The debate on 14 October 2026 in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) on the full recognition of the genocides against the Ovaherero and Nama was a historic day for the descendants of the genocide victims and the alliance "No Amnesty on Genocide! / Genocide Does Not Expire!". A motion tabled by the parliamentary group of The Left (Die Linke), developed in close cooperation with representatives of the Ovaherero and Nama, once again placed the demands of the victims' descendants for recognition, apology, and reparations at the center of parliamentary debate. The alliance welcomes the fact that these demands were heard in the Bundestag and that Germany's colonial past and the resulting responsibility of Germany are being debated in parliament. A further motion by the Alliance 90/The Greens parliamentary group calls for an apology for the genocides, independent of the Joint Declaration negotiated between the German and Namibian governments, and, among other things, for a German-Namibian parliamentary commission of inquiry.
“The referral of the motions to the Foreign Affairs Committee must be the beginning of a serious and ongoing debate. The demands of the affected communities must not once again go unanswered,” the alliance stated. “This motion will remain a prominent topic in German politics for a long time to come, and this long period will undoubtedly bring down all the remaining barriers,” said Gaob Daniel Timotheus Frederick, a member of the Nama Traditional Leaders Association. “A historic day only becomes a political turning point when it is followed by action,” the alliance continued. It calls on the German government and the Bundestag to involve the Ovaherero and Nama in further deliberations and to take concrete steps toward justice and reparations. The demands of the affected communities must be paramount in these decisions.
The alliance strongly condemns the Alternative for Germany (AfD) revisionist historical statements. Its representatives downplayed the genocide and defamed the demands for reparations as a “cult of guilt.” They didn't even acknowledge the honored guests in the gallery, the descendants of the Ovaherero and Nama people, with a glance. “They had difficulty looking in our direction because it's hard to lie to someone's face,” said Paramount Chief Mutjinde Katjiua, head of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority, after the debate. “Anyone who denies the genocide and refuses the descendants of the victims any empathy, even in the Bundestag, tramples on their dignity,” the alliance stated. At the same time, the alliance considers it an important signal that the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Alliance 90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and The Left (Die Linke), despite their differing positions on the motions presented, took a clear political stance against the AfD's revisionist rhetoric.
“We, as the Left, will stand by your side and fight alongside you until true justice prevails,” said Charlotte Neuhäuser, Member of Parliament for The Left, who introduced the motion in the Bundestag, addressing the descendants of the genocide victims after the debate. “They have been waiting for justice for generations. Yesterday’s debate brought their demands parliamentary attention. Now it remains to be seen whether Germany is prepared to live up to its historical responsibility,” the alliance stated.
About the alliance
The transnational alliance “No Amnesty on Genocide! / Genocide Does Not Expire!” has been advocating for the recognition of the genocides against the Ovaherero and Nama peoples, an official apology, and comprehensive reparations since its founding in 2011. The Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) and ECCHR are part of the alliance.
