Namibian-German Genocide Negotiations – Is the Master’s Voice Speaking?

She indicated that only discussions about certain modalities on implementation would continue.

Keul was responding to a parliamentary question submitted by MP Sevim Dagdelen of the Left Party.

Keul conceded there had not yet been approval from the Namibian side. However, she said, despite controversial debates in the National Assembly, the Namibian government was committed to the draft.

Details on follow-up meetings discussing the implementation were listed.

It seems that not only the German side considers the negotiations closed.

In the absence of an official Namibian position, it remains a matter of speculation what the situation is.

Keul’s announcement triggered a combined intervention by Landless People’s Movement president Bernadus Swartbooi, the Ovaherero Traditional Authority, and the Nama Traditional Leaders Association on 13 September.

In a submission to foreign minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and attorney general Festus Mbandeka, they claim the negotiations were in violation of a resolution adopted by the National Assembly in 2006 and, as a result, unconstitutional.

They insist that the National Assembly needs to endorse the agreement.

When ending the parliamentary debate, minister Frans Kapofi said the government would seek further negotiations and return to parliament.

Kapofi reacted to Keul’s recent statement with surprise and indignation. In an

interview published on 9 September in New Era, he declared: “It is unfortunate that the Germans are now apparently saying they are not willing to negotiate. I have not seen the official correspondence.”

For him, it seemed clear that negotiations over reparations was a “job that has to be finished. It is something that we need to address as a country. We cannot ignore it.”

As he claimed: “The kind of reaction that I saw in the newspapers was not as a result of us communicating to the Germans. I don’t think they were reacting to us. I think it’s more of an internal thing in Germany itself.”

According to Kapofi, the government would pronounce itself on the way forward as soon as their German counterparts officially communicated with them.

Since then, no official statement has been released.

The Windhoek-based Allgemeine Zeitung later reported that the German ambassador to Namibia, Herbert Beck, had indicated in a speech on 3 October 2022 that the negotiations remained open. He was speaking at a reception celebrating Germany’s national day.

German MP Dagdelen followed this up with a question in the German parliament. On 12 October 2002, minister of state Keul responded in no uncertain terms that the German and Namibian governments would stick to the Joint Declaration.

Only matters related to implementation remained a subject of confidential talks.

This was confirmed on 17 October in an address Keul gave to a conference inaugurating a scholarship programme for cooperative research on German colonial rule.

Keul referred to the Joint Declaration as “a milestone in our efforts to remember the painful past and unite behind a common vision for the future”.

“I am aware of the controversy around the Joint Declaration in Namibia. Our two governments stand by what we have jointly achieved. And we are currently working on ways to settle the remaining open questions, so that the Declaration can be signed,” she said.

In the wake of the parliamentary debate, more concerns have been expressed over the negotiated results.

Not least, in May, founding president Sam Nujoma expressed his dismay.

In an interview on the occasion of his 93rd birthday, Nujoma declared: “Namibia must return to the negotiating table with Germany, whose offer of N$18,4 billion for the Nama and Ovaherero genocide is woefully insignificant.”

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.