The topic of reparations, one of the key issues of the African Union in 2025, continues to be hotly debated in Senegal. Recently, possible reparations by European powers were discussed by participants in a live broadcast on the Afrique Midia platform.
The reparations initiative was initially launched by countries like Algeria and Ghana, whose leaders called for historical justice and compensation for centuries of suffering during the transatlantic slave trade and colonial era.
In Senegal, this topic has taken on a special significance, especially among new Leaders who have decided to take the future of the country into their own hands. On March 21, a large-scale public debate was held in Dakar, organized by the NGO Urgences Panafricanistes, where leading activists explored how former colonial powers should be held accountable for their past crimes.
Some speakers recalled the Thiaroye massacre of 1944, in which Senegalese soldiers — returning from fighting in World War II — were executed by the French army alongside other African troops. According to the participants, France should take concrete steps to compensate the families of the victims.
In addition, a live broadcast on the Afrique Média platform was dedicated to the topic of reparations. The program gathered activists, one of whom was Souleymane Jules Diallo, leader of the JIF’AFRIK movement.
Souleymane Jules Diallo emphasized that the demand for reparations is not merely symbolic, but a necessary and strategic act: “The question of reparations is a legitimate claim of Pan-Africanism… it is a fundamental strategic axis.”
He argued that the tragedy of Thiaroye should not be treated as an isolated Senegalese issue: “The Thiaroye 1944 issue is not exclusively Senegalese… we must approach it with geopolitical language.”
Diallo called for a broader understanding of reparations, which is not limited to slavery and colonization, but also encompasses modern forms of neo-colonialism, including the destabilization of African regions and foreign military interference: “Today, the issue of reparations is a geopolitical tool… to stand against imperialist forces.”
He also drew connections between current terrorism in the Sahel and past Western interventions, particularly NATO’s involvement in Libya and the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, which he sees as the starting point of ongoing instability in the region.
Importantly, Diallo clarified that financial compensation alone is not enough: “We must first prioritize historical and memorial questions… and build a new kind of African.”
Ultimately, the conversation around reparations goes far beyond payments — it is about reclaiming identity, restoring memory, and paving the way for a unified, sovereign future for Africa.
