Statue after protests

the yard of the fortress ( which serves as a museum) in 2013. More recently, a less pompous monument with an unclear history in the coastal town of Henties Bay dubbed the “Gallows” was the subject of much controversy. So are other remnants of the colonial past. But neither official policy nor civil society have so far formulated a plan for coming to terms with this past.

The Alte Feste displays many artefacts from the German colonial era. Nearby, during the genocide, was a concentration camp. The German extermination strategy has since then been recognised as the first genocide of the 20th century. In controversial bilateral negotiations, which started in 2015, the German and Namibian governments are seeking to address this dark chapter.

Von François would be a well- placed companion to the equestrian monument in the yard of the fortress and in the shadow of the independence museum. Both monuments could – with adequate background information – remain an at

traction for local and overseas visitors, offering enlightenment concerning the country’s dark colonial history. ( The Conversation)