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Namibia's President Hage Geingob speaking at the 2018 UN General Assembly
Photo: John Moore / Getty Images
Namibia welcomes the recognition of German colonial crimes by the federal government.
"Germany's recognition that genocide has been committed is the first step in the right direction," said President Hage Geingob's spokesman, Alfredo Hengari.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) had previously announced that an "agreement on how to deal with the darkest chapter of our common history" had been reached.
He had described the crimes of German colonial troops against the Herero and Nama as genocide.
The two countries had been negotiating an agreement for almost six years.
The federal government wants to support the victims' descendants with 1.1 billion euros.
Killed tens of thousands of people
Maas pointed out that the recognition of the genocide and the establishment of the relief fund did not give rise to any legal claims to compensation.
It is about a political and moral obligation.
The German Empire was a colonial power in what is now Namibia from 1884 to 1915 and brutally put down rebellions.
According to historians, about 65,000 out of 80,000 Herero and at least 10,000 out of 20,000 Nama were killed.
lau / AFP