Keypoints:
- AU urges reparations for colonial injustices
- Africa and Caribbean leaders present united front
- Summit pushes dismantling of systemic inequities
THE chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has renewed calls for reparations, demanding that former colonial powers acknowledge historic crimes and take responsibility for centuries of exploitation.
Speaking in Addis Ababa on Sunday, Youssouf told leaders gathered for the second Africa-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit that the time had come for genuine accountability. He stressed that reparatory justice was not only about financial compensation but also about dismantling lingering systems of inequality.
‘The African Union stands proudly and firmly with our Caribbean brothers and sisters in every step towards reparatory justice and true liberation,’ Youssouf said.
Demands for meaningful reparations
The AU Commission chief underscored that ‘meaningful reparations’ must form part of the global response to colonial legacies. His remarks reflected mounting frustration across African and Caribbean states at the slow pace of international recognition of historical injustices, including slavery and resource exploitation.
Youssouf also urged former colonial rulers to ‘dismantle structural and systemic injustice’ that continues to hold back communities of African descent both on the continent and in the Caribbean.
His call comes amid renewed global conversations around restitution, with campaigns in both regions gaining momentum. Advocates argue that addressing colonial-era wrongs is critical to achieving genuine equality in global trade, governance and development.
Africa-Caribbean summit builds unity
The two-day summit, held in Ethiopia’s capital on September 6–7, brought together heads of state, government officials and representatives of the African diaspora.
The AU said the gathering was organised to ‘strengthen unity, deepen integration, and jointly pursue reparations and reparatory justice through a comprehensive transcontinental partnership framework’.
It added that the event was expected to ‘further enhance the growing interlinkage between Africa and the people of African descent’.
The first Africa-CARICOM summit was held in September 2021, and the 2025 meeting underscored efforts to institutionalise closer political, cultural and economic ties between the two regions.
Shared struggle for liberation
For both Africa and the Caribbean, the demand for reparations has become more than a symbolic gesture. Leaders argue it is part of a wider liberation agenda that confronts entrenched power imbalances left by colonial rule.
Caribbean governments, through CARICOM’s Reparations Commission, have long sought redress from former European powers, with claims ranging from financial restitution to formal apologies and developmental support.
African states, meanwhile, have increasingly aligned with these efforts, framing reparations as essential to addressing inequalities in trade, finance and global governance.
‘We cannot talk about development without recognising the enduring impact of colonial exploitation,’ one African diplomat told Africa Briefing. ‘Reparatory justice is about rebalancing the global order.’
Calls growing louder
Youssouf’s intervention reflects a growing consensus within the AU that reparations are not only justified but also necessary for Africa’s long-term stability. The Commission has backed initiatives aimed at amplifying African voices on the international stage, including joint lobbying with Caribbean states at the United Nations.
Observers say the push for reparatory justice has gained urgency in the context of ongoing economic crises, debt burdens and climate change — challenges that disproportionately affect Africa and the Caribbean. Advocates argue that colonial powers bear responsibility for laying the structural foundations of these vulnerabilities.
Towards a collective strategy
The Addis Ababa summit concluded with commitments to deepen cooperation between Africa and CARICOM. Leaders pledged to create a shared platform for advancing reparations claims, strengthening diplomatic coordination and mobilising public support across both regions.
While concrete timelines were not announced, officials emphasised that unity was the foundation for progress. ‘Together, Africa and the Caribbean form a powerful bloc with moral authority and political weight,’ said a Caribbean representative.
Analysts note that the joint approach may increase pressure on former colonial powers, many of whom remain reluctant to engage directly with reparations demands. Some European states have offered acknowledgements or limited financial commitments, but campaigners argue these fall short of addressing the full scale of historic injustices.
A step towards global justice
For the AU, the issue of reparatory justice is tied to its broader agenda of reforming global governance and advancing African agency in international affairs. Youssouf’s remarks in Addis Ababa signal that reparations will remain central to Africa’s diplomatic strategy.
By aligning more closely with Caribbean partners, the AU hopes to elevate the debate beyond moral appeals to concrete policy commitments. For leaders in both regions, the path forward lies in building solidarity, amplifying voices of the diaspora, and ensuring that historical crimes are neither ignored nor repeated.
