African Union Declares Decade of Reparations, Ghana to Lead Initiative

The African Union (AU) has officially declared the period from 2026 to 2036 as the Decade of Reparations, aiming to address historical injustices stemming from slavery, colonialism, and apartheid. This decision was made during the AU's Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in July 2025.

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama has been appointed as the AU's Champion for Reparations, tasked with leading the continent's efforts in seeking justice and restitution. In his address at the summit, President Mahama emphasized the importance of a unified African approach to reparations, stating, "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."

The AU's mandate calls on all member states and AU organs to take concrete actions in pursuit of reparations. This includes redress for the transatlantic slave trade and its enduring legacy, colonial exploitation, arbitrary borders, the destruction of institutions, as well as contemporary neocolonial structures, economic imbalances, and debt burdens.

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. 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 signifies a strategic and sustained commitment to addressing historical injustices and their lingering consequences, aiming for restitution, healing, and holistic systemic transformation across the continent.