German Ambassador to Namibia Thorsten Hutter reaffirmed Germany's commitment to Namibia through ongoing bilateral development cooperation, emphasising that it remains a cornerstone of the special relationship between the two nations.

He said this at the 35th anniversary of German-Namibia development cooperation.

Hutter highlighted that since Namibia's independence in 1990, Germany has provided over a billion euros in public funds, making Namibia the highest per capita recipient of German government aid in Africa.

"The total financial and technical support extended by Germany since 1990 exceeds 1.6 billion Euros (App N$32 billion). The current portfolio comprises 60 projects distributed amongst the implementation organisations KfW (25), GIZ and BGR (3). The funds are a mix of grants and preferential loans, amounting to 582 million euros (N$11.4 billion)."
This year marks 35 years of Namibia-Germany development cooperation, a partnership built on mutual trust and shared interests.

However, the relationship between the two nations extends back 124 years, with a complex history that includes Germany's colonial invasion of Namibia and the genocide committed against the Herero and Nama people.

In recent years, the two governments have engaged in negotiations regarding reparations for these historical atrocities.

The Director General of the National Planning Commission, Obeth Kandjoze, who also plays a key role in these negotiations, provided insights into the ongoing discussions.

Namibia will install a new administration this month, and Germany's new government will take office in April.

There is some uncertainty, according to the German ambassador, as to whether negotiations on reparations and development cooperation will continue under the new leadership.

However, he emphasised that both nations remain committed to reinforcing their long-standing ties.