Reparations for slavery and the colonisation of Africans is an important theme embodied by Africans and Afro-descendants around the world. To obtain reparations for the slavery and colonisation of Africans, the idea of pan-Africanism is being championed around the globe by Africans seeking historical justice for the injustices committed against Africans and Afro-descendants during the transatlantic slave trade. The 9th Pan-African Congress, to be held in Lomé in December 2025, will be the starting point for concrete, unified action in favour of justice, sovereignty and African dignity.
During the period of the Atlantic slave trade, some 12.5 million captured men, women and children were loaded onto ships in Africa, and 10.7 million arrived in the Americas. In order to achieve real reparations for the slavery, deportation and colonisation of Africans, the idea of Pan-Africanism is being advocated worldwide by African people who seek historical justice for the injustices done to Africans and Afro-descendants, while urging the West to abandon « denial and contempt » in favour of sincere and respectful dialogue.
“One of the things that gives me hope, is that young people in Africa and in the diaspora are rejecting the narrative of the past, they are challenging the hegemony of the western capitalist states, they are challenging white supremacy and the way that is used to define social relations and political relations within the countries that we are in and more generally around the world, and so they see themselves as agents of change.”
Augustine John, Lecturer – Grenada
With dialogue at the forefront of the process of recognition of colonial crimes and reparations, the 9th Pan-African Congress, scheduled to take place in Lomé, Togo, in December 2025, should be the next major step after the London conference, 125 years on: Pan-Africanism and the dialogue on reparations. Placed under the theme ‘Renewing Pan-Africanism and Africa’s role in the reform of multilateral institutions’, the 9th Pan-African Congress, which is part of the implementation of the 2021-2031 agenda of the African Union’s ‘Decade of African Roots and the African Diaspora’, should be decisive in advancing the reparations agenda and strengthening Africa’s place in global governance.
“Lomé should set a pace and the pace that is set should ignite the youth of Africa that this is the time, this is their time, they have to take over and change the fate of Africa, this is what Togo must represent, it should galvanize the youth of Africa to say no to imperialism, to new colonialism and to white supremacy, domination and exploitation of our resources.”
Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, Founder of the Black History Month UK – Ghana
By reaffirming the value of pan-Africanism and bringing African communities together in December 2025, Lomé aims to be the starting point for concrete, unified action for justice, sovereignty and African dignity.
