Namibia: Government Seals 28 May As Genocide Day

Government spokesperson and information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus confirmed that 28 May will now be Genocide Remembrance Day, and it will be considered a public holiday effective from 2025.

The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, in consultation with stakeholders, will find a suitable location for the erection of a genocide monument.

The move has been hailed by former law maker Usutuaije Maamberua, who tabled a motion for a national genocide rememberance day in 2016.

"Namibia is a unitary state based on the rule of law. Therefore, a day like that day must be observed through state organs," he said shortly after the minister's announcement.

In his 2016 motion, Maamberua's reasoning was that it was on this day that the commander of the colonial German Schutztruppe ordered the formal closure of all Ovaherero and Nama concentration camps in then German South West Africa.

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.