AU Commission Chairperson Calls for Joint African-Caribbean Demand for Reparatory Justice

Addis Ababa, September 7, 2025 (FMC) — African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has called on Africans and the Caribbean to jointly demand that former colonial powers acknowledge historic crimes, provide meaningful reparations, and dismantle structural and systemic injustices.

The remarks came at the Second Africa-CARICOM Summit, officially opened today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit brings together African nations, Caribbean states, and the global African diaspora to strengthen unity, deepen integration, and pursue reparatory justice under the theme: “Transcontinental Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”

In his address, Chairperson Youssouf described the summit as a “watershed moment” and a “turning point” toward collective aspirations.

“Let us jointly demand that former colonial powers acknowledge historic crimes, offer meaningful reparations, and dismantle structural and systemic injustice,” he said.

He stressed that the pursuit of reparatory justice is not only about addressing past wrongs but also about shaping a more just and equitable future.

“Historians will record that from Addis Ababa, Africa and the Caribbean renewed their covenant to honor our ancestors, uplift our descendants, and reclaim our shared destiny in freedom, justice, and unity,” Youssouf added.

Affirming the AU’s commitment, he said: “The African Union stands proudly and firmly with our Caribbean brothers and sisters in every step toward reparatory justice.”

The African Union’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” underscores its resolve. The AU’s partnership with CARICOM, which has long advocated for reparations through its Ten-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice, signals a unified transcontinental effort to advance justice on a global stage.