Breaking the Chains of the Past: The Commonwealth Confronts the Dark Legacy of Slavery
Commonwealth Nations Agree to Discuss Legacy of Transatlantic Slave Trade
Ouagadougou, October 26, 2024 - The 56 members of the Commonwealth have agreed to discuss the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, paving the way for potential reparations for slavery.
At the end of a summit in Samoa, Commonwealth countries acknowledged calls for “restorative justice” for the “atrocious” trade and agreed that “the time has come for a useful, sincere and respectful conversation” on the subject.
Reparations for Slavery
Many African, Caribbean, and Pacific nations are seeking financial reparations from the UK and other European powers for slavery, or at least political reparations.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly rejected calls for reparations, and his aides have ruled out an apology.
Commonwealth Leaders Speak Out
Philip Davis, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, stated that it is time for the Commonwealth to seek “justice” for the brutal period of slavery suffered by many countries in the group.
“Our history is deeply intertwined, which implies the responsibility to face the past honestly,” he said.
The Royal Family’s Role
The British royal family, who have profited from the slave trade for centuries, have been asked to apologize.
King Charles refrained from apologizing, instead asking summit participants “to reject the language of division.”
“None of us can change the past. But we can commit, with all our hearts, to learn from them and find creative ways to correct the inequalities that persist,” he said.
Compensation and Reparations
Lesotho’s Joshua Setipa suggested that compensation could include other forms of payment, such as financing the fight against climate change.
New Commonwealth Secretary-General
The Commonwealth announced the appointment of Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, as Secretary-General.
A former lawmaker, she led Ghana’s diplomacy for the past seven years and supported the development of a free trade agreement between Commonwealth member states.
Botchwey has confirmed that she is in favor of historic reparations.