29 August 2024
The Pan-African Palestine Solidarity Network (PAPSN) – the largest pan-African network of civil society organizations, activists and groups in solidarity with the liberation struggle of the Palestinian people – salutes comrades, activists, journalists and port workers in Namibia who responded with exceptional speed to the information that a vessel carrying munitions to Israel would be passing through the Namibian port of Walvis Bay. Thanks to the vigilance of the BDS campaign, the combined efforts of Namibian and South African comrades in our Pan African Solidarity Network, and the decisive action of the Namibian government and relevant authorities, the Kathrin vessel was denied docking at Walvis Bay.
Through its actions, the Namibian government has shown that it respects its obligations under the Genocide Convention by refusing to be complicit in the arms trade with Israel as Israel carries out a genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza.
We call on all port authorities and governments worldwide to follow the example of Namibia and align with the UN Human Rights Council resolution which “calls upon all States to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel. In terms of the provisional orders of the ICJ order, a state can be held responsible when it fails to use all lawful means under its authority to prevent and stop genocide. Participation in arms transfer amounts to complicity in genocide.
PAPSN is immensely proud that its collective, continent-wide commitment is bearing fruit and we are confident that the actions of our Namibian comrades and its government will strengthen and encourage other campaigns in Africa like the Energy Embargo Campaign against Israel and Block The Boat campaign. We must translate Africa’s popular support for the Palestinian liberation into concrete actions that will force Israel to dismantle its system of apartheid and settler-colonialism against the Palestinian people. Ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine is a moral and legal obligation.
Aluta continua!
The struggle continues!
Bachir DIOP
Pan-African Palestine Solidarity Network (PAPSN)