Amnesty International has issued a strong call for Germany to make reparations for the historic genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama peoples of Namibia, which occurred between 1904 and 1908. This plea coincides with the 121st anniversary of the extermination orders issued by Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha, starting with the Ovaherero on October 2, 1904, and subsequently targeting the Nama people in April 1905.

"It is shameful that over a hundred years since German colonial forces waged a genocide against the Nama and Ovaherero peoples, Germany has failed to engage in meaningful consultations with these communities or provide reparations," stated Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International's regional director for East and Southern Africa. An estimated 100,000 individuals lost their lives in these brutal events, which Germany acknowledges as the 20th century's first genocide.

Despite Germany accepting "moral responsibility" for the atrocities in 2021, it continues to deny any legal obligation to compensate the victims' descendants directly. Instead, Germany and Namibia reached an agreement whereby Germany would provide €1.1 billion in development aid over 30 years. However, this deal has been criticized for not qualifying as reparations and for excluding Ovaherero and Nama representatives from the negotiation process.

The call from Amnesty International underscores the ongoing international debate surrounding the responsibilities of former colonial powers and the long-term impacts of their actions on indigenous communities. The organization insists that Germany must step beyond mere recognition and moral responsibility, committing to tangible reparations that directly address the communities affected by its colonial past. As the global community continues to reckon with historical injustices, the resolution of this issue may set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.