, leaving in its
wake entrenched poverty, fractured identities, and a continent scarred by violence and
dispossession. For the people of Africa, colonialism was not just a theft of land and resources
but a deliberate dehumanization—a stripping away of dignity, culture, and identity.
For the Ovaherero people, the violence of colonialism reached its darkest depths under
German rule in South West Africa. The genocidal campaign waged against the Ovaherero
people from 1904 to 1908 was not a byproduct of conquest but a premeditated attempt at
extermination, guided by the pseudosciences of Social Darwinism and Eugenics. These
ideologies, rooted in the German zeitgeist of racial supremacy, justified the murder,
enslavement, and displacement of tens of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.
The infamous Vernichtungsbefehl (Extermination Order) issued by General Lothar von
Trotha sought to annihilate the Ovaherero people, driving them into the arid Omaheke desert
to die of thirst and starvation. Survivors were subjected to forced labor, their skulls and body
parts shipped to Germany for so-called "scientific research," further reducing human lives to
mere objects of racial experimentation. The Ovaherero genocide stands as a harrowing
example of colonial cruelty, racial arrogance, and the devastating consequences of unchecked
power, leaving a legacy of trauma that reverberates across generations. It is this legacy that
we confront today, demanding not only recognition but reparative justice to heal the wounds
inflicted by these heinous crimes.

Demanding Accountability

The genocide inflicted upon the Ovaherero people by German colonial forces stands as an
irrefutable historical and legal reality, aligning incontrovertibly with the definition of
genocide as articulated in international law, including the United Nations Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948). While the Federal Government
of Germany has belatedly acknowledged this atrocity, the mechanisms it has proposed to
address the enduring consequences of these heinous acts fall significantly short of the
standards demanded by justice and historical accountability.

Recognition, though essential, is merely the initial step in a broader process of reparative
justice. Yet, the ongoing negotiations between Germany and Namibia appear fundamentally
flawed, characterized by the systematic exclusion of the very communities most directly
affected by this historical injustice.

The Ovaherero people—those who have borne the intergenerational trauma of dispossession,
displacement, and dehumanization—have been denied their rightful place at the negotiating
table. Such exclusion constitutes a profound violation of participatory justice, undermining
the legitimacy and moral credibility of the reconciliation process. Furthermore, Germany's
approach to these negotiations diverges alarmingly from established international frameworks
for addressing mass atrocities, despite its extensive historical engagement with transitional
justice mechanisms. The secrecy and lack of transparency surrounding these discussions
suggest a paternalistic disposition that echoes the very colonial attitudes that underpinned the
original genocide. This approach perpetuates the structural inequalities and racialized
hierarchies that the genocide itself sought to enshrine.

The Ovaherero people categorically reject these ongoing bilateral negotiations between the
governments of Germany and Namibia. These talks, conducted behind closed doors and
devoid of meaningful consultation with the supposed beneficiaries, epitomize a failure to
honor the principles of justice, equity, and historical redress. Reconciliation, in its true
essence, cannot be imposed through opaque, top-down processes dictated by state actors.
Instead, it must emerge from an inclusive, transparent, and participatory dialogue that centers
the voices of the affected communities. Any genuine pursuit of reconciliation must adhere to
the highest international standards, ensuring substantive reparations that address both the
material dispossession and the psychosocial scars inflicted by genocide. Reparative justice
must also confront and dismantle the systemic ideologies of racial supremacy that informed
the original acts of violence. Anything less risks rendering the process a superficial exercise
in diplomacy, perpetuating the historical injustices it purports to resolve and failing to
achieve the substantive redress necessary for true healing and justice.

Seeking Reparations

We, the Ovaherero descendants, insist on reparations as a fundamental necessity for justice,
accountability, and the restoration of what was unjustly taken from our people. For us,
reparations are not merely financial compensation but a comprehensive, transformative
process aimed at addressing the profound harms caused by Germany's colonial genocidal
atrocities. This process must encompass the reclamation of Ehi roVaherero, our ancestral
lands, as an essential element of our cultural and historical identity. Reparations must also
restore our dignity, honor the memories of our ancestors, and address the intergenerational
trauma we continue to endure as a result of the genocide.

We understand reparations as the only viable means to address the legacies of genocide
because they are the most direct pathway to substantive justice and restoration.
Reparations must emerge from a transparent, inclusive, and equitable process that fully
involves us, the affected communities, including those of us in the diaspora who bear the
lasting scars of displacement and dispossession. They must address material restitution, such
as the return of our stolen lands and resources, and ensure economic support to rebuild
livelihoods that were deliberately destroyed. Equally, reparations must include non-material
measures—formal, unequivocal apologies, educational initiatives to confront historical
erasure, and institutional reforms to guarantee non-repetition.

This demand for reparations is not a request for charity or goodwill. It is a moral and legal
imperative for Germany to confront the enduring consequences of its colonial crimes and to
take concrete steps toward justice. Reparations are indispensable for dismantling the
structural inequalities and historical injustices that the genocide entrenched.

They are the only means to heal the wounds inflicted upon our people, both tangible and
intangible, and to rebuild a future in which our dignity, agency, and identity are fully
restored. Without reparations, there can be no genuine reconciliation. The injustices of the
past will persist, and the relationship between Germany and the descendants of the Ovaherero
people will remain defined by the legacies of violence, dispossession, and unfulfilled
accountability. Reparations are not just necessary—they are the foundation of any meaningful
justice and reconciliation process.

Asserting Diaspora Rights
Emphasizing that the descendants in the diaspora, equally victimized by the genocide,
possess the same inalienable rights to participate fully in all negotiations and agreements on
the Ovaherero genocide and its resolution is not simply a matter of fairness—it is a moral,
historical, and legal imperative. The Herero diaspora must not be treated as an afterthought in
the pursuit of justice for the victims of this atrocity. To do so would be to ignore a
fundamental truth: the Herero diaspora is both a direct consequence and a construct of the
genocidal war waged by German colonial forces. The displacement of our people, forced to
flee into exile in the face of extermination, created the diaspora communities that exist today.
The suffering endured by those in the diaspora is no less profound than that of their brethren
in Namibia; it is part of the same continuum of dispossession, displacement, and
dehumanization initiated and sustained by the genocide.

To exclude or marginalize the diaspora in these negotiations is to perpetuate the same
divisive tactics that were central to the colonial strategy of erasing our people. Such an
approach not only disregards the interconnectedness of all Herero descendants but also
undermines the very essence of justice and reparative action. Selectively catering to the
concerns of some while sidelining others fragments the Herero nation and risks deepening
historical wounds. This is yet another attempt at division—an act that our leadership will
neither allow nor entertain.

The Herero nation stands united, and our leadership remains steadfast in rejecting any process
that excludes the diaspora or diminishes their role in seeking justice for our people.

We assert unequivocally that the descendants in the diaspora are an integral part of the
Herero nation and have an equal stake in all negotiations and agreements concerning the
genocide and its resolution. Their voices must be heard, their experiences acknowledged, and
their rights respected. To deny their inclusion is to deny the full truth of the genocide and its
enduring consequences. The Herero diaspora, like all Herero people, has endured
intergenerational trauma, cultural loss, and the persistent scars of historical injustice.

Addressing these realities requires a unified, comprehensive approach that upholds the
dignity, agency, and equality of all descendants, irrespective of where they reside. Only
through such an inclusive and equitable process can we truly honour the memory of those
who perished, restore the dignity of the survivors and their descendants, and ensure that
justice is not a selective privilege but a universal right for all Herero people.

Inspiration from the Grassi Museum and Saxony Province Initiative

The repatriation of cultural artefacts and human remains is an essential aspect of restorative
justice. These items, stolen during the colonial genocide, hold profound cultural, spiritual,
and historical significance for the Ovaherero people. Their continued retention in foreign
institutions perpetuates the legacy of dispossession and denies us the right to reclaim and
preserve our heritage. Recent initiatives, such as those undertaken by the Grassi Museum and
the provincial government of Saxony, provide commendable examples of collaborative and
transparent efforts to repatriate stolen cultural items to their rightful communities. These
actions highlight the importance of acknowledgment, respect, and meaningful restitution in
addressing historical injustices.

We emphasize that the repatriation process must not merely end with the return of these
items. It must include measures to equip our communities with the necessary resources,
facilities, and expertise to ensure the proper care, preservation, and safekeeping of these
artefact's. This includes access to training, funding, and infrastructure that meet international
standards for conservation and museum management. The return of these items is not merely
a logistical task but a moral imperative to restore dignity and agency to the communities from
which they were taken, reaffirming their rightful ownership and custodianship over their
cultural heritage. Such initiatives, when pursued with sincerity and cooperation, can serve as
models for other institutions and governments to follow in addressing the historical injustices
of colonialism and genocide.

Resolution of the Ovaherero People

In light of the historical, moral, and legal truths presented above, we, the Ovaherero people,
represented by our Paramount Chief, traditional leaders, and descendants from Namibia and
the global diaspora, resolve as follows:

1. Recognition of Genocide and Responsibility
We reaffirm that the atrocities committed by German colonial forces against the Ovaherero
and Nama peoples from 1904 to 1908 constitute genocide, as defined under international
law. While we acknowledge Germany's recent recognition of this fact, we insist that such
acknowledgment must be accompanied by substantive measures of accountability, justice,
and reparations that align with established international standards for addressing crimes of
this magnitude.

2. Reparative Justice as Non-Negotiable
We demand comprehensive reparations to address the material and non-material losses
suffered by the Ovaherero and Nama peoples.

These reparations must include, but are not limited to, the restitution of Ehi roVaherero (our
ancestral lands), the restoration of cultural heritage and identity, economic reparations to
rebuild our communities, and formal apologies that acknowledge the full extent of
Germany's responsibility for both the Ovaherero genocide and the Nama genocide.
Reparations are not acts of charity but obligations rooted in justice and accountability and
must be determined through an inclusive and transparent process.

3. Inclusion of the Diaspora in Negotiations
We assert the inalienable right of all Ovaherero descendants, including those in the
diaspora, to full and equal participation in all negotiations and agreements regarding the
genocide and its resolution. The diaspora is both a direct consequence of the genocide and
an integral part of the Ovaherero nation. To exclude or marginalize these communities is to
perpetuate the injustices of the past. Our leadership unequivocally rejects any process that
divides or selectively caters to sections of our people.

4. Rejection of Flawed Negotiation Processes
We reject the ongoing bilateral negotiations between the governments of Germany and
Namibia, which have been conducted in secrecy and without the full and informed
participation of the affected communities. These negotiations, as currently structured, fail to
meet the basic principles of justice, equity, and transparency. We call for a renegotiation of
this process under international oversight, ensuring that it adheres to global best practices
for reparative and transitional justice mechanisms.

5. Call for International Oversight and Solidarity
We call upon the international community, including the United Nations, the African
Union, and human rights organizations, to provide oversight and support in ensuring a just
and equitable resolution to the genocide.

We also appeal to other descendants of colonized and dispossessed peoples to stand in
solidarity with our struggle for justice, as our cause is a shared fight against historical and
systemic oppression.

6. Commitment to Unity and Advocacy
We reaffirm our commitment to unity as a people, standing resolutely against any attempts
to divide us. Our leadership will continue to advocate for the rights and dignity of the
Ovaherero people, both within Namibia and across the global diaspora. We will not rest
until justice is achieved for the victims of genocide and their descendants, and until the
Ovaherero nation is fully restored in dignity, heritage, and prosperity.

7. Demand for Non-Repetition and Structural Reforms
We insist on guarantees of non-repetition, which include educational initiatives to confront
historical erasure, reforms to ensure Germany's colonial history is fully acknowledged and
taught, and commitments to dismantling the structures of racial supremacy and inequality
that persist to this day.

8. Resolution on the Repatriation of Historical Artifacts and Human Remains
The Ovaherero people demand the immediate and orderly repatriation of all stolen
historical artifacts and human remains to their rightful descendants.

The repatriation process must include transparency, respect, and adherence to restorative
justice principles. The exemplary model demonstrated by the Grassi Museum and the
provincial government of Saxony is recognized as a standard for collaborative repatriation
efforts. Measures must be implemented to equip the affected communities with resources,
training, and infrastructure to ensure proper preservation and custodianship of repatriated
items. All institutions and governments holding Ovaherero and Nama artifacts and remains
are urged to engage in immediate dialogue and actions to return them. Repatriation is
affirmed as an essential component of addressing the legacies of genocide and restoring
cultural heritage and dignity to the Ovaherero and Nama peoples.

Call to Action
We urge the global community, governments, and international organizations to support the
Ovaherero and Nama peoples in their quest for justice, reparations, and restorative measures
to heal from the enduring scars of genocide. Let us turn this moment of reckoning into a
transformative process of justice, equity, and healing, ensuring that the voices of the
oppressed are not only heard but that their demands for justice and restitution are met with
action. This statement, presented under the theme "140 Years of Africa's Partition, and 120

Years of the Vernichtungsbefehl," reflects our enduring resolve and commitment to truth,
justice, and reconciliation.

Signed on this 21st day of November 2024, Berlin, Germany.

All correspondence should be addressed to the Secretary-General
OVAHERERO TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY
OUHONAPARE UO MANANENO UO VAHERERO
OFFICE OF OMBARA OTJITAMBI
E mail: [email protected] P.O Box 99538 WINDHOEK, Namibia, Enquiries: Ms. Grace KH Pujatura: +264 811400773
21 November 2024