At the peak of colonialism in the 1800s, the United Kingdom controlled around 25% of Africa, inflicting the “structural and systemic injustice” of the slave trade. Caribbean people are considered part of the African diaspora because their ancestors were forcibly brought from Africa through the transatlantic slave trade. These communities are now seeking reparations at the Africa-CARICOM Summit in Ethiopia, which concluded on September 8, 2025.
Crime of the past: The United Kingdom’s reign
Former colonial powers in the African Union (AU) have called for amends to be made by the United Kingdom, and have been calling for them for the last 200 years. The United Kingdom has been accused of colonial abuses across Africa and the Caribbean, with the country still benefiting from the incredible wealth and global power gained during this period. Not only was the United Kingdom the core of the transatlantic slave trade and forced labor systems, but kingdoms and empires were destroyed in the name of colonial conquest. The transatlantic slave trade was abolished in 1807; however, illegal trafficking continued for decades afterward, with very little or no repercussions.
African diaspora across the Caribbean: The involvement of Antigua and Bermuda
Alexa Lightbourne, the Antigua & Barbuda Minister of Home Affairs, has highlighted the ties between the Caribbean and Africa, noting their “shared struggle” when speaking at the Africa-CARICOM summit. Alexa Lightbourne mentioned that the people of the Caribbean, although different in culture and language, are descendants of Africa, and that the communities have faced similar ramifications due to the transatlantic slave trade.
The slave trade has had a monumental impact on a multitude of African and Caribbean nations; however, this year at the second Africa-CARICOM summit, and the first in-person meeting since its creation (2021), the communities of Africa and its diaspora are coming together for a “pivotal” moment. This moment was witnessed by international leaders, including João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, the President of Angola and chairman of the African Union, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Calls for reparations at the Africa-Coricom summit in Ethiopia
The African Union (which includes growing markets, such as South Africa) and the Caribbean are joining forces and addressing centuries of exploitation and the ongoing economic results of such injustice. Advocating for compensation, 15 members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have proposed a “10-point plan”, including demands for debt relief. This plan also asks for assistance with economic development, education, financial compensation, and, most importantly, formal apologies. These demands were originally drafted in 2013, with the African Union now looking to work with the Caribbean Community in the pursuit of these reparations.
The CARICOM 10-Point Reparations Plan proposes the following:
- Full and sincere formal apologies from European governments
- The rehabilitation of the Caribbean’s indigenous communities that suffered displacement and destruction
- Funding for the resettlement of those whose ancestors were enslaved and who wish to return to Africa
- The establishment of museums and research centers, and the return of cultural artifacts
- Assistance in addressing chronic health illnesses that are a result of the slave trade
- Support in the advancement of education systems and support of students through the provision of bursaries and other forms of funding
- Cultural knowledge exchanges across Caribbean communities and their African origin homelands
- Psychological and intergenerational trauma rehabilitation
- The transfer of modern technology and scientific developments
- The cancellation of international debts owed and monetary compensation for past crimes
The joint call for reparations from the African Union and Caribbean Community indicates the changing state of international relations and those subjected to the past crimes of the United Kingdom. With the 2025 Africa-CARICOM, the African diaspora is being brought together, despite the incredible distance and differences between these nations, signaling a change in world order and a move toward a better, more equal future.