Germany admits genocide in Namibia: It will pay 1.1 billion euros

Germany has known today for the first time that it committed <x0ocide” against the Herro and Nama populations in Namibia during the colonial era and will donate 1.1 billion euros in development aid to the African country.

“We will officially qualify these events for those from today's perspective: genocide”, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement, welcoming the conclusion of a “agreement with Namibia after more than five years of difficult negotiations on events that took place in southwestern Africa, colonised by Germany between 1884 and 1915.

German columns killed tens of thousands of Hereros and Namas during the massacres committed between 1904 and 1908, considered by many historians as the first genocide of the 20th century.

“in light of Germany's historical and moral responsibility, we will apologize to Namibia and the descendants of victims for the atrocities committed. In a gesture of recognising the great suffering caused by the victims, the European country will support reconstruction and development in Namibia through a financial programme of 1.1 billion euros”, he added, A2.

It says this is not a legal basis for compensation and that such recognition does not pave the way for any legal request for compensation.

This sum will be paid for a 30-year period, according to sources close to negotiations, and will mainly benefit the descendants of these two populations.