President William Ruto at the second Africa-CARICOM Summit in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia/PCSPresident William Ruto has called on Africa and the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) to intensify the fight for reparatory justice over historical
injustices.
Speaking at the second Africa-CARICOM Summit in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, Ruto said the Africa-CARICOM Reparations
Working Group must be strengthened with more support and resources to drive the
agenda effectively.
He urged both regions to act jointly at the
United Nations to secure a resolution that places reparatory justice firmly on
the global agenda.
He also linked the debt burden facing African and Caribbean nations to
colonial exploitation, saying it must be addressed as part of reparations.
Ruto proposed deeper cultural and educational
exchanges to preserve shared history and inspire young people to carry the
struggle forward.
“By strengthening our joint efforts,
developing common strategies, and advancing coordinated initiatives, Africa and
the Caribbean can ensure that reparations speak not only to the injustices of
the past, but also to the inequalities of the present and the promise of the
future,” he said.
The President stressed that reparatory justice
goes beyond financial compensation.
He described it as honouring resilience, repairing dignity, and addressing
the deep injustices left by slavery and colonialism.
He recalled Kenya’s 2013 recognition and compensation for freedom fighters
tortured under British rule as proof that delayed justice is still possible.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged the
two regions to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, green energy, technology,
culture, leadership, and healthcare.
He also called for better transport and trade links to ease the movement of
people, goods, and ideas.
Angolan President and AU Chair João Lourenço
called for visa restrictions between Africa and the Caribbean to be reviewed.
AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf pressed former colonial powers to
acknowledge historic crimes, provide reparations, and dismantle systemic
injustice.
“The African Union stands firmly with the
Caribbean in every step towards reparatory justice and true liberation,”
Youssouf said.
CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett said
Africa and the Caribbean share a powerful collective voice that should be used
to demand justice for colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade.
