{"id":110458,"date":"2025-02-15T11:03:48","date_gmt":"2025-02-15T11:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/index.php\/2025\/02\/15\/guterres-calls-for-reparations-to-correct-colonial-injustices-at-au-summit\/"},"modified":"2025-02-15T11:03:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-15T11:03:48","slug":"guterres-calls-for-reparations-to-correct-colonial-injustices-at-au-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/guterres-calls-for-reparations-to-correct-colonial-injustices-at-au-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"Guterres calls for reparations to correct colonial injustices at AU Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 15 \u2014 United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres has called for the establishment of a reparations mechanism to address the historical injustices suffered by Africa due to colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking on Saturday at the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Guterres emphasized that correcting past wrongs is essential for Africa\u2019s progress.<\/p>\n

He highlighted the profound and lasting impact of Africa\u2019s colonial past, noting that the scars of exploitation continue to shape the continent\u2019s economic, social, and institutional realities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe world must never forget that Africa is the victim of two colossal and compounded injustices: first, the profound impact of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade,\u201d Guterres said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe roots stretch back centuries, and the bitter fruit continues to affect Africans and people of African descent to this day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The UN chief noted that while African nations achieved political independence, the economic structures of exploitation remained intact, leaving many countries burdened with underdevelopment and debt.<\/p>\n

He called for the implementation of \u201creparatory justice frameworks\u201d to correct these inequalities.<\/p>\n

UN reforms<\/h2>\n

Guterres also renewed his push for Africa to have permanent representation in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a demand that has gained momentum over the years.<\/p>\n

He criticized the global governance system for sidelining Africa and pledged to work with the AU and other UN member states to ensure the continent secures at least two permanent seats in the UNSC.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfrica was under colonial domination when today\u2019s multilateral system was created, and that injustice endures. There is no excuse for Africa to still lack permanent representation in the 21st century,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n

The call for UN Security Council reforms aligns with Africa\u2019s longstanding demands for more equitable representation in global decision-making bodies.<\/p>\n

Beyond historical injustices, Guterres outlined urgent areas for action, particularly regarding peace and security in Africa.<\/p>\n

He expressed deep concern over ongoing conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), urging immediate intervention.<\/p>\n

\u201cSudan is being torn apart before our eyes and is now home to the world\u2019s largest displacement crisis and famine. As we near the holy month of Ramadan, it is time for an immediate cessation of hostilities,\u201d Guterres said.<\/p>\n

Flow of weapons <\/h2>\n

He called on the international community to halt the flow of weapons and financial support fueling the war.<\/p>\n

On the DRC crisis, Guterres condemned the resurgence of violence, particularly in South Kivu, warning that continued escalation could destabilize the entire region.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no military solution. The deadlock must end. Dialogue must begin, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC must be respected,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

Guterres backed regional initiatives, including the recent East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, which called for a ceasefire and renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.<\/p>\n

He assured the AU of continued UN support, including through the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO.<\/p>\n

Guterres praised Africa\u2019s efforts in shaping global development, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which he said could \u201cturbocharge the region\u2019s economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also acknowledged Africa\u2019s role in advancing international agreements, including the UN\u2019s \u201cPact for the Future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether, we see an Africa booming with hope and possibility. You have a booming, enterprising population, including the largest number of young people in the world. The good news is that we have many of the solutions we need,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He urged world leaders to support Africa in reforming the international financial system, which he described as \u201coutdated, dysfunctional, and unfair.\u201d<\/p>\n

He emphasized the need for urgent reforms in international finance and governance to address the continent\u2019s pressing challenges.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 15 \u2014 United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres has called for the establishment of a reparations mechanism to address the historical injustices suffered by Africa due to colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade. Speaking on Saturday at the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-110458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110458"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110458\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}