The African Union and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have been lobbying for the establishment of an international tribunal on atrocities that would focus specifically on the transatlantic slave trade, taking the shape of past ad hoc courts such as the Nuremberg trials of Nazi war criminals.
The African Union (AU) has partnered with Caribbean countries to demand reparations from European nations for the brutal legacies of slavery and colonialism. This alliance marks a pivotal moment in international relations, aiming to address past atrocities while forging a united front in the pursuit of justice and recognition.
The alliance was formed in November last year during a reparations conference that brought together delegates from the 55 countries of the African Union and 20 nations from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Delegates and activists were of the opinion that reparations should take the form of development aid, revision of oppressive laws and the return of the resources stolen from Africa.
The alliance represents a convergence of shared historical experiences and a collective determination to confront lingering injustices associated with the transatlantic slave trade. The initiative, led by African leaders such as AU Chairperson Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, seeks to amplify the voices of affected regions and press European governments to acknowledge their roles in perpetuating these mass crimes.
Following engagements with heads of states in both regions, the African Union announced that the theme for year 2025 will focus on ‘Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations.’
Since the reparations conference, both the African Union and CARICOM have been lobbying for the establishment of an international tribunal on atrocities among UN member states. This tribunal would focus specifically on the transatlantic slave trade, taking the shape of past ad hoc courts such as the Nuremberg trials of Nazi war criminals.
The lingering impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
From the 16th to the 19th centuries, an estimated 12.5 million Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic. Captured from various regions, primarily West Africa, these Africans were sold into slavery and made to work on plantations in the Americas, significantly contributing to the economic prosperity of European colonial powers.
“The transatlantic slave trade was about economic gain for European powers and their colonies. It fueled the growth of industries such as sugar, tobacco and cotton, laying the economic foundations for the modern world while devastating African societies,” Anita Nkirote, a Kenya-based political and development expert, told FairPlanet.
“The extraction of human resources in the form of enslaved labourers left a lasting socio-economic void in Africa, hindering its development for centuries.”
The trade drastically altered Africa’s economic landscape, siphoning away millions of its able-bodied workforce. Entire communities were destabilised as men, women and children were forcibly removed from their homes and sold into bondage across the Atlantic. This loss of a large portion of the population, especially skilled labourers, stunted Africa’s economic development for generations.
In regions like West Africa, heavily targeted by slave traders, the effects were particularly pronounced. The economies of these areas became increasingly dependent on the trade, leading to cycles of conflict and instability as rival groups vied for control over captives and resources.
This legacy of economic exploitation and underdevelopment continues to shape socio-economic disparities within and between African nations today.
READ ON: explore FairPlanet’s Beyond Slavery dossier.
Beyond its economic impact, the transatlantic slave trade caused profound social and cultural upheaval across Africa. Families and communities were torn apart as individuals were forcibly separated from their loved ones and transported to distant lands. The trauma inflicted by these separations reverberates through generations, contributing to ongoing challenges in identity formation and social cohesion.
Political instability
The transatlantic slave trade also influenced Africa’s modern political landscape, perpetuating governance issues and political instability. The collapse of traditional leadership structures and the emergence of slave raiding societies fueled internal conflicts and power struggles that persist today.
In Nigeria, for instance, the legacy of slavery has contributed to ethnic rivalries and conflicts over political power. The Yoruba, Hausa-Fulani and Igbo ethnic groups continue to navigate tensions that trace back to disruptions caused by the slave trade and subsequent colonisation. These tensions have hindered efforts towards national unity and effective governance.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) also exemplifies the lasting impact of historical exploitation on governance. During the colonial era, the country’s rich mineral resources were heavily exploited, and this legacy of resource extraction has fueled ongoing conflict and political instability in the country.
The arbitrary borders imposed during the colonial era, which disregarded ethnic and cultural divisions, intensified tensions and contributed to ongoing conflicts over resources and identity.
Slave trade in the Caribbean
The slave trade formed the economic bedrock of many Caribbean nations during the colonial period. Plantation economies, driven by sugar, tobacco and cotton production, heavily relied on enslaved labour imported from Africa. The exploitation of these labourers under brutal conditions led to vast wealth accumulation among European powers, while leaving a legacy of economic inequality and dependence in the Caribbean.
Today, the region still grapples with economic disparities rooted in historical exploitation. Persistent challenges in diversifying economies and reducing dependency on tourism and agriculture highlight ongoing efforts to break free from the economic shackles forged during the period of slavery.
In Jamaica, a country deeply impacted by the slave trade, historical records and modern economic analyses underscore the trade’s enduring damage. According to recent figures, Jamaica’s GDP per capita stands at approximately USD 5,400, reflecting significant economic challenges despite its rich cultural heritage and natural resources. The island’s economy, historically driven by agriculture and tourism, continues to grapple with income inequality and structural barriers rooted in its colonial past.
Haiti, the first independent nation in Latin America and the Caribbean, further exemplifies the lasting economic effects of slavery and colonialism. Following its successful slave revolt in 1804, Haiti endured international isolation and crippling reparations to France for decades, hindering its economic development.
Today, Haiti remains the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with a GDP per capita of around USD 1,210.
Social inequities stemming from the transatlantic slave trade continue to affect Caribbean societies. The stratification of these societies along racial lines, worsened by centuries of colonial rule and exploitation, persists today. Issues such as access to education, healthcare disparities and economic mobility reflect enduring legacies of slavery and colonialism, and remain significant obstacles to social progress.
Despite Haiti’s abolition of slavery and successful revolution, it continues to face stark social inequities. The country struggles with high levels of poverty, inadequate access to education and healthcare and deep-seated social divisions linked to historical racial discrimination.
Haiti remains the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean, with over six in ten people living in poverty.
Reparatory justice
Now the two regions are seeking reparatory justice to correct these historical wrongs.
In October last year, the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent delivered a report to the UN General Assembly, boldly stating that people of African descent worldwide are victims of systemic discrimination and racialised attacks, and making a strong case for reparations.
This followed a 2023 report indicating that Britain owes about GBP 18.6 trillion in compensation for its involvement in the slave trade.
“In CARICOM, our Member State, Haiti, was forced to pay for its freedom twice, first through the successful slave resistance and rebellion which created the first free republic in the western hemisphere in 1804 and the second time through the ignominy of being forced to borrow significant monies from French and American banks to pay reparations to former slaveowners for loss of property – being the very former slaves who had already won their freedom in the Haitian Revolution – and repaying this debt well into the twentieth century,” Carla Barnett, Caricom’s secretary general noted in her speech during the conference.
The conference unveiled a global fund to be based in Africa, aimed at further advancing the reparations campaign.
The Accra Proclamation
The conference produced a document dubbed ‘The Accra Proclamation,’ which, among other issues, recommended the establishment of the Office of AU Special Envoy on Reparations for Africans. This office would help lead international advocacy and campaign for reparations at the global level. It also called for the creation of a transcontinental partnership initiative between the AU, CARICOM, Latin American States, the African diaspora in Europe and other regions globally to enhance Global South cooperation on reparations and healing.
The proclamation also advocated for the inclusion of African history and the impacts of slavery and colonialism in educational curricula globally.
“The crimes committed against humanity are indisputable and the debt has not yet been paid for systemic exploitation, extraction of wealth, pain and suffering, apartheid, Jim Crow and psychological harm, leading to persistent poverty among African-descended people across the globe and the genocide of native peoples which accompanied colonization,” Barnett further noted. “To address this cruel history the descendants of the victims are due just restitution, compensation and guarantees of non-repetition.”
As the partnership pursues reparatory justice, litigation and formal apologies, European countries and leaders have made public statements and payments to African countries to atone for historical atrocities.
When King Charles visited Kenya last year, he acknowledged the abhorrent acts of violence committed against Kenyans during their struggle for independence. However, he refrained from issuing a formal apology.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier recently expressed shame over colonial atrocities inflicted by Germany in Tanzania. In 2021, Germany officially recognised committing genocide during its occupation of Namibia and pledged financial aid of over GBP 940 million.
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron, during a visit to Jamaica in 2015, acknowledged the horrors of slavery in all its forms, expressing a hope to move beyond its painful legacy.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte issued a formal apology on behalf of the Dutch state for the Netherlands’ historical involvement in the slave trade, which he termed a crime against humanity.
Glasgow University committed GBP 20 million to reconcile its ties to the transatlantic slave trade. The Church of England pledged GBP 100 million to address past wrongs after revelations of its historical links to slavery.
The Heirs of Slavery movement, consisting of descendants of Britain’s wealthiest slave masters, has been formed to push for reparatory justice.
The Accra Reparations Conference is broadly seen as a landmark moment in the global pursuit of historical justice, amplifying the voices of marginalised communities and laying the groundwork for continued advocacy and action. Experts say that as momentum builds, the outcomes of the gathering will shape international discourse on reparations, paving the way for a future of reconciliation and equity.
“The AU-Caribbean partnership represents a bold stride towards global accountability and historical reckoning,” Nkirote further stated. “By uniting across continents, these nations are amplifying their voices and demanding overdue recognition of the profound injustices inflicted upon their peoples.
“As the global community watches, the outcomes of this partnership will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of international relations and the quest for historical justice in the years to come.”
Image by Social History Archive.