Farirai Machivenyika-Senior Reporter
The United Nations, the African Union and the Pan African Parliament have called on former colonial powers to pay reparations to African states for the injustices they suffered due to barbaric practices like colonialism, slavery and looting of their resources.
The institutions said this in separate statements to commemorate the 62nd Africa Day anniversary.
This year’s theme is: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”.
In his statement, UN Secretary General Mr Antonio Guterres, said the continent continues to suffer from the legacies of past injustices.
“On Africa Day, we celebrate a continent rich in heritage, vibrant in diversity and remarkable in its contributions to our global community. Africa is home to the world’s youngest population and is fast becoming a powerhouse in renewable energy and technological innovation,” he said.
“Yet, Africa bears the scars of historic injustices. The legacies of slavery, colonialism, apartheid, and systemic racism still cast long shadows, and entrenched inequalities affect Africans and people of African descent to this day.
“This year’s theme calls for confronting these shameful legacies. I renew my call for reparatory justice that is grounded in accountability, reconciliation and equity.”
Mr Guterres also reiterated calls for increased African representation in multilateral institutions.
“The Pact for the Future, adopted in September, urges greater African representation, particularly at the Security Council, and reforms to the international financial system to support African countries with financing and debt relief,” he said.
“The Pact, through the Global Digital Compact, also seeks to close the digital divide and promote the responsible use of AI technologies.”
He hailed the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, saying it had the potential to usher in a new era of economic integration, opening the door to jobs, growth and prosperity.
“At the same time, we must support Africa’s efforts to expand its clean-energy sector, and ensure that the minerals that are critical to the renewables revolution benefit Africans first and foremost,” he said.
“Throughout, we will continue standing with Africa to silence the guns, tackle terrorism, and safeguard human rights for all.
“On this Africa Day, let us recommit to not only addressing past wrongs, but also to building a sustainable future for the people of Africa grounded in peace, dignity, and opportunity for all, he said.
The African Union Commission also renewed calls for justice.
AU Commission Chairperson, Mr Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, called for bold steps toward a just and prosperous future.
“While justice and reparations remain long overdue,” the chairperson affirmed, “Africa will not be held hostage by the pain of its past.”
“Africa continues to sacrifice and strive towards freedom from conflict, underdevelopment, and war. The continent is steadily building a future of peace, prosperity, and integration.”
Mr Youssouf highlighted Africa’s strategic assets that include a youthful and growing population, vast arable land, rich mineral wealth, and abundant renewable energy potential.
“With its population expected to exceed 2,5 billion by 2050, Africa is not only the continent of the future—it is the engine of global transformation,” he said.
The chairperson also noted the resilience of African economies, with many countries achieving macroeconomic gains and even double-digit growth prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He commended the dynamism of African youth and women, who are leading community transformation and innovation across the continent.
He also hailed the continent’s membership in the G20 as both “a well-deserved participation and a global recognition of Africa’s importance.”
“It is our duty as Africans to safeguard our resources and prioritise value addition through transformative initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Africa must no longer be an afterthought in global geopolitics.”
The chairperson also challenged the continent to take ownership of its future.
“Let us reaffirm our shared values and take rightful ownership of our future on the global stage. Pan-Africanism was forged through the dreams and determination of our people—but also through strategic foresight. Let us honour that legacy with bold, united action,” Mr Youssouf said.
In his statement to mark Africa Day, Pan African Parliament president Chief Fortune Charumbira hailed the vision of the Continent’s founding fathers in the formation of the then OAU.
“On this day in 1963, our visionary leaders gathered in Addis Ababa and etched a new chapter in the destiny of our continent. With courage and clarity, they declared Africa’s right to self-determination, unity, and development,” Chief Charumbira said.
“They lit the torch of Pan-Africanism, a flame that continues to guide our path towards sovereignty, dignity, and collective advancement.
He added that this year’s theme was a call for Africans to remember their past and shape their future.
“This theme speaks to centuries of injustice of slavery, colonial domination, systemic racism, and economic marginalisation that have long undermined the potential of African people both on the continent and across the globe,” he said.
“As PAP, we stand resolute in our commitment to this cause. Reparative justice is not simply about compensation; it is about truth, healing, and transformation.
“It is about acknowledging historical crimes, holding accountable those who benefited from them, and ensuring redress that restores dignity, rebuilds trust, and reforms the systems that continue to perpetuate inequality.
“We assert that the demand for reparations is not a plea, it is a right grounded in international
law, moral conscience, and historical evidence. It is a call for the world to reckon with the legacy of exploitation and to join Africa in building a future based on equity, mutual respect, and justice.”
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