Germany is to recognise the massacre of over 100,000 Herero people by German troops between 1904 and 1908 as a genocide, and make a formal apology to Namibia. Reparations have been ruled out however.
The massacre, considered the first genocide of the 20th century, is believed to be a precursor to the Holocaust.
The Herero, as well as Nama people were sent to concentration camps, where many were beheaded or died of malnutrition and abuse. Others were driven into the Namibian desert where they died.
In a statement on Wednesday, a spokesman for the German foreign ministry, Sawsan Chebli said, “the federal government has been pursuing a dialogue with Namibia on this very painful history of the colonial era since 2012."
“We seek a common policy statement on the following elements: a common language on the historical events and a German apology and its acceptance by Namibia.”
See here, here and here.
The massacre, considered the first genocide of the 20th century, is believed to be a precursor to the Holocaust.
The Herero, as well as Nama people were sent to concentration camps, where many were beheaded or died of malnutrition and abuse. Others were driven into the Namibian desert where they died.
In a statement on Wednesday, a spokesman for the German foreign ministry, Sawsan Chebli said, “the federal government has been pursuing a dialogue with Namibia on this very painful history of the colonial era since 2012."
“We seek a common policy statement on the following elements: a common language on the historical events and a German apology and its acceptance by Namibia.”
See here, here and here.