By Ephraim Ofori Numosuor, Financial Economist, Research and Policy Analyst
The African Union’s 2025 theme launched at the ongoing 38th ordinary session on 15th February 2025, has called for Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations. This theme reignites a crucial debate: Should Africa and its diaspora seek reparations for past atrocities from the West, or should we take full responsibility for shaping our own destiny and prosperity? While both approaches address historical injustices, the answer must align with Africa’s long-term vision encapsulated in Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
The Case for Reparations: A Long Overdue Justice
The Transatlantic Slave Trade, colonial exploitation, and neocolonial economic structures have inflicted immense suffering on Africa and its people. The demand for reparations is not merely about financial compensation; it is a call for accountability, recognition, and restoration. Several compelling arguments support the case for reparations:
- Historical Redress and Economic Repair: Africa’s underdevelopment is deeply rooted in centuries of extraction, enslavement, and imposed economic systems that continue to benefit Western nations. Reparations could help bridge the economic gap through financial restitution, technological transfers, and debt relief.
- Precedents in Global Justice: Germany compensated Holocaust survivors, and the United States has paid reparations to Japanese Americans interned during World War II. Why should Africa’s case be any different?
- Institutional and Psychological Restoration: Reparations would be an acknowledgment of historical wrongs, contributing to healing intergenerational trauma and restoring Africa’s dignity on the global stage.
While these points are valid, the question remains: Should Africa wait for external justice, or should it actively build its own future?
Self-Determination: Taking Charge of Africa’s Future
The second approach, taking our destiny into our own hands, resonates with the core principles of Agenda 2063, which envisions Africa as a self-reliant, prosperous, and influential global player. While reparations may provide a short-term boost, Africa’s long-term progress depends on structural transformation and self-sufficiency. Here’s why:
- Economic Independence and Industrialization: Africa must develop robust industries, maximize its natural resources, and create strong intra-continental trade networks through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
- Political and Governance Reforms: Strengthening democratic institutions, eradicating corruption, and ensuring accountable leadership will create an enabling environment for sustainable development.
- Harnessing Africa’s Demographic Dividend: With the world’s youngest population, Africa has a unique opportunity to invest in education, technology, and innovation to drive prosperity from within.
- Strategic Global Partnerships: Instead of dependency on aid or reparations, Africa should negotiate on equal footing in international trade and finance, leveraging its rich resources for mutually beneficial agreements.
Reparations or Self-Determination: Which Aligns with Agenda 2063?
Agenda 2063 is about Africa claiming its rightful place in the world, not as a victim, but as a strong and thriving continent. While seeking reparations is justified, it should not be Africa’s primary strategy for justice or prosperity. Justice is important, but so is power. And real power comes from economic strength, strategic unity, and self-reliance.
Africa’s past was shaped by external forces, but its future must be written by its own hands. We must move beyond seeking reparations to demanding respect, engaging in fair trade, and building an Africa that no longer needs external validation or financial redress. The choice is clear: Africa must take charge of its own destiny and create the prosperity it seeks.
The time for waiting is over. The time for action is now.
