08/21/2025

Second Nama Youth Conference in Mariental (Namibia)

Focus on the rights of Indigenous communities (August 22–23)

NTLA Youth Conference on extractive industries, cultural rights and the planned port expansion on Shark Island

Around 60 young representatives of the Nama people will meet in Mariental, Namibia, on August 22 and 23 to discuss the social, political, and human rights dimensions of hydrogen production in southern Namibia. The Youth Conference is being held in response to the controversial Hyphen mega-project for the production of green hydrogen, an international billion-dollar venture that could have profound implications for the land, the environment, and indigenous rights in southern Namibia. The conference will focus on key issues such as the impact of exploitative industries on the environment and communities, the rights of Indigenous Peoples in relation to large-scale investment projects, and the tension between economic interests and the protection of culture and cultural heritage. A special focus will be placed on the planned port expansion on Shark Island. This central memorial site commemorating the genocide of the Nama and Ovaherero would be severely damaged and partially destroyed by the project in its currently planned form. Furthermore, the right to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) and the right to genuine and meaningful consultation of the affected communities will be intensively discussed.
The conference is organized by the Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA), the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), and the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP).

The Hyphen project for the production of green hydrogen is one of the largest industrial projects in southern Africa, with an investment of around 10 billion US dollars. It is also supported by German companies and investments. The first Nama Youth Summit in April 2025 already formulated clear demands for the participation of the local population. The follow-up conference in August will deepen these discussions and send a signal for the rights of Indigenous communities in times of global climate policy and resource use.

“The Hyphen project is a prime example of how economic interests can supplant Indigenous rights if those affected are not involved in a binding manner. Germany and other actors involved must live up to their historical responsibility,” explains Laura Mahler, STP advisor for Sub-Saharan Africa.

“The project not only touches on environmental and human rights, it also has a colonial context. Genuine participation is not a nice extra, but a requirement under international law,” adds Andrea Pietrafesa from ECCHR.

Maboss Johannes Ortmann of the NTLA emphasises: “We, the Nama, must not be spectators of our own future. Decisions about our land and heritage must not be made without us.”

Journalists are welcome to attend the conference. The organisers will provide insights into local perspectives and will be available for background discussions.

Contact for press enquiries:

Contact: Laura Mahler, Referentin für Subsahara-Afrika

E-Mail: l.mahler@gfbv.de