Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, the Member of Parliament for Salaga South, has made a strong case for reparations to be paid to Africa and its people by Western nations. She emphasized that reparations are necessary to address the long-standing historical injustices inflicted on Africans and people of African descent through slavery, colonization, and apartheid.
Speaking in Parliament on Friday, Ms. Ibrahimah highlighted the need for reparations as both a moral and practical approach to healing the wounds caused by these dehumanizing systems. She noted that beyond acknowledging past wrongs, reparations would help correct the deep-rooted inequalities present in today’s global economic and political systems. According to her, such action would symbolize progress in reparatory justice and be a step toward healing for Africans and their descendants across the globe.
Her remarks were made in the context of the African Union’s (AU) 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, which took place from February 15–16, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The session centered around the theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.” The theme was inspired by growing global and continental efforts to seek justice and redress for centuries of exploitation.
Ms. Ibrahimah referred to the Accra Reparations Conference, held from November 14 to 17, 2023, in Ghana’s capital, as a critical turning point in the push for reparations. That conference, which brought together policymakers, activists, and scholars, called for the creation of a “Committee of Experts on Reparations” to develop a unified African stance on the issue.
She explained that the proposed committee would work on crafting an African Common Position on Reparations and would be supported by a legal reference group. This group, to be led by the African Union Commission, would include experts from both judicial and quasi-judicial institutions across the continent. Their task would be to provide the legal framework and tools necessary to pursue reparatory justice on the global stage.
One of the key recommendations from the Accra Conference was the establishment of a global reparations fund, with its headquarters based in Africa. This fund would support initiatives aimed at addressing the damage caused by slavery, colonial rule, and other historical injustices.
Additionally, the proposal called for a transcontinental partnership between the African Union and diaspora communities in Latin America, North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom. The aim is to build a unified front to advocate for reparations and to push this agenda at international platforms.
Ms. Ibrahimah stressed the importance of forming a Pan-African movement focused on reparations, uniting voices across the continent and the diaspora. This collective effort, she believes, is the key to compelling the West to acknowledge its historical responsibilities and provide compensation for the atrocities of the past.
In summary, the MP’s advocacy reflects a broader continental push for reparatory justice. Through coordinated action, Africa aims to secure long-overdue redress and reshape its future by addressing the legacy of historical exploitation.
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