Namibia president: Germany committed genocide in our country...and supports it in Gaza
The State of Namibia condemned Germany's support for "Israel" before the International Court of Justice, declaring its refusal to intervene as a third party to defend the acts of genocide committed by "Israel" in the Gaza Strip.
The Namibian presidency said, in a statement published in English on its page on the “X” platform, that: “On Namibian soil, Germany committed the first genocide of the twentieth century in the years 1904-1908, in which tens of thousands of innocent Namibians were killed in brutal and unjust conditions.” "Humanity."
The statement added that the German government “has not yet fully atoned for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil,” and therefore, Namibian President Haji Geingob expressed his deep concern over the shocking decision communicated by Germany, in which it refused to condemn “Israel.”
The statement continued, "What is worrying is that the German government ignores the number of victims, as more than 23,000 Palestinians were killed in this genocide in Gaza."
According to a statement by the Namibia presidency, Germany “cannot morally express its commitment to the United Nations Convention against Genocide, including atonement for the genocide in Namibia, while supporting the equivalent of the Holocaust and the genocide in Gaza.”
In this context, President Geingob appealed to the German government to reconsider its inappropriate decision to intervene as a third party to defend and support the acts of genocide committed by “Israel” before the International Court of Justice.
How did Gaza 2023 return Germany to its historical reality in Namibia 1904?
Namibia added its voice to other African voices, demanding that the occupying entity be held accountable in the International Court of Justice, and an immediate end to the Israeli aggression and the genocide it is committing against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, the pace of which has escalated since October 7, 2023, and which has not limited itself to executing people. Only, he destroyed life and its pillars in the Strip.
Namibia is attending the sessions in The Hague, which are being held as a result of a lawsuit filed by the State of South Africa in the Court of Justice, accusing “Israel” of committing genocide crimes in Gaza. The country based its claim on the United Nations Convention to Prevent and Punish These Crimes, ratified in 1948.
The lawsuit submitted by Pretoria was supported by many countries around the world, including countries in Latin America (Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Nicaragua, Colombia...), which are countries that have historically suffered from colonialism and persecution. However, an advanced position was recorded by Namibia in The Hague.
During the sessions of the International Court of Justice, Namibia condemned Germany's rejection of South Africa's lawsuit and its support for "Israel" as it continues to commit genocide, returning Berlin to its historical reality, which is absolutely no different from Israeli practices, which Namibia itself has previously suffered from.
“On Namibian soil, Germany committed the first genocide of the twentieth century in 1904-1908, in which tens of thousands of innocent Namibians were killed in brutal and inhuman conditions,” according to a statement from the Namibian presidency.
Germany exterminated tribes in Namibia
German forces launched a genocidal campaign to confront a popular uprising that broke out in Namibia in rejection of German colonial practices and its attempt to control large areas of the African country's lands and livestock belonging to African tribes.
Berlin colonized Namibia for 31 years (1884 – 1915) and in 1904, “the German Empire launched a campaign of murder and torture after the tribes rejected colonial rule. An estimated 80% of the Herero and 50% of the Nama people were killed, estimates range from 34,000 to 100,000 people.” “They are now politically marginalized minorities in Namibia,” according to the British newspaper “The Guardian.”
The commander of the German military administration there at that time, Lothar von Trotha, had issued an order to exterminate these two groups, including men, women, and children as well. In addition to the blood and killing, this genocide led to social repercussions, as the people of the two tribes were forced to migrate to the desert.
Anyone who tried to return to their land was killed or detained in special camps. During the period of displacement, Africans lost their lives due to hunger, thirst, and the spread of diseases. The BBC indicated in a report that some of the displaced Africans were vulnerable to sexual exploitation and medical experiments.
The Guardian also reported that this genocide led to the loss of “80% of Nama ancestral lands – most of which are now occupied by farmers of German descent – as well as generational damage to livelihoods and identity.”
The psychological effects of the genocide crimes committed by Germany in the African country were also not lost. In 2018, Berlin returned human remains belonging to Africans from Namibia, and according to the British Network’s report, Germany used them as part of research to “prove the racial superiority of white Europeans.”
German recognition
In May 2021, Germany officially recognized this genocide against Namibian tribes (in the context of its alleged “reconciliation agreement” with the African country). In statements by former German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, he said, "These killings are genocide."
This recognition by a German official came despite the fact that the term “genocide” in its legal meaning crystallized after the Genocide Convention of December 1948 was issued, which cannot be applied retroactively.
The Guardian quoted Namibian lawyers' advisor, Karina Thorer, as saying that Germany argued against responsibility for this genocide, and that the fear was that this case would open the door to what the occupation and colonial powers committed in other former colonies.
Germany's admission of its crimes does not mean it is acquitted. Rather, this confession did not prevent it from continuing this colonial criminal approach, which was embodied in support of "Israel" in The Hague. In addition to its refusal to provide financial compensation to African victims, it “cannot morally express its commitment to the United Nations Convention against Genocide, including atonement for the genocide in Namibia, while supporting the equivalent of the Holocaust and genocide in Gaza.”
Full Namibia Presidency statement as posted:
Namibia rejects Germany’s Support of the Genocidal Intent of the Racist Israeli State against Innocent Civilians in Gaza
On Namibian soil, #Germany committed the first genocide of the 20th century in 1904-1908, in which tens of thousands of innocent Namibians died in the most inhumane and brutal conditions. The German Government is yet to fully atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil. Therefore, in light of Germany’s inability to draw lessons from its horrific history, President
@hagegeingob
expresses deep concern with the shocking decision communicated by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany yesterday, 12 January 2024, in which it rejected the morally upright indictment brought forward by South Africa before the #InternationalCourtofJustice that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in #Gaza.
Worryingly, ignoring the violent deaths of over 23 000 Palestinians in Gaza and various United Nations reports disturbingly highlighting the internal displacement of 85% of civilians in Gaza amid acute shortages of food and essential services, the German Government has chosen to defend in the International Court of Justice the genocidal and gruesome acts of the Israeli Government against innocent civilians in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Germany cannot morally express commitment to the United Nations Convention against genocide, including atonement for the genocide in Namibia, whilst supporting the equivalent of a holocaust and genocide in Gaza. Various international organizations, such as Human Rights Watch have chillingly concluded that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza.
President Geingob reiterates his call made on 31 December 2023, “No peace-loving human being can ignore the carnage waged against Palestinians in Gaza”. In that vein, President Geingob appeals to the German Government to reconsider its untimely decision to intervene as a third-party in defence and support of the genocidal acts of Israel before the International Court of Justice.
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