On the Sidelines of the AU Summit: Slavery and its Catastrophic Effects on the African Continent

Addis Ababa – Sudanhorizon

The Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union is organizing a symposium on achieving justice and securing reparations for the African continent and people of African descent. This is in response to the centuries-long transatlantic slave trade, which resulted in the suffering and death of millions of Africans. This trade, which persisted until the 19th and early 20th centuries, greatly impacted the African continent.

This symposium is being held concurrently with the upcoming African Summit in collaboration with AMANI Africa, the Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council, FEMNET, Reform Initiatives, the African Lawyers Union, Trust Africa, the Tax Justice Network—Africa, and the Stop the Bleeding Campaign. This aligns with the tradition of African Summits, which focus on a specific interest theme during each session.

This year’s symposium, which falls under the theme of the African Union’s 2025 Year of “Achieving Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” will take place on Monday, the 10th of this month, in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The central theme of the symposium is “Achieving Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”

The 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2023, saw heads of state declare 2025 as the year for “Achieving Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.” It was agreed that the symposium would highlight the cumulative and ongoing negative impacts of colonisation, the transatlantic slave trade, and systemic discrimination on global inequality and Africa’s underdevelopment.

The reparations agenda aims to address historical injustices while tackling contemporary issues such as systemic racism, economic exclusion, and Africa’s marginalisation in global decision-making. The meeting serves as a call for unity among Africans and the African diaspora to advocate for justice, equality, and reparations.

Although this declaration represents a significant step in itself, its implementation requires robust strategies, clear communication, and coordinated efforts among stakeholders.

A statement from the Union warned that “misunderstandings about the objectives of the theme and limited institutional cooperation could hinder its progress.” However, the statement acknowledged that for the reparations agenda to drive the transformative change needed, “the active participation of civil society organisations, regional economic communities, governments, and the African diaspora is crucial for the success of this endeavour.”

The symposium will be held on the sidelines of the African Union Summit, providing a unique platform for multi-stakeholder engagement. According to the African Union, the primary goal of the symposium is to clarify the Union’s roadmap for the 2025 theme, raise awareness, and strengthen organised cooperation among African Union organs, member states, civil society organisations, and the African diaspora. The discussions will focus on aligning efforts, identifying priorities, and rooting the popular advocacy for reparative justice.

According to the African Union’s statement, the participants will seek to enhance their understanding of the theme’s dimensions, objectives, and strategies. They will work to establish mechanisms for stakeholder cooperation, create a dialogue platform to identify challenges, priorities, and solutions, and promote the necessary cultural awareness to popularise the theme.