The African Union has joined Caribbean nations in demanding “meaningful reparations” from Britain and other former colonial powers, launching a coordinated campaign that could see the UK face claims running into trillions of pounds for its role in slavery and colonialism during the height of Empire.
Meeting at a landmark summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, African and Caribbean leaders united under the theme “Transcontinental Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice,” marking a significant escalation in the global reparations movement. The African Union Commission’s chairman, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, called for “reparatory justice and true liberation” from the lasting impacts of colonialism.
The alliance between Africa’s 55-nation bloc and the 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) represents an unprecedented coalition seeking compensation for what they describe as centuries of exploitation. Britain, which controlled a quarter of Africa at the peak of its Empire, now faces intensified pressure for financial compensation, formal apologies, and the return of cultural artefacts.
Africa and the Caribbean will work together to honour our ancestors, to uplift our descendants and reclaim our shared destiny in freedom, justice and unity,” Youssouf declared at the Second Africa-Caricom Summit, which convened on Saturday with representatives from both regions alongside UN officials.
Historic Claims Take Shape
The summit marks the culmination of the African Union’s 2025 flagship theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.” This initiative builds on decades of advocacy but represents a new level of coordination between regions affected by the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism.
Caribbean nations presented their established “10-point plan” for reparations, which includes demands for financial compensation, formal apologies, debt relief, and assistance with economic development and education. The plan, initially drafted in 2013, has gained momentum with the African Union’s backing.
The Union blamed ongoing “systemic injustice” rooted in imperialism, specifically targeting “exploitative practices” by multinational corporations and the economic disparities between Africa and the Global North. They argue these inequalities stem directly from colonial-era extraction of wealth and resources.
Estimates for potential reparations vary dramatically. Some calculations suggest Britain could theoretically owe between £205 billion and £19 trillion for its role in slavery and colonialism. Africa alone is estimated to have lost $100 trillion through the transatlantic slave trade, according to figures presented at the summit.
Climate and Cultural Demands
Beyond financial compensation, the reparations agenda encompasses environmental and cultural dimensions. The African Union insists that “industrialised nations in the Global North bear historical responsibility for environmental degradation,” noting that Africa contributes only 3% of global emissions whilst suffering disproportionately from climate change.
The demands extend to the “returning of stolen artefacts to their rightful owners in African nations,” a contentious issue given the vast collections of African art and historical objects housed in British museums. The British Museum alone holds thousands of African artefacts, including the controversial Benin Bronzes.
The summit also addressed contemporary forms of what campaigners describe as economic colonialism. Multiple forms of injustice requiring reparations were identified, including current trade imbalances and debt structures that activists argue perpetuate colonial-era exploitation patterns.
Human Rights Watch researcher Almaz Teffera stated that “a unified approach to reparations could be the game changer that empowers communities in Africa, the Caribbean and the diaspora in their struggles for reparatory justice.
British Government Resistance
The demands come as successive British governments have repeatedly rejected calls for reparations payments. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has maintained the UK’s longstanding position against financial reparations, though his government has faced internal pressure on the issue.
“Reparations are not on the agenda,” Downing Street stated ahead of last year’s Commonwealth summit. The Prime Minister’s spokesman confirmed: “The Government’s position on this has not changed. We do not pay reparations.”
However, the Labour government’s stance has been complicated by past statements from senior ministers. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who recently replaced Angela Rayner following her resignation, previously voiced support for reparations in 2018, saying Caribbean people “don’t just want to hear an apology, we want reparation.
Lammy has since moderated his position, stating that reparations are “not about the transfer of cash, particularly at a time of a cost-of-living crisis.” He suggested alternative forms of “non-financial reparatory justice,” including technology transfers and sharing scientific expertise.
Legal Complications
The involvement of Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, adds another layer of complexity. Hermer previously worked with Caricom when their reparations demands were initially drafted in 2013, potentially creating conflicts within the government’s legal advisory structure.
The campaign gains additional legitimacy from international human rights law. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Rapporteurs have emphasised that the right to reparation applies to colonial atrocities. Most European governments, including the UK, are bound by the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which provides for reparation rights.
The African Union’s policy guidelines on transitional justice recognise reparations for historical injustices as aligned with binding international and regional human rights law. They affirm that African states have obligations to ensure reparatory processes are inclusive and victim-centred.
Commonwealth Tensions
The reparations debate has already created tensions within the Commonwealth. At October’s summit in Samoa, despite British resistance, all 56 Commonwealth leaders, including Starmer, signed a declaration calling for “discussions on reparatory justice” and a “meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation” on the issue.
The communique acknowledged that “the time has come” for these discussions, with the next opportunity being the 2025 UK-Caribbean forum. This commitment, extracted despite British opposition, demonstrates the growing diplomatic pressure on the UK.
The appointment of a new Commonwealth Secretary-General could further complicate matters. All three leading candidates are believed to be open to backing reparations, with one contender claiming the UK owes India “more money than it has” in colonial reparations.
Historical Context Disputed
The reparations campaign faces criticism over historical complexity. Critics note that African kingdoms actively participated in and profited from the slave trade. King Ghezo of Dahomey (present-day Benin) famously petitioned the British not to abolish the slave trade, highlighting the complicated nature of historical responsibility.
Some historians argue that Britain’s role in abolishing slavery, including the Royal Navy’s anti-slavery patrols that freed 150,000 enslaved Africans, should be considered alongside its earlier participation in the trade. The UK spent significant resources enforcing abolition, equivalent to billions in today’s money.
Conservative politicians have dismissed the demands as attempts to “relitigate history.” Critics argue that no one alive today was responsible for slavery and that contemporary Britons should not pay for historical actions they had no part in.
Economic Implications
The financial implications of reparations would be enormous for Britain’s already strained public finances. With the UK facing economic challenges including high inflation and public service pressures, any significant reparations payments would require either massive borrowing or severe domestic spending cuts.
Kenya’s President William Ruto emphasised at the summit that reparatory justice extends beyond financial compensation to “honouring resilience, restoring dignity, and addressing the deep injustices left by slavery and colonialism.”
The summit heard that Africa’s current debt crisis can be traced to financial constraints imposed during the colonial era. Campaigners argue that debt relief should form part of any reparations package, potentially costing developed nations hundreds of billions.
Growing Movement
The reparations movement has gained momentum globally. In February 2025, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley spoke to African heads of state about shared historical ties, calling for unity in advancing reparatory justice as part of a “global reset.”
Civil society organisations drove the adoption of the AU’s reparations theme, with grassroots movements across Africa and the diaspora building pressure for action. The Accra Reparations Conference in November 2023 brought together stakeholders to advance the cause.
The campaign extends beyond government-to-government negotiations. Activists are targeting multinational corporations with historical links to slavery and colonialism, demanding corporate reparations and transparency about historical profits from exploitation.
Future Confrontations
As the African Union and Caricom develop joint strategies, the UK faces sustained diplomatic pressure on multiple fronts. The organisations plan to establish frameworks for implementing reparations initiatives, promote legislative measures, and organise global summits to maintain momentum.
Plans include creating a Centre of Excellence for training and scholarships focused on reparations and racial healing. This institutional approach suggests a long-term campaign rather than short-term political posturing.
The timing is particularly challenging for Starmer’s government, which has struggled with multiple crises since taking power. With Reform UK now leading in some polls and internal Labour divisions over foreign policy, the reparations debate adds another contentious issue.
David Lammy’s recent appointment as Deputy Prime Minister following Angela Rayner’s resignation over tax issues has reshuffled the cabinet’s dynamics. His previous support for reparations, though now qualified, creates potential tensions within government.
Broader Implications
The reparations campaign reflects broader shifts in global power dynamics. As African and Caribbean nations assert themselves more confidently on the world stage, former colonial powers face increasing challenges to the post-colonial settlement.
The involvement of international bodies including the World Bank, IMF, and development banks in the summit discussions suggests the issue is gaining mainstream institutional attention. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s participation lends additional weight to the campaign.
For Britain, the debate touches sensitive questions about national identity and historical memory. How the country confronts its colonial past whilst managing contemporary economic and social challenges will shape its international relationships for decades.
As African and Caribbean nations coordinate their demands, the reparations debate moves from the margins to the centre of international diplomacy, forcing uncomfortable reckonings with history’s enduring legacies.
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