The Namibian government has issued a strong condemnation of a recent act by Sven Tritschler, a deputy leader of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, who laid a wreath at the grave of a notorious German colonial officer. The officer was part of the “Schutztruppe,” the German colonial troops active in Namibia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In a statement released on Thursday, Penda Naanda, the executive director of the Namibian Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, described Tritschler’s action as “deplorable and repugnant.” Tritschler, who was visiting Namibia with a parliamentary delegation from North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), intended to understand the country’s historical injustices and explore ways for Germany to address the colonial legacy and its genocidal actions against the Herero and Nama peoples.
The Schutztruppe was responsible for brutal repression during the colonial period, including the genocide of the Herero and Nama. In January 1904, German General Lothar von Trotha issued an infamous order to exterminate the Herero people, a directive that resulted in the deaths of over 100,000 individuals. The colonial campaign was marked by severe violence and atrocities against local populations.
Tritschler’s wreath-laying was further controversial due to a social media post where he captioned a photo of the act with a claim that the narrative of the Herero and Nama suffering is “historically untenable.” The Namibian government has condemned this revisionist stance, viewing it as a provocative denial of historical facts and an insult to ongoing reconciliation efforts between Namibia and Germany.
Naanda criticised Tritschler’s actions as revealing “utter ignorance and moral failure,” and stressed that such acts undermine current negotiations aimed at reconciliation and restitution. The Namibian statement underscores the continued pain and suffering caused by these historical events and the need for sensitivity and respect in addressing colonial legacies.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Germany’s colonial past and the challenges faced in reconciling historical grievances with modern diplomatic efforts.
