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German President Apologizes for Colonial Atrocities in Tanzania
In a historic move, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has expressed “shame” for the colonial atrocities his country inflicted on Tanzania. The apology comes more than a century after German forces killed almost 300,000 people during the Maji Maji rebellion, one of the bloodiest anti-colonial uprisings in history.
“I would like to ask for forgiveness for what Germans did to your ancestors here,” Steinmeier said during a visit to a museum in Songea, where the uprising took place. “What happened here is our shared history, the history of your ancestors and the history of our ancestors in Germany.”
The Maji Maji rebellion was triggered by a German policy designed to force the indigenous population to grow cotton for export. The rebellion was brutally suppressed by German forces, who killed tens of thousands of people and destroyed entire villages.
Steinmeier’s apology is a significant step forward in Germany’s efforts to reckon with its colonial past. The country has long been criticized for its reluctance to acknowledge and apologize for the atrocities it committed during its colonial era.
“This is a big moment for Tanzania and Germany,” said Tanzanian historian Mohamed Said. “It is a sign that Germany is finally willing to take responsibility for its colonial past.”
Steinmeier’s visit to Tanzania comes at a time when there is a growing movement around the world to hold former colonial powers accountable for their crimes. In recent years, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands have all apologized for their colonial past and have begun to return stolen artifacts and cultural objects.
Steinmeier’s apology comes after King Charles of England recently acknowledged the “abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence committed against Kenyans” during their independence struggle. However, King Charles did not deliver a formal apology, which would have to be decided by government ministers.
South Africa Declares Public Holiday to Celebrate Rugby World Cup Win
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a public holiday on December 15, 2023, to celebrate the Springboks’ victory in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
On Saturday, the Springboks brought the Webb Ellis Cup back to South Africa for the fourth time, defeating New Zealand in a thrilling final.
The Springboks defeated New Zealand 12-11 in the final, claiming their fourth Rugby World Cup title.
In a nationwide address on Monday, Ramaphosa said the public holiday would be a “day of hope, a day of celebration and unity.” He praised the Springboks for their “momentous achievement” and said their victory had shown South Africans what is possible.
Ramaphosa also spoke of the importance of the team’s unity, noting that the number of black players in the squad had gone up from one in 1995 to almost half in 2023. He said he wanted the team’s unity to become a greater feature of South African society.
Ramaphosa also said the Springboks’ victory showed South Africans the qualities that would be necessary to tackle the country’s status as the most unequal country in the world. He called on South Africans to display the same patriotism and dedication to overcoming the country’s challenges as the Springboks did in winning the Rugby World Cup.
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