History longs to heal': how Africa hopes to advance campaign for reparative justice

"The African Union adopted a motion put forward by Ghana to label slavery and colonialism as crimes against humanity. This month, the motion will be tabled at the United Nations, with demands made for redress. The motion, which was first announced at the UN general assembly last September, is the latest move in a strategic push by the African continent to seek reparative justice."

"The AU declared 2025 the year of reparations, with a theme of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations, marking the first time the 55-country bloc had put the issue at the centre of its agenda. By July, the AU had extended the timeline by declaring 2026 to 2036 the Decade of Reparations to mobilise support for justice."

"Efforts to redress these injustices and their lasting economic, social and psychological impacts have been few and far between, and largely confined to academia and nonprofit spaces. Progress has also been hindered by a lack of resources and coordinated strategy among activists, and reluctance by European governments to reopen old wounds."

The African Union has launched a strategic initiative to seek reparative justice for historical injustices including colonialism and slavery. In 2025, declared the year of reparations, the AU adopted Ghana's motion to label slavery and colonialism as crimes against humanity, with plans to present this at the United Nations demanding redress. The timeline was extended through 2036 as a Decade of Reparations to mobilize broader support. Efforts to address these injustices have historically been limited to academic and nonprofit spaces, hindered by resource constraints, lack of coordination among activists, and European government reluctance. Recent initiatives, including the Wakati Wetu festival in Nairobi, employ arts and culture to make reparations discussions more accessible and engage African communities in these justice movements.

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