Namibia honoured the victims of mass killings during German colonial rule with an inaugural memorial day on Wednesday, as politicians and affected communities voiced fresh calls for reparations from Berlin.

Namibia organized the national memorial observance for the genocide committed by German colonizers for the first time. The new national holiday serves as a reminder of the tragic events from the early 20th century.

Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (C) speaks at a commemoration event marking the Genocide Remembrance Day in Windhoek, Namibia, on May 28, 2025. Namibia on Wednesday marked its first-ever Genocide Remembrance Day to honor more than 100,