The Belgian government has apologized for its role in kidnapping babies from their African mothers during colonial times, AP reported.

It is noted that during that period, thousands of children living in the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi were taken away and raised in Belgian institutions.

“On behalf of the federal government, I present our apologies to the mixed-race children born from Belgian colonization and their families for the injustice and suffering they were subjected to,” Prime Minister Charles Michel said in a statement.

He expressed “compassion for the African mothers, whose children were torn away from them,” and concern for the emotional horror the children went through.

The country's prime minister said he hoped that recognition would be a step toward a collective national reckoning and in fighting racism.