Dr Alfredo Tjiurimo HENGARI

Namibia and Botswana in Europe: I thank H.E. Dr Zein Kebonang, Ambassador-Designate of Botswana to Belgium for the courtesy visit. Relations between Namibia and Botswana are strong. We have shared infrastructure ambitions in rail and port logistics. In Belgium, we agreed to collectively champion our shared interests in sectors such as diamonds and livestock.

We saved the furniture as they say. A diplomatic victory for both. Les diables rouges - Les pharaons d’Egypte

Solidarity with Cuba: I paid a courtesy call on H.E. Juan Antonio Fernández Palacios, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, reaffirming the enduring bonds of friendship and solidarity between Namibia and Cuba. @JuantonioFdez Ambassador Palacios shared his own connection to our shared history, having served as a lieutenant in Angola during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, where Cuban forces fought alongside SWAPO in the fight for the independence of Namibia. I highlighted increased bilateral cooperation between Namibia and Cuba, in areas such as urban and rural development, health and the medical field with hundreds of Namibian doctors who earned their qualifications in Cuba. More than a diplomatic engagement, our meeting was a reflection of a friendship forged in shared sacrifice, sustained through solidarity, and carried forward by a common commitment to multilateralism, development, human dignity, and international cooperation.

I signed today the Book of Condolences at the Embassy of the Republic of Angola in Brussels following the passing of H.E Mr. Manuel Domingos AUGUSTO, former Ambassador, Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Angola and Secretary for External Affairs of the MPLA. Namibia and Angola enjoy deep bonds of friendship and cooperation that were forged during the crucible of our shared struggle for freedom and the exceptional contributions of Angola during our fight for independence. Amb. Manuel AUGUSTO will be remembered as a steadfast friend of Namibia, who dedicated himself to advancing peace, prosperity, and regional cooperation across the region and Africa at large. He will be remembered fondly. May his soul rest in peace.

Sports Diplomacy - building bridges and friendship : I joined at Hofstade Stadium the opening ceremony of the EUT20 official launch of the cricket league. Namibia is a recognized emerging cricket nation having qualified several times for the Cricket World Cup since 2001. My presence throughout the competition is to lend support to our players battling it out for Liège Red Lions (Gerhard Erasmus) and Antwerp Anchors (David Wiese and Ruben Trumpelmann). I am also attending the games to build bridges through sport and to reinforce the spirit of international engagement that EUT20 Belgium represents and for which Namibia is known for across different field of human endeavor.

I thank H.E. Dr Carolina OLARTE-BÁCARES, Ambassador of Colombia to the Netherlands for paying me a courtesy visit. She is a candidate for the position of Judge of the International Criminal Court for the period 2027-2036. Amb. OLARTE-BÁCARES shared her vision for the ICC. It was also a pleasant chat between two alumni of the Université @paris1pantheonsorbonne where she completed a PhD in Law and I in Political Science around the same period.

Africa-Europe Relations: As the African Group in Brussels, we shared our views with H.E. @kajakallas - EU Commission Vice President and High Representative on Foreign Policy about a bouquet of issues in our partnership, ranging from investments, restrictive trade practices, migration and security. I emphasized the importance of a strong partnership based on equality and one where time and resources are dedicated to dialogue and mutually beneficial interactions.@eucommission

Great exchange today with the Jean Van Wetter, CEO of the Belgian Agency for International Cooperation, @Enabel_Belgium about the opening of their Country Office in Namibia. We are both looking forward to greater collaboration between Namibia and Belgium, including the implementation of various projects, including in port logistics, infrastructure corridors and green hydrogen.

Edgar Morin est décédé. The eminent constructivist sociologist and Jack of All Trades philosopher, Edgar Morin passed away at the age of 104. I discovered in 2004 his oeuvre, his debates with a fellow Sorbonnard Jacques Derrida, his philosophical writings and exceptional commentary on the benches of the Sorbonne, which he frequented many decades earlier. A universalist, a humanist and intellectual of the Left, Edgar Morin analysed, clarified and argued complex issues with remarkable humility and accuracy. In Pour Changer de Civilisation, of which I got a copy, he proposes with his usual La Pensée Complexe that our best bet to deal with the extremes of violence in all forms, was for humanity to cultivate new political civilisation and new politics of civilisation. He also appeals to us to propagate what man has, intelligence and love. In the last book I bought a few years ago, “Où est passé le peuple de gauche?”, Morin challenges and rallies the Left to renew and mobilise around its fraternal values of justice and equality. The world of ideas has lost Edgar Morin, the last grand intellectual of his era. But his ideas will endure.

Today, 28 May 2026, Namibians are observing Genocide Remembrance Day in landmark memorialisations around our country. The decision by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to commemorate this painful chapter in our collective history in plural forms, but with one objective marks a turning point in our own efforts of coming to terms with the past. These acts of memory across our country are salutary in advancing the ideals of One Namibian, One Nation. More important, the solemn acts today, at various memorial sites represent another vital step in healing the wounds of the past. Beyond what we are owed from the perspective of genocide, apology and reparations, healing begins with conversations amongst ourselves as Namibians. These conversations, framed today in plural forms in various regions of our land, start with the affected Herero and Nama communities and the entire Namibian nation that lives with the effects of the first genocide of the 20th century. The genocide is not only about what we are morally, ethically and materially entitled to as affected communities and Namibians. It is not only about the instruments of justice and accountability. It starts with what we owe ourselves and what we ought to do as Namibians in memory of the victims. It starts with what President Nandi-Ndaitwah framed today in the nation’s statement as the individual and collective responsibility in advancing the memory of the 1904-08 genocide. We owe it to ourselves to confront painful histories of the genocide. We owe it to the victims and ourselves to acknowledge past atrocities and honor their memories accurately. Unquestionably, the plural memorialisations today serve the purpose of vitally anchoring the genocide in our collective, but painful memory. Crucially, they set the foundation for our individual and collective coming to terms with the past, and healing the wounds of the past.

Africa Day 2026 - Team Namibia in Belgium - With fellow colleagues , we showcased Namibian culture and cuisine on the occasion of the Africa Day celebrations under the aegis of the Group of African Ambassadors in Brussels and the @_AfricanUnion @NamibiaEmbBE

Water Diplomacy: In celebration of Africa Day, I joined the Group of African Ambassadors in Brussels (GAAB) in a seminar on the Umoja wa Afrika (African Union) theme for the year 2026, “Ensuring sustainable availability to water and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063”. As a water stressed country, I reinforced our water diplomacy and water policies that emphasize extending potable water access to rural communities, wastewater reclamation, the drilling of boreholes, building new desalination plants for water intensive sectors, harvesting rainwater, community empowerment in water conservation and transboundary cooperation. Happy Africa Day!

Spotted ein Berliner - but a Frenchie. Hugo ist der name

Green Industries Diplomacy: The Director General of the National Planning Commission, Hon. Kaire Mbuende and I concluded today site visits to energy systems sites of Enertrag in Dauerthal and Ostweddingen in eastern Germany. The shift to renewable energy systems requires new solutions for energy production. Namibia offers excellent solar radiation and wind power to lead in green ammonia and green hydrogen technologies. Our discussions with business leaders and senior executives from Enertrag and Hyphen lead to one conclusion: Namibia is the ideal destination for large scale renewable power projects. We are passing from ambition to execution.

We concluded our participation in the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam with a successful event focused on our country’s ambitions in green hydrogen. We made the case: Excellent sun radiation and exceptional wind, including a fertile policy environment for the cost-effective incubation of a green industry in Namibia. #greenhydrogen

Green Hydrogen Diplomacy: From planning to execution - I am with Hon. Dr Kaire Mbuende, Director General of the National Planning Commission and Chair of the Green Industries Council at the World Hydrogen Summit with global executives, policymakers, and investors across diverse industries to share insights on the Namibian story about green hydrogen. Over 100 Billion US Dollars is committed to hydrogen projects with around 300 projects beyond FID and in execution. We are here to pitch Namibia as a frontier country in the race to execute green energy projects at scale. #worldhydrogensummit

I joined Nina Katangolo on the Daily Roundup to discuss what we have achieved during the 2nd Namibia-EU Business Forum. 400 participants, 3 days of intense discussions on critical raw materials, renewable hydrogen, value chains, creative industries, agribusiness, automotive sector and logistics. Implementation of the extended Roadmap - a partnership of over 40 000 jobs in Namibia and thousands more in Europe. @NBCDigitalNews @EUinNamibia

An excellent exchange with our Minister of International Relations and Trade, Hon Selma Ashipala-Musavyi about the range of issues we deal with at the @NamibiaEmbBE - the line is clear #economicdiplomacy