African Union Launches Decade of Reparations to Confront Colonial and Capitalist Crimes, Ghana to Lead Liberation Effort
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The African Union has boldly designated 2026 to 2036 as the Decade of Reparations, with Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama at the forefront, seeking justice for centuries of exploitation and oppression.
The African Union (AU) has taken a historic step by officially declaring 2026 to 2036 as the Decade of Reparations, a vital move to address the deep wounds inflicted by slavery, colonialism, and apartheid—systems rooted in white supremacy and capitalist exploitation. This transformative decision was made at the AU's Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in July 2025, signaling a new era of resistance against imperialist legacies.
Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama, a steadfast advocate for social justice, has been appointed as the AU's Champion for Reparations. He is tasked with leading the continent's collective struggle for justice and restitution, challenging the global structures that have long profited from Africa's suffering. In his powerful address at the summit, President Mahama declared, "Africa's call for reparative justice is no longer a whisper—it is a unified demand grounded in historical truth, moral clarity, and our unwavering commitment to dignity." His words underscore the necessity of solidarity and radical action in dismantling the systems of oppression.
The AU's mandate calls on all member states and AU organs to take concrete, revolutionary actions in pursuit of reparations. This includes redress for the transatlantic slave trade and its ongoing legacy, the violent theft of resources through colonial exploitation, the imposition of arbitrary borders, the destruction of indigenous institutions, and the perpetuation of neocolonial structures, economic imbalances, and crushing debt burdens imposed by the Global North.
President Mahama has also announced plans to introduce a motion at the United Nations General Assembly to recognize the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity—a necessary step toward global accountability. He stated, "The slave trade must be recognized as the greatest crime against humanity. As the African champion on reparations, Ghana intends to introduce a motion to this august body to that effect."
The AU's declaration of the Decade of Reparations is a clarion call for systemic transformation, restitution, and healing. It marks a strategic and sustained commitment to confronting the enduring consequences of imperialism and capitalism, aiming to empower African nations and achieve true liberation and justice.