Staff Reporter
LÜDERITZ will host its annual Genocide Remembrance commemoration at Shark Island from 27–28 May 2026, as the country continues to honour victims of the genocide and reflect on a painful chapter in its history.
The event, which forms part of the national observance of Genocide Remembrance Day on 28 May, will bring together government leaders, communities and youth in the ǁKharas Region to pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the genocide in former German South West Africa.
According to organisers, this year’s programme will begin on 27 May with a Youth Engagement Session aimed at encouraging young people to reflect on history, strengthen awareness, and participate in preserving Namibia’s shared heritage.
ǁKharas Governor Gertze has invited members of the public, particularly residents of the ǁKharas and Hardap regions, to attend the commemoration in large numbers, describing it as a moment of unity, remembrance and respect.
Preparations for the event are currently underway, with further logistical details expected to be announced in due course.
Namibia officially declared 28 May as Genocide Remembrance Day in 2024, with the first official commemoration held in 2025. The date marks the historical closure of German concentration camps in 1908 in German South West Africa, although the designation has drawn differing views from some descendants of genocide victims, who argue that systemic discrimination continued beyond that period.
The annual commemoration seeks to honour the memory of those who perished, express solidarity with their descendants, and reinforce national unity with the aim of ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated in Namibia or elsewhere.
Photos: Regional Governor of the Kharas Region/MICT
