Pan-African Congress on Reparations
Pan-African Congress on Reparations refers to a series of continental and international gatherings and advocacy initiatives aimed at securing reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, and their ongoing socio-economic and political impacts on people of African descent. These congresses provide forums for policy discussion, strategy development, and coalition-building among African nations, diaspora communities, and global organizations.
Historical context
[edit]The reparations movement has roots in early Pan-Africanism, with calls for redress dating back to the first Pan-African Congress in 1900 and the activism of early twentieth-century leaders.[1] The modern reparations agenda gained momentum in the late twentieth century, especially after the 1993 Abuja Proclamation, which called for a global coalition to pursue reparatory justice for Africa and its diaspora.[2]
Major congresses and milestones
[edit]Abuja Congress, 1993
[edit]In April 1993, the first major Pan-African Congress on Reparations was held in Abuja, Nigeria, convened by the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union). Delegates from more than 40 countries adopted the Abuja Proclamation, which called for comprehensive reparations including financial compensation, debt cancellation, technology transfer, and the restitution of looted cultural property.[3]
Accra Reparations Conference, 2023
[edit]In November 2023, Ghana and the African Union Commission co-hosted a major reparations summit in Accra.[4] The conference concluded with the "Accra Proclamation on Reparations," advocating for a Global Reparations Fund and the appointment of an AU special envoy to lead the reparations campaign.[5]
Further summits and policy initiatives
[edit]- The African Union declared 2025 the "Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations," making reparatory justice a central theme for its 38th Summit.[6] - The CARICOM Reparations Commission continues to advocate for reparatory justice through its Ten-Point Plan, calling for formal apologies, debt cancellation, and investments in health and education.[7] - In April 2025, a London conference marked 125 years since the first Pan-African Congress, serving as a preparatory event for the upcoming 9th Pan-African Congress in Lomé, Togo.
Policy and scholarly debate
[edit]Advocates emphasize that reparations should include not only financial compensation but also structural reforms addressing the legacies of enslavement and colonialism, such as economic inequality and cultural loss.[8] There is also debate around climate justice, with calls for redress for environmental degradation linked to colonial exploitation.[6]
Legal and policy experts highlight that crimes like slavery and colonialism are considered crimes against humanity, with no statute of limitations, strengthening the legal argument for reparations.[3] Philanthropic organizations have also been encouraged to support reparatory justice efforts.[6]
Current developments
[edit]- African and Caribbean governments are collaborating on a unified approach to reparations.[4] - National committees are being established in several countries, aligning with broader regional strategies.[7] - The 9th Pan-African Congress in Lomé, Togo, is expected to further develop the reparations agenda and Africa’s role in global governance.
Related topics
[edit]- Reparations for slavery
- Pan-Africanism
- Durban World Conference Against Racism
- African Union
- CARICOM Reparations Commission
- Restitution (legal)
- Transatlantic slave trade
- Colonialism in Africa
References
[edit]- ^ Adi, Hakim. "Pan-Africanism and the struggle for reparations." Ethnic and Racial Studies, 2012.
- ^ Abuja Proclamation, 1993.
- ^ a b Davies, Thomas. "The Abuja Proclamation and the Pan-African Movement." Review of African Political Economy, 2002.
- ^ a b "A Ghana reparations summit agrees on a global fund to compensate Africans for the slave trade." AP News, 2023.
- ^ Accra Proclamation on Reparations. African Union, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Beyond compensation: Reparatory justice as a structural economic imperative for Africa." UN Africa Renewal, 2025.
- ^ a b "Commonwealth summit agreement raises slavery reparations after row with UK." Politico.eu, 2024.
- ^ Araújo, Ana Lucia. "Reparations for Slavery and the Slave Trade: A Transnational and Comparative History." Social and Economic Studies, 2017.
Further reading
[edit]- A Ghana reparations summit agrees on a global fund to compensate Africans for the slave trade. AP News, 2023.
- Accra Proclamation on Reparations. African Union, 2023.
- Commonwealth summit agreement raises slavery reparations after row with UK. Politico.eu, 2024.
- Beyond compensation: Reparatory justice as a structural economic imperative for Africa. UN Africa Renewal, 2025.
External links
[edit]- [Abuja Proclamation (1993)](https://www.panafricanreparations.org/abuja-proclamation)
- [CARICOM Reparations Commission](https://caricom.org/reparations-commission/)
- [African Union Theme for 2025: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations](https://au.int/en/decisions/accra-proclamation-reparations)
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