ARUSHA: THE Cape Verde President, José Maria Neves has called on African nations to unite in demanding compensation for the invaluable properties and artifacts stolen from the continent by colonial powers.
Speaking in Arusha during a special event organised by the African Court on Human and People’s Rights explained that the suffering experienced by African countries under colonial rule is similar across the continent, and thus, all nations should come together to seek reparations from their former colonial rulers.
He said the collective experience calls for a unified effort to seek reparations from former colonial powers. President Neves made the remarks during the official opening of the 2025 Judicial Year at the African Court on Human and People’s Rights, held at the Court’s headquarters in Tanzania.
“Compensation could take various forms, including access to education, which could help heal deep wounds,” President Neves said. “However, monetary reparations and the return of stolen property are also critical in addressing the enduring consequences of the injustice suffered by our ancestors during those dark times.”
The Director of Advocacy and Reforms at the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Advocate Fulgence Masawe supported Neves’ call, stressing that it is time for African nations to demand the restitution of what was unjustly taken during the colonial era.
“Foreign powers looted vast resources and cultural artifacts from Africa, imposed head taxes and committed heinous acts such as killing, maiming and even taking the skulls and limbs of our ancestors back to their countries,” said Mr Masawe.
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The lawyer reminded the audience of the specific atrocities suffered by various African nations, including Kenya’s brutal suppression of the Mau Mau freedom fighters by the British, and Tanzania’s suffering under German colonial forces during the Maji Maji Uprising, as well as the freedom struggles in Iringa led by Chief Mkwawa.
He also highlighted the lasting scars from the transAtlantic slave trade in West Africa and the devastating effects of apartheid in South Africa.
“Restorative justice does not necessarily need to come in the form of material goods. Acknowledging the wrongs committed, issuing a formal apology and ensuring such atrocities are never repeated would also be an important part of reparations,” he added.
Judges of the African Court, based in Arusha, hosted their counterparts from national, regional and international courts during the official ceremony.
The President of the African Court, Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud noted that while the Court was established as a beacon of hope for victims of human rights violations, statistics show that, 20 years after the adoption of its founding Protocol, only 34 of the 55 African Union member states are parties to it.
The event was attended by representatives from African Union (AU) member states, National Focal Points designated by AU member states and representatives from various AU organs and institutions.
Discussions at the event focused on advancing justice, with particular attention to women’s reparations, an issue aligned with the African Union’s theme: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.
