As the Commonwealth heads of government prepare to meet in Samoa next month, Britain is under increasing pressure to address reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade and other historical injustices. The biennial summit, which will run from October 21 to 25, comes at a time when calls for reparative justice are gaining global traction.
The Commonwealth, an organization born from the remnants of Britain’s former empire, consists largely of former British colonies, and its 56 member nations will gather to elect a new secretary-general. As the race for the position heats up, the issue of reparations has taken center stage, with all three African candidates strongly supporting the cause.
Shirley Botchwey, Ghana’s Foreign Minister, emphasized the importance of reparations at a recent event in London’s Chatham House. “Financial reparations are good,” she said, “but the conversation is now moving to other forms, like reparations in kind. I stand for reparations, whichever form they take.” Botchwey highlighted that whether or not the Commonwealth should play a role in the reparations debate will ultimately depend on the heads of government.
Joshua Setipa, a candidate from Lesotho and former trade minister, agreed that the Commonwealth was an ideal forum for addressing reparative justice. “More than half of the members around the table are calling for this to be addressed,” Setipa stated, emphasizing that the issue should not be ignored.
Gambia’s Foreign Minister, Mamadou Tangara, who is also vying for the secretary-general position, echoed these sentiments, saying the Commonwealth should harness its influence to push the reparations conversation forward. “This is a noble cause, and member states should champion it,” Tangara remarked.
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At the last Commonwealth summit in Rwanda in 2022, then-Prince Charles (now King Charles III) expressed sorrow over Britain’s involvement in the slave trade, calling it “the most painful period of our history.” However, Britain has yet to make any concrete moves toward reparations, with previous leaders rejecting the idea.
Kingsley Abbott, director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London, stressed that the conversation around reparations can no longer be dismissed. “The harm caused by transatlantic slavery, and its lasting impact, needs to be addressed in a meaningful way,” Abbott said. He pointed out that reparations do not only mean financial compensation, but can also take the form of public acknowledgments, apologies, and memorialization.
The growing global movement for reparations is putting additional pressure on Britain, particularly as the Commonwealth summit approaches. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously rejected the idea, stating that trying to “unpick history” was not the right approach. His successor, Keir Starmer, has yet to clarify his stance on the matter.
As representatives from Britain and its former colonies gather at the summit, the reparations issue will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of discussions, with calls for justice only expected to grow louder.
