By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
African leaders are set to intensify their push for reparations for slavery and colonialism at the upcoming African Union summit in Addis Ababa, despite strong opposition from former colonial powers.
The summit will aim to form a “unified vision” for reparations, which could include “financial compensation and formal acknowledgment of past wrongs” along with policy reforms, land restitution, and the return of cultural artefacts.
“Reparations are more than just compensation,” said William Carew, head of the AU’s economic, social, and cultural council, emphasizing that the issue is about securing a brighter future for future generations by recognizing their painful past.
Alfred Mavedzenge, a Zimbabwean lawyer and reparations expert, stated, “It is increasingly becoming impossible to not acknowledge the damage caused by slavery and colonialism,” noting the lasting effects such as economic disparities and racial discrimination.
However, the idea of reparations is facing resistance. U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed the idea, stating he “doesn’t see it happening,” while many European leaders, including the far-right in Portugal, Britain, and France, are firmly opposed. In Portugal, the far-right Chega party even proposed charging the president with treason for suggesting reparations could be considered.
Despite these challenges, the AU and the Caribbean community, CARICOM, are collaborating to demand reparations, with plans for “diplomatic pressure or legal actions at international courts.” Mavedzenge voiced concerns that, after decades of such discussions, “the resolutions will not be implemented.”
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