Case 609: African Refugees in British Territory

Abstract

This chapter examines the issue of Herero and Nama refugees that entered British territory. While some Herero settled with African communities in Bechuanaland, many others arrived in refugee camps. Little is known about these camps but is clear that the refugees were on a whole neglected by the Cape authorities. Instead, two issues were far more pressing for the Cape government: the use of refugees as labourers and pressing for compensation from Germany for the refugees’ maintenance. Although the expenses on refugees were nominal, the Cape government’s demands put the British Foreign Office in an unwanted position, having to press what was to them an unimportant issue at a time where Anglo-German relations were delicate. In the end, concerns of the refugees’ welfare were secondary to economic, diplomatic and security interests.KeywordsRefugeesDiplomacyColonialismNative labourTrans-imperialism