UN’s landmark slavery ruling energises African Union’s fight for reparations
UN’s landmark slavery ruling energises African Union’s fight for reparations
John Mahama, a seasoned leader with a history of challenging the status quo, recently showcased his influence on a global stage. Less than two years after leading Ghana’s ruling party to a decisive electoral victory, he used his platform to advocate for a historic UN resolution condemning transatlantic chattel slavery. The vote, which garnered significant support, marked a pivotal moment in the African Union’s efforts to secure reparations for historical injustices.
The resolution, passed at the UN General Assembly, labeled the practice as “the gravest crime against humanity.” While the outcome was broadly celebrated across Africa, the vote’s details highlighted lingering divisions among nations. A total of 123 states endorsed the resolution, but the opposition from key Western entities—Australia, Canada, the UK, and EU members—remained notable. These nations chose to abstain, postponing their recognition of past transgressions.
Some countries expressed dissent. Argentina, Israel, and the US voted against the resolution. In Argentina, two-thirds of imports arriving at Buenos Aires between 1580 and 1640 were sourced from enslaved Africans. The US, represented by Ambassador Dan Negrea, emphasized that Washington “does not recognise a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs that were not illegal under international law at the time they occurred.” Meanwhile, Israel’s stance was linked to its own complex relationship with slavery, as 11 states seceded rather than comply with the Emancipation Proclamation.
“We travel this long road, each step guided by a desire to be better and to do better, each step bringing us closer to the kind of world we would want to leave for our children,” said Mahama in his speech at the UN General Assembly.
Despite the opposition, the resolution emerged from months of collaboration across Africa and the diaspora. It was a product of shared determination, and those who helped draft it believe the same unity will drive future actions. The African Union, which has designated 2026-36 as its “decade of reparations,” aims to push for reparatory justice despite resistance from Western powers.
Russia acknowledged the resolution as a “long overdue recognition,” possibly due to its own historical involvement in Indigenous subjugation. The Vatican’s permanent observer, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, noted papal condemnations of slavery but called the resolution a “partial narrative.” He omitted a critical detail: Pope Nicholas V’s 1452 and 1455 edicts authorized the Portuguese to enslave non-Christians in Africa, laying the groundwork for transatlantic slavery.
With the resolution secured against strong opposition, the African Union appears emboldened. As Mahama prepares to assume the union’s leadership in 2027, he remains optimistic about advancing the cause. A committee of experts is already crafting a framework for reparatory justice, engaging descendants of enslaved people globally. The path ahead is arduous, but the movement’s momentum suggests it is far from finished.