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German MPs rebuke far-right AfD during Namibia genocide debate

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Alex Gerst
October 15, 2026

German lawmakers are debating the legacy of colonial crimes committed in present-day Namibia more than 120 years ago. The far-right AfD party has been keen to downplay Germany's responsibility.

German lawmakers clashed over how to address Germany's colonial crimes in present-day Namibia after an AfD politician questioned whether the killing of up to 100,000 Ovaherero and Nama people should be classified as genocide.

MPs from the Left partyturned their backs on the speaker in protest.

Though Germany officially recognized the atrocities as genocide in 2021, the Bundestag has yet to pass a formal resolution.

The debate also highlighted disagreements over reparations, development aid and a long-awaited official apology to the descendants of the victims.

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