By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
AU Pushes for Reparations as UN Labels Transatlantic Slave Trade a Crime Against Humanity
The African Union has called for concrete global action on reparations following a significant resolution by the United Nations that classifies the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans as among the gravest crimes against humanity.
In a statement, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, described the resolution as a defining moment in the global push to acknowledge historical wrongs and their enduring consequences.
He noted that the decision strengthens the demand for truth, justice, and healing, while underscoring the need to address the deep-rooted effects of slavery that persist across generations.
Youssouf reiterated the AU’s commitment to working closely with the UN and other international partners to ensure full recognition of both the historical and present-day impact of the slave trade. He also renewed calls for fair and meaningful compensation for affected communities.
The transatlantic slave trade, which spanned from the 16th to the 19th centuries, forcibly displaced millions of Africans, particularly from West and Central Africa, to Europe and the Americas.
Many were subjected to brutal labor under inhumane conditions, with countless lives lost during the journey and in captivity.
The resolution, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly with overwhelming support, highlights the lasting social and economic consequences of slavery, including systemic racism and inequality still faced by people of African descent worldwide.
The AU also praised Ghana for spearheading the initiative, describing it as a reflection of Africa’s long-standing demand for global acknowledgment of the slave trade’s enduring legacy and its far-reaching impact.
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