The leader of one of the factions of the OvaHerero Traditional Authority, Mutjinde Katjiua, reiterated the stance that the descendants of genocide victims must directly negotiate with the German government.
 
Ombara Katjiua stated that this remains the rightful framework for addressing the genocide matter.
 
 Katjiua is accusing the government of sidelining the legitimate representatives of the Ovaherero people and attempting to impose a settlement that violates the motion unanimously adopted in 2006.
 
He further rejected the joint declaration in which Germany agreed to fund €1.1 billion in Namibian projects over 30 years.
 
 “We totally reject this deviation from the 2006 mandate. Our position is further supported by the findings of the seven United Nations Special Rapporteurs in 2023, particularly the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence, who formally rejected the joint declaration. The Special Rapporteur has concluded that the declaration fails to meet international standards of meaningful consultation, victim-centered justice, and adequate reparations.”
 
 Katjiua stated that compensation must be allocated to the descendants of the genocide victims and must be controlled by those descendants themselves.
 
In pursuit of justice, the Ovaherero Traditional Authority, along with the Landless People's Movement and the Nama Traditional Leaders Association, has taken the matter to the Namibian High Court.
 
 “Review and set aside the joint declaration itself, as it was never tabled in accordance with Rule 55 of the standing rules of the House. Declare the joint declaration inconsistent with the Namibian Constitution,” added Katjiua. 
 
 President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah confirmed during her State of the Nation Address in April 2026 that a final conclusion to the decade-long talks is within reach.
 
 The reviewed Joint Declaration will be tabled before the National Assembly for approval before its official signing.