General Assembly voted to condemn slavery as a crime and to call for reparations. The effort was led by Ghana and was long overdue. In a sense, the vote was anticlimactic and not given enough attention.
Indeed, some have argued that a unanimous Security Council resolution would have been more consequential and appropriate. And the critics are right to point out that Africa should have focused on current problems like the wars in Eastern Congo, Sudan, Iran and and Ukraine that are killing people and roiling global markets. While the effort was commendable, the resolution should have focused equal attention on the trans-Saharan trade that lasted longer and claimed millions of victims too. It is not for nothing that the first slave rebellion occured in modern-day Iraq in the 7th century. As soon as I saw the results, I looked for those who voted “no” and those who abstained.
The United States should not have voted “no”! Isreal should not have voted “no”! And the United Kingdom should not have abstained. America should not have listened to President Mahama but to President Lincoln. How could they refuse to vote for the crime they fought the civil war to solve? As Lincoln said, referring to slavery during his second inaugural, ” All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of this war.” As for the UK, its abstention after leading the effort to abolish slavery dishonours its history.
And for Israel which suffered the holocaust and has justly accepted reparations, this vote was the height of hypocrisy. Despite all the imperfections in the process or the shortcomings of those who led this effort, no African should argue against reparations. Yes, there was African complicity in both the Trans-Saharan and Trans-Atlantic trades but it was Arab and Western capital that set up the economic systems that made this iniquities possible.
And it was Western nations and institutions and families that reaped and continue to reap the financial windfalls and human benefits of these crimes in science, sports, the arts and culture. Can you imagine Mohammed Ali as a Nigerian? All the soccer black stars– like Pele, Zidane, etc who have won world cups for Brazil, France etc playing for African countries? We deserve reparations! Come on!! Comrade Manasseh and Kemi Badenoh-the Nigerian UK opposition leader should stop carrying water for the slave-masters.
Poor people and institutions cannot pay reparations. Women don’t go to court to sue broke sexual abusers for financial redress–they sue the rich. And yes, when history come to assignment of blame for Galamsey, the Chinese would have a pride of place because their ideas and wealth have driven it and they know better because they are not polluting China. There should be reparations but the process must be collaborative, focused on the youth and poor of Africa and future oriented. And the Western and Arab nations must lead it and come to the table with resources. We can talk about corruption and incompetence and galamsey at home even while we fight for reparations. Like Amenfi, we can chew roasted corn and get haircuts at the same time. Long live Africa! Aluta Continua!
Arthur Kobina Kennedy ( 28th March, 2026)
