Towards Historic Justice: African Leaders Seize the 38th African Union Summit to Demand Reparations and Dignity

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

A Call for Restorative Justice: Africa’s Unyielding Demand for Redress in the Face of Colonial Injustice

Algiers, Algeria | February 16th, 2025 — The 38th African Union (AU) Summit commenced yesterday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with an overarching focus on restorative justice under the theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.” The summit marks a renewed and resolute push by African leaders to demand compensation from Western powers for the deep-seated consequences of colonialism, including the ruthless plundering of resources, systemic human exploitation, environmental degradation, and enduring socio-economic inequities.

A Renewed Drive for Reparations

For decades, African nations have sought compensation from their former colonial rulers, highlighting the profound and lasting scars of imperialism. The current summit, however, represents an unprecedented collective mobilization, with African leaders making an uncompromising case for reparations on the global stage.

“Reparations are the dominant theme in Addis Ababa,” wrote the AU’s Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) on October 10. “It is becoming increasingly impossible to ignore the enduring damage inflicted by slavery and colonialism.” Zimbabwean lawyer and reparations expert Alfred Mavedzingi echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the historical injustices committed against Africa demand acknowledgment and tangible redress.

One of the leading voices in this movement, Sudanese international law professor Major General Dr. Al-Tayeb Abdel Jalil, has meticulously outlined a reparations roadmap, providing precise calculations for compensation owed to African nations. According to his research, Britain alone is indebted to Sudan to the tune of $700 billion for the devastating consequences of its colonial rule.

“Like many African nations, Sudan continues to suffer from the exploitation and destructive policies imposed by colonial powers. The time has come to demand justice,” Abdel Jalil asserted. “Financial reparations are not merely an attempt to quantify suffering in monetary terms; they represent an opportunity to reinvest in our nations, ensuring that current and future generations of Sudanese and Africans can reclaim the futures that were stolen from them.”

Calculating the Cost of Colonialism

In assessing reparations, key factors such as the duration of colonial rule, the forced labor system, resource extraction, environmental destruction, and socio-economic regression have been meticulously analyzed. For instance, Sudan was historically exploited as a vast reservoir of cheap labor and raw materials, a practice that significantly hindered its development trajectory.

The demand for reparations extends beyond Sudan, with multiple African nations—most notably Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—presenting their claims for justice. These nations argue that the lingering economic stagnation and social turmoil they face today are direct consequences of colonial exploitation.

A Defining Moment: Africa’s Rising Resolve

In light of these mounting demands, European nations now stand at a crossroads: they must either acknowledge their historical culpability and engage in equitable dialogue with Africa or persist in denial, risking diplomatic isolation and moral condemnation.

The wind of freedom and dignity is sweeping across Africa. The demand for reparations is not solely a financial claim—it is a declaration of Africa’s worth, a demand for long-overdue recognition and respect.

As Africa forges ahead, unburdening itself from the shackles of its colonial past, it seeks to assert itself on the global stage with unrelenting strength and dignity. This new paradigm could pave the way for an equitable global partnership rooted in justice, mutual respect, and shared prosperity.

 

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