Germany seeks to reckon with colonial atrocities in Tanzania

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (third from left) observing a minute of silence in Songea, Tanzania, on 1 November 2023 after laying a wreath at the mass grave of Maji Maji warriors executed by German colonial forces in 1906. © Imani Nsamila

Visiting Tanzania this week, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier asked for forgiveness for Germany’s brutal quelling of the Maji Maji uprising over a century ago. Around 300,000 Tanzanians died during this dark episode of Germany’s colonial history; some combattants beheaded and their remains yet to be returned to Tanzania.

Steinmeier visited the southern Tanzanian town of Songea and paid respect to the graves of fallen local warriors on Wednesday, as part of a three-day visit to Germany’s former colony.