The dawn of the 20th century shocked people with its crimson splashes as Germany eliminated almost 80% of the Herero people and half of the Nama in its colony of South West Africa, what is now Namibia.
Germany's current attempt to defend Israel as it underwent a genocide lawsuit from South Africa at the ICJ came as a "contradiction" to the remaining population of the Ovaherero people - the surviving descendants of the slaughtered Hereros.
"We cannot really understand why Germany would rush to support Israel in claiming that Israel is not perhaps in the process of committing a war crime or genocide. We see that as a contradiction given Germany's history in Namibia or also elsewhere in committing genocide," Prof. Mutjinde Katjiua, Ovaherero Paramount Chief, says.
The Herero and Nama "did not want to give their land" and decided to fight for their soil that Germany took over. As a result, the indigenous population was almost wiped out, making these two peoples a minority in modern-day Namibia.
"Germany colonized Namibia, killed Hereros and Namas, reduced the population of Hereros and Namas to a minority, as currently, we would have been around 40% of Namibia's population at least. Now we are reduced to 7%," Ovaherero Paramount Chief explains.
The decision of Germany to support Israel is not representative of German society, but rather that of the "German elite and the political class" in control, according to Dr. Rasigan Maharajh, Chief Director, Institute for Economic Research and Innovation at Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa.
"I'm quite convinced that this does not represent the German society, but actually merely articulates the position of the German elite and the political class that controls their society," the researcher says.
To hear what else the expert and Chief had to say, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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