140 years ago today in Berlin. Delegations from the colonial powers met for a conference to negotiate their claims to territories in Africa. The so-called Congo Conference left traces that can still be found even in remote places such as BüllsPort in the southern centre of Namibia…
The Congo Conference (see Wikipedia) began on 15 November 1884. It concluded on 26 February 1885. The delegates signed the so-called General Act of Berlin, also known as the Congo Act.
The German Empire’s aim in the negotiations was to have its interests acknowledged, including South West Africa. This was the area between the Portuguese colony of Angola in the north and the British Cape Colony in the south. To the east, it bordered the British protectorate of Betchuanaland (now Botswana).
Barely seven months earlier the German Empire had promised the Bremen merchant Adolf Lüderitz protection of his land. This was a strip of land on the coast between present-day Lüderitz and the Gariep (Oranje) River. Lüderitz had acquired this land from Nama leader Joseph Frederiks in 1883.
Only 12,000 German settlers in German South-West Africa
In the beginning, the Germans in South West Africa were primarily interested in mineral resources for their emerging industry. Later, plans for a settler colony were added. During the population explosion and industrialisation, several million Germans emigrated in the 19th century and early 20th century – mainly to the USA.
‘Deutsch Südwest’ was the most popular German colony. Nevertheless, and despite the diamond rush at Kolmanskop near Lüderitz from 1908, only around 12,000 German settlers were counted in 1913.
One year later, World War I broke out. The Union of South Africa fought alongside Great Britain against the German Empire. On 7 July 1915, the German Schutztruppe, which was far inferior to the South African army, surrendered.
This marked the end of the German colonial era in South West Africa after just 31 years. South Africa administered the country until Namibia’s independence in 1990.
Police station with a view

Police station at BüllsPort near the road along the Tsondab Valley through the Naukluft Mountains in the former colony of German Southwest Africa (1884 – 1915). Photo: Koloniales Bildarchiv der Universitätsbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
The ruins of a police station on BüllsPort are a reminder of the German colonial era. Situated in a small valley, the post monitored a route from the interior to the coast, which ran along the valley of the Tsondab rivier (dry river) through the Naukluft Mountains.
Even today, the ruins still offer a marvellous view down into the sweeping Tsondab valley. But no policeman has ‘lived’ here for a long time. Instead, guests at a small campsite enjoy the tranquillity of nature.

Traces of the German colonial era in today’s Namibia: Ruins of the police station in the private nature reserve of BüllsPort Lodge & Farm in the Naukluft Mountains. Photo: Sven-Eric Stender
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