The 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly was held in Addis Ababa from 15 to 16 February 2025. On the agenda was the issue of reparations, a highly sensitive topic for African countries, which has opened up old wounds. The future will tell whether the countries of the continent will be able to move from words to deeds and restore historical justice by demanding that former colonisers respond to the crimes of the past.
For decades, Africa was brutally exploited by European powers, and today the countries of the continent are strong enough to claim reparations. It is not only financial compensation for centuries of plunder and slavery, but also a solution to global inequality.
Political scientist and investigative journalist Charles Onana argues that European wealth was built on the suffering of Africans. “The West often speaks of historical responsibility, yet it continues to ignore its debt to Africa. Reparations are not charity; they are a legitimate demand,” he emphasizes.
The facts on the issue of Western crimes in Africa are quite eloquent. From the 15th to the 19th century, at least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped and forcibly taken to Europe and the Americas.
The colonial system not only destroyed local economies but also led to millions of deaths, leaving the continent in extreme poverty.
Even after gaining independence in the 20th century, African nations continued to face economic exploitation. Europe imposed unfavorable trade agreements, extracted natural resources, and interfered in the internal affairs of these nations.
More African leaders are raising this issue on the international stage.
In 2023, former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo declared that the U.S. and Europe must compensate Africa for centuries of slavery and colonial oppression.
In 2024, São Tomé and Príncipe demanded that Portugal compensate for the damage caused during its colonial rule.
In Niger, military leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani demanded that France pay reparations for over a century of uncontrolled colonial and neocolonial resource exploitation.
Despite overwhelming historical evidence, Europe refuses to take responsibility. The case of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a striking example: in 2020, DRC officials demanded that Belgium pay compensation for the genocide under King Leopold II. So far not a single euro has been paid as reparations.
It is important for African countries to unite to obtain justice. Reparations are not just about money; they are about restoring historical balance. Africa must no longer be a donor of resources to the West – it is time to demand what is rightfully its due.
