Designating “Justice for Africans and people of African Decent through reparations” as the African Union's Theme of the Year presents a timely and strategic opportunity to consolidate and advance the momentum generated by past initiatives and ongoing efforts. This initiative will foster deeper collaboration with AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and key AU Organs—including ECOSOCC, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Union Commission on International Law, the Pan-African Parliament, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption. The Roadmap on the implementation of the theme of the year for 2025 also provides guidance on the involvement of all stakeholders including Member States, AU organs and RECs. Moreover, it will enhance strategic partnerships with the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders.
International legal frameworks have recognised these prejudices as crimes against humanity and efforts to address them have often been stalled by a lack of political will, moral courage, and, in many cases, outright resistance to the conversation. Equally, it has been observed that some countries have offered permanent loans, while others have been observed to return ownership for cultural objects such as between France and Benin in 2021.These differences reflect varying views and legal barriers to restitution which Africa needs to strategically address for both justice and progressive state building.
The theme for the High-Level Dialogue calls for a transformative approach to justice, one that centres African agency, promotes equity, and strengthens institutions. It acknowledges that restorative justice must extend beyond symbolic gestures or surfacelevel reconciliation efforts that fail to address the need for tangible redress. Instead, it should be grounded in strong governance structures capable of implementing restorative policies and delivering meaningful, lasting change.
This perspective is also supported by Article 3 (d) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which seeks to promote and defend common African positions on issues of importance to the continent and its people with reparations.
This viewpoint of restorative justice further draws upon the African Union's emphasis on transitional justice and reconciliation, integrating it into broader efforts of state-building across the continent.11 It involves strengthening institutions capable of addressing past injustices, related to slavery, colonialism, or apartheid, and ensuring that mechanisms for reparations, equity, and accountability are firmly in place.12 Furthermore, the African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP) provides a critical framework for guiding this process, offering member states the tools to institutionalise justice in ways that are contextually grounded and forward-looking. Central to this vision is the recognition that restorative justice is not the sole responsibility of Member States as civil society engagement, and international solidarity all play essential roles in shaping outcomes, holding leaders accountable, and keeping the pressure for justice and equity.
To create space for these discussions, the 13th High-Level Dialogue on Human Rights, Democracy, Governance will be held in collaboration with the Government and people of the Republic of Ghana. The President of the Republic, H.E John D. Mahama shall is the official host of the HLD.
