African and Caribbean Nations Demand Formal Apology Over Trans‑Atlantic Slavery

Sat Jun 20 2026 07:10:57 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Formerly enslaved peoples' leaders call on former colonial powers for apologies and reparations following a UN resolution.

At the conclusion of a three‑day summit in Ghana, African and Caribbean states urged former colonial powers to issue formal apologies and provide reparations for the trans‑Atlantic slave trade. The call follows a United Nations General Assembly resolution that declared the enslavement of Africans a gravest crime against humanity and called for a reparations fund. Meanwhile, leaders highlighted the need for debt relief, restitution of cultural property and recognition of the disproportionate impact on African women and girls. The conference also noted that no country has yet paid reparations to descendants of enslaved Africans, underscoring the urgency of this historic demand.

African and Caribbean Nations Demand Formal Apology Over Trans‑Atlantic Slavery

The summit highlighted the need for debt relief, restitution of looted cultural property and recognition of the disproportionate impact on African women and girls. Leaders noted that no country has yet paid reparations to descendants of enslaved Africans, underscoring the urgency of this historic demand.

During the event, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama spoke about inherited responsibility, while French President Emmanuel Macron issued a virtual note acknowledging the dehumanising nature of slavery, insisting that reparations should extend beyond financial compensation. The UN vote saw 123 countries in favour, with three opposing; the General Assembly decision is not legally binding but carries significant moral weight.

The conference also dealt with the role of former slave‑trade nations, calling for formal and unconditional apologies. While the United Kingdom and several European states have historically rejected reparations, the movement remains a powerful reminder of the lasting legacy of colonial oppression.