At the second Africa-Caricom summit, held Saturday at the African Union headquarters, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union Commission, called for a united front in pursuit of reparatory justice.
Describing the summit as “a moment of communion and of retrouvaille,” Youssouf said Africa and the Caribbean share deep cultural and historical ties.
“From Cape Town to Cairo, from Cape Gardafui to Aruba, we share common roots,” he said.
He acknowledged the lasting effects of slavery and colonization, saying they “disrupted the course of this common history.”
The summit, he noted, serves both as a remembrance and a call to action under the theme “Transcontinental Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”
“The claims for reparations are legitimate,” Youssouf said. “They help address the suffering of our ancestors and remedy current structural inequalities.”
He rejected the notion that reparations are an act of charity, calling instead for “a minimum of justice and fairness for crimes committed.”
He also called for a joint mechanism to coordinate advocacy efforts on the global stage.
“Let us speak with one voice on all international platforms,” he said, urging unity and strategic cooperation among African and Caribbean nations.
The two-day summit, held from Sept. 6 to 7, brought together African countries, Caribbean states and the global African diaspora to deepen integration and develop a unified approach to reparatory justice and long-term development.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Bantu Gazette
