Germany's President Apologizes for Colonial Crimes in Tanzania
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has asked for forgiveness for the colonial atrocities committed by Germany in Tanzania during the Maji Maji rebellion in the early 1900s, where almost 300,000 people were killed. Steinmeier expressed "shame" for the actions of his country and acknowledged the shared history between Tanzania and Germany. He promised to raise awareness of these events in Germany and work towards a communal processing of the past. Germany has recently acknowledged its colonial past in Namibia and announced financial aid, and now seeks to cooperate with Tanzania for the repatriation of cultural property. However, some critics argue that the apology does not go far enough in addressing the extent of the atrocities committed.