<span style="color: #222222;">Germany has officially acknowledged today that it committed genocide during its colonial-era occupation of Namibia. The Country also announced a financial support gesture.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It's the first time that Berlin has recognized the atrocities committed, with the declaration coming after five years of negotiations.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Foreign Minister Heiko Maas today acknowledged the killings as genocide.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In a statement, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that as a gesture of recognition of the immeasurable suffering, Germany caused, it would set up a fund amounting USD 1.34 billion.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">German colonists killed tens of thousands of Herero and Nama people there in early 20th Century massacres.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, a Namibian government spokesperson said that Germany's recognition was a first step in the right direction.</span><br />''  <br />