Namibia to mark colonial genocide for first time with memorial day

Namibia is set to commemorate the first genocide of the 20th century with a national day of remembrance, marking the systematic killing of over 70,000 Africans by German officials from 1904 to 1908. The genocide targeted primarily the Ovaherero and Nama communities who resisted colonizers taking their land and cattle. Despite Germany acknowledging the genocide and offering financial aid, Namibia is pushing for a formal apology and reparations. Calls for restorative justice include returning ancestral lands to descendants and acknowledging historical colonial atrocities.