Author: Blene Woldeselasse, MSc
February 26, 2025
HRRC supports the African Union in its unified request for reparations from their former colonizers. Many African nations experienced horrific human rights violations at the hands of colonizers from countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and Portugal, and reparations are critical part of the justice and healing processes.
![Members of the African Union at the annual summit in January 2024 [Image source: African Union]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_f6980ab3dc3b4c38810b6ed8a5864ac8~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_471,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_f6980ab3dc3b4c38810b6ed8a5864ac8~mv2.png)
The African Union (AU) concluded its summit on February 16, with reparations taking center stage. This marks a historic shift—while countries have taken their individual stance on the subject, this is the first time the AU is taking collective action as a bloc. The 37th session, held in 2023, had set the stage with the theme: "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations."
What Do Reparations Entail?
Quantifying the damage inflicted on Africa through colonialism and slavery is nearly impossible, with some estimates reaching trillions of dollars. However, reparations go beyond financial compensation. The AU is advocating for a multifaceted approach, including:
Historical Acknowledgment
Financial Reparations
Land Restitution
Cultural Preservation
Policy Reforms
International Accountability
Community Empowerment
Continued Advocacy
How Have Past Reparation Efforts Fared?
Several former colonial powers have responded to calls for reparations with varying degrees of commitment:
Portugal
In 2023, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa acknowledged the need for reparations, recognizing his country's role as the largest trafficker of enslaved Africans. However, when the far-right party Chega accused him of treason, other political factions dismissed the claim against him. The Portuguese government then clarified it will not be initiating any reparation process.
Germany
After six years of negotiations, Germany agreed in 2021 to fund $1.1 billion in development projects over 30 years in Namibia as restitution for the 1904–1908 genocide. However, it fell short of recognizing the payment as formal reparations, sparking backlash from descendants of the genocide survivors.
United Kingdom
In 2012, the UK paid $25 million to compensate 5,228 Kenyan victims of torture during the 1950s Mau Mau uprising. However, the British government still refuses to acknowledge liability for the actions of its colonial administration.
Is This the Right Time for Reparations?
Africa faces ongoing crises, including conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. Some argue that the continent should focus on present challenges rather than dwell on historical grievances. Critics claim that Africa avoids accountability for its own struggles by blaming colonial history.
However, the AU’s current approach smartly ties past injustices to contemporary issues such as economic inequality and climate action. Under international humanitarian law, reparations include restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, and satisfaction—making now as crucial a time as ever to push for justice.
Will the AU’s Demands Be Heard?
With the global political landscape shifting and far-right movements rising across Europe, will the AU's collective call for reparations be met with action, or will it once again fall on deaf ears?
HRRC stands in full support of the AU’s unified stance. Economic aid in the form of loans—leaving African nations trapped in cycles of debt to their former colonizers—cannot substitute for reparations. Instead, debt cancellation and targeted financing would be a just and necessary starting point for real change.
Glossary
Bloc – A group of nations, political parties, or organizations united for a common purpose, often in international relations or politics.
Backlash – A strong and often negative reaction or opposition to an idea, action, or movement, typically from the public or a specific group.
Colonialism – The practice of acquiring and maintaining control over another country or territory, often by exploiting its resources and people for economic and political gain.
Compensation – Payment or reparation given to someone for loss, suffering, or damage they have experienced.
Descent – A person's lineage or ancestral background, often used to describe ethnic or national heritage.
Factions – Smaller, organized groups within a larger entity that may have differing opinions or interests, often in political or ideological contexts.
Genocide – The deliberate and systematic extermination of a particular ethnic, national, racial, or religious group.
Grievances – Complaints or injustices that people or groups express due to perceived or actual harm, discrimination, or unfair treatment.
Inflicted – To have caused harm, suffering, or damage to someone or something, often in a forceful or deliberate manner.
Liability – Legal or moral responsibility for an action, often involving financial or legal consequences.
Multifaceted – Having many aspects or components; complex and involving multiple factors or dimensions.
Quantifying – The process of measuring or expressing something in numerical terms, often used in analysis or statistics.
Reparations – Measures taken to compensate for past injustices or harm, particularly in relation to historical wrongs such as colonialism or slavery.
Restitution – The act of restoring something to its rightful owner or compensating for loss or damage, often as a form of justice.
Trafficker – A person or group involved in the illegal trade of goods or people, particularly in human trafficking or the slave trade.
Treason – The act of betraying one’s country, especially by attempting to overthrow the government or aiding its enemies.
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