The African Union has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting a partnership with the Caribbean on reparative justice. Ambassador Amr El-Gouely, Director of the African Union's Directorate for Citizens and Africans in the Diaspora, delivered a keynote address at the third regional conference of the Caribbean Community on reparations, held in Barbados. The conference, themed "Reparative Justice as the Next Enlightenment," brought together stakeholders to discuss ways to address historical injustices.
The African Union has established a comprehensive framework for reparative justice, as part of its "Decade of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations (2026-2035)." This framework includes the African Commission of Experts on Reparations and the Reference Group of Legal Experts on Reparations. The Directorate for Citizens and Africans in the Diaspora provides technical support to these bodies. Ambassador El-Gouely highlighted the significant progress made in recent years, including the adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration on a Continental Partnership in the Pursuit of Reparative Justice.
The Addis Ababa Declaration was signed during the second summit between the African Union and the Caribbean Community in September 2025. This declaration emphasizes the need for a continental partnership in the pursuit of reparative justice. The United Nations General Assembly has also taken steps to address historical injustices, adopting Resolution 80/250 in March 2026. This resolution describes the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement of Africans as a grave crime against humanity.
Ambassador El-Gouely emphasized that reparative justice goes beyond financial compensation, encompassing the return of cultural heritage, archives, and ancestral remains. It also involves structural reforms to the global governance system and international financial architecture. The African Union's efforts to promote reparative justice have gained momentum, with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination adopting General Recommendation No. 40 in August 2026.
The conference in Barbados also provided a platform for Ambassador El-Gouely to discuss ways to strengthen ties between the African Union and the Caribbean Community. He explored the possibility of opening representative offices in each other's headquarters, as outlined in the Addis Ababa Declaration. This would facilitate greater collaboration and communication between the two organizations.
In his address, Ambassador El-Gouely highlighted the historical and cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean, noting that the geographical distance between them is bridged by a shared heritage. The conference concluded with the launch of the Bridgetown Plan of Action on Reparations and a plan for 2027-2031, outlining measurable goals for joint action with global partners.
The conference was attended by Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, and other high-level officials. The Bridgetown Plan of Action on Reparations aims to promote a more equitable and just global order. The African Union's commitment to supporting reparative justice reflects its broader efforts to promote human rights and address historical injustices.
Key points
- The African Union has established a comprehensive framework for reparative justice as part of its "Decade of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations (2026-2035)."
- The Bridgetown Plan of Action on Reparations was launched at the conference, outlining measurable goals for joint action with global partners.
- Ambassador El-Gouely emphasized that reparative justice goes beyond financial compensation, encompassing the return of cultural heritage, archives, and ancestral remains.
