Belgium. In the late 1950s and early ’60s, the country forcibly took away thousands of mixed-race children from their parents in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Burundi and Rwanda. Belgians saw mixed-race people as a threat to their segregation policies – and their authority as colonial rulers. Up to 20,000 children were shipped away and placed in Belgian orphanages and schools, mostly run by the Catholic Church. The church has already apologized for its role in the kidnappings. Last year, Belgian lawmakers passed a measure asking the government to apologize and help the now-adults track down their families or get birth certificates. Yesterday, Belgium’s prime minister said ‘sorry’ – saying he recognized “the targeted segregation” and the policy of forced kidnapping. This marks the first time that the Belgian government is taking any responsibility for its policies as a colonial ruler in Central Africa.

Source: The Skimm