Namibia insists that international law cannot claim universality or fairness unless it confronts colonial crimes and their enduring impact.

This was the message from International Relations and Trade Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi at the International Conference on the Crimes of Colonialism in Africa, currently underway in Algiers.

She said Africa remains scarred by structural remnants of colonialism, racism, and slavery, and it continues to seek justice for these legacies.

The conference is seeking to strengthen Africa's common stance on historical justice, reparations, heritage restitution, and the preservation of collective memory. 

Framed as a "trial", the two-day meeting is examining crimes committed on the continent by France, Britain, Belgium, and Germany.

Ashipala-Musavyi argued the need for collective action to establish a legal framework that holds colonial wrongs accountable, arguing that international law has historically ignored such crimes. 

She said key legal instruments governing genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity exclude colonial atrocities, making them almost invisible.

The minister called for the development of legal norms to define colonial crimes and pursue remedies.

She highlighted Africa's and the Global South's long-standing role in shaping contemporary international law, including principles such as self-determination and sovereignty.

Recalling Namibia's own history, from the 1904-1908 genocide against the Herero and Nama to years under apartheid, Ashipala-Musavyi said these events illustrate the profound physical and psychological trauma inflicted by colonial violence, with its effects still felt across generations. 

She reminded the conference that Africans documented their suffering to ensure future generations fully understand the continent's experiences of pain and resilience and to prevent such injustices from recurring.

The minister reaffirmed Namibia's support for the people of Western Sahara, saying international law recognises their right to self-determination and decolonisation remains the only legitimate solution.

African countries are expected to adopt the "Algiers Declaration", which will guide the codification of colonial crimes. 

The document will be presented to the African Union summit in February for endorsement.