Louis Nels (16 December 1858 – 13 November 1910) was a German government official who served as acting Reichskommissar in German South West Africa in 1890–1891. Trained as a lawyer, he later joined the German civil service. Beginning in 1885 he served under acting Reichskommisar Heinrich Ernst Göring (1839–1913) in Otjimbingwe, the colonial headquarters of German South West Africa. In 1890 he became a colonial judge, and shortly afterwards replaced Göring as acting Reichskommissar. Nels would maintain this position from August 1890 to March 1891, when he was succeeded by Curt von François (1852–1931).